How Inflammation Triggers Hyperpigmentation and What Skincare Can Do

Inflammation Causes Hyperpigmentation

Inflammation and Pigmentation of Skin

If your skin is reactive and sensitive with redness, flushing, or rosacea, you have inflammation which leads to many skin concerns that affect skin health such as dehydration, hyperpigmentation, and aging. For this reason, inflammation is the most important thing your skin care routine should focus on if you have dark spots on your skin.

If you have inflammation, you are at a higher risk of getting dark spots from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma.

Your skin care routine should focus on the causes of inflammation and contain soothing an calming ingredients.

Knowing which of the 16 skin types you are will help you understand your skin’s issues and how to treat them so your skin will be healthier.

Inflammation and Hyperpigmentation

Inflammation causes hyperpigmentation of the skin. This is why dark spots often occur on the skin after acne, eczema, injury, a skin rash, or a burn.

This means that if you have sensitive skin which is characterized by inflammation, you are at a higher risk of developing uneven skin pigmentation due to hyperpigmentation.

Inflammation can be caused by many inflammatory different skin issues and is most commonly seen in sensitive skin types. Inflammation, regardless of the cause, can lead to hyperpigmentation. This occurs because, during inflammation, the immune system is activated which sends signals to the melanocytes to make the pigment melanin.

Darker Skin Types Have A Higher Risk of Hyperpigmentation

Fitzpatrick Skin Types 3 and higher have skin cells that are more easily stimulated to make melanin pigment. This means that brown and black skin tones are at a high risk of developing dark spots after pimples, a cut, or a rash.

Darker melanized skin types are particularly susceptible to getting post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).

Dark inflamed skin may be referred to as “black rashes” because the skin where the rash is gets darker from inflammation and scratching.

Brown and black skin must be vigilant about sunscreen, sun avoidance, and their skin care routine to avoid getting these “dark rashes”.

Scratching and Pigmentation

Dark skin from scratching occurs because of inflammation. Scratching the skin causes a wound or injury to the skin. This turns on various inflammatory cascades that signal melanocytes to make melanin. The hyperpigmented skin from scratching remains even after the wound has healed and can be difficult to treat.

Using the right anti-inflammatory ingredients can help reduce itch and prevent scratching which will reduce the skin injury that causes skin to darken.

Eczema Causes Skin To Darken

Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that is very itchy. The inflammation causes hyperpigmentation in many eczema suffers and the pigment can last long after the eczema rash goes away. Scratching eczema can cause skin to darken. Brown and black skin tends to turn very dark in areas of eczema. These dark patches should be treated with both an eczema cream and skin lightening products.

Dark Skin From a Rash

Know Your Skin Type

In order to effectively treat hyperpigmentation caused by inflammation, you must first identify what is causing your inflammation and skin sensitivity and reactivity.

Causes may include:

Acne

Allergy

Dryness

Eczema

Over-exfoliation

Psoriasis

Rosacea

Sun sensitivity

Using the wrong skin care products

Many times you do not realize you are causing your own inflammation by using the wrong skin care products! A common issue I see in my patients is over-exfoliating and using products that are wrong for their skin type.

This is one of the many reasons I developed a skin type quiz that helps you design a custom skin care routine that identifies and targets all of your skin issues. It identifies you as 1 of 16 skin types.

Once you identify your skin type, you will receive educational material, product suggestions, and be able to read reviews from others with the same skin type as you.

You can even come to Reddit r/skintypesolutions and ask others with the same skin type which products they like and dislike.

Products To Treat Inflammation and Pigmentation

If you have acne or rosacea and dark spots- products with ingredients that block inflammatory pathways and melanin production are key.

These are the prodcuts I recommend ot my patients who have sensitvie skin and hyperpigmentation:

Derma Made Azelaic Acid Cream 15% has azelaic acid in it which is almost as strong as 20% prescription strength. It was made by a dermatologist to treat dark spots from acne and to use as part of a skin care rotuine for rosacea and melasma.

Azelaic acid has these benefits:

Soothing and calming

Blocks melanin Production

Exfoliant

Vichy LiftActiv B3 Serum Dark Spots & Wrinkles Anti-Aging Serum has both niacinamide and tranexamic acid that target both inflammation and pigmentation. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitor, while allantoin is soothing.

SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense has niacinamide and traxeamic acid that soothe skin and prevent dark spots. It also contains kojic acid which is an exfoliant and a tyrosianse inhibitor that blocks melanin prodcution.

Alastin A-Luminate Brightening Serum is one of our favorite dermatologist-recommended skin lighteners for sensitive skin. It uses high tech ingredients which are discussed in the interview with the creator of Alastin Skincare Dr. Widgerow below.

This product features these ingredients:

Niacinamide

Tranexamic Acid

Gallic Acid

Hesperidin

Thermus Thermophillus Ferment

Silybum Marianum (Milk Thistle) Extract

Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) Root Extract

Vitamin C

In addition to its well known TriHex technology.

Skin Care Routines

When a dermatologist prescribes a skincare routine to help prevent dark skin after rashes, pimples, burns and injury, they will focus on 3 types of skin care products:

Sunscreen

Products that block melanin production or transfer like tyrosinase inhibitors and PAR-2 blockers

Soothing ingredients

In a skin care routine to prevent skin from getting darker after inflammation, you need anti-inflammatory ingredients and skin-lightening ingredients. Our dermatologists have designed regimens that block inflammation from occurring and discourage melanocytes from making melanin. We use ingredients that will calm the skin while inactivating melanocytes to block pigment production.

Conclusion

Reducing skin inflammation is the most important step in a skin care routine. If it’s not under control, the other barriers to skin health are hard to control because inflammation causes hyperpigmentation, skin aging, and can injure the skin barrier.

So make sure your entire skin care routine is correct for your Baumann Skin Type. Take our skin care routine quiz and we can help you customize a routine that targets inflammation and hyperpigmentation and any other skin issues you have.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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