Post inflammatory hypopigmentation

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What is post inflammatory hypopigmentation?
Hypopigmentation is the partial or total loss of skin pigment.

Many inflammatory skin conditions lead to hypopigmentation, post cessation of the inflammation. Skin inflammation is caused by skin injuries, reactions, infections and dermatological procedures. In most of the cases, the hypopigmentation improves with the resolution of the causative factor. For complete recovery and repigmentation, it may take several days to several months.

Post inflammatory hypopigmentation is very common and appears post skin inflammation. It can affect both the genders of all ages. In persons with darker skin tone it becomes over emphasized. Basically the depigmentation occurs due to loss of melanin pigment, inhibition of melanogenesis, dysfunction of melanocytes, or loss of melanocytes. If there is complete destruction of melanocytes or melanocyte death, the post inflammatory hypopigmentation may become permanent. The size, shape and distribution of hypopigmentation is directly related to original causative inflammation.

Causes of post inflammatory hypopigmentation

The causes of post inflammatory hypopigmentation [1] include many inflammatory skin conditions, skin trauma and injuries, dermatological procedures and infective diseases.

Skin injuries and trauma

Abrasions (grazes)

Avulsions

Burns

Crush injury

Freezing

Hematomas

Incisions (cuts)

Insect bites

Lacerations

Puncture and penetration wounds

Surgical incision closures

Skin inflammatory conditions

Allergic contact dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis

Bullous pemphigoid

Discoid lupus erythematosus

Eczema

Granuloma annulare

Lichen planus

Lichen striatus

Psoriasis

Scleroderma

Seborrheic eczema

Skin infections and diseases

Acne

Carbuncle

Cellulitis

Chickenpox

Cutaneous candidiasis

Herpes simplex

Herpes zoster (shingles)

Impetigo

Tinea Versicolor

Dermatological procedures

Chemical peels

Cryotherapy

Dermabrasion

Dermaplaning

Laser resurfacing

Laser therapy

Microdermabrasion

Punch grafts

Tattoos

Post inflammatory hypopigmentation treatment and management

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The primary cause of the post inflammatory hypopigmentation must be diagnosed and treated. In many cases the hypopigmentation improves over time post resolution of the inflammation. The treatment and management options of post inflammatory hypopigmentation include sun exposure, phototherapy, topical repigmenting medication, laser therapy, camouflage procedures, skin transplants and autologous melanocyte transplantation.

Coal tar topical preparations have been successively used for stimulating repigmentation. Coal tar causes increased skin sensitivity to sunlight, so treated area should be protected from sunlight. Coal tar in combination with topical steroid has been found to be more effective.

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Topical pimecrolimus is an immunomodulating agent found useful in treating atopic dermatitis which results in repigmentation. Long term use of the topical application is considered to have increased risk of lymph node or skin cancer.

Exposure to sunlight or phototherapy with ultraviolet light induces the melanogenesis. The dose of exposure must be closely monitored so as not cause sunburn or tan.

Choi KH et al [2] in their study "Treatment of Vitiligo with 308-nm xenon-chloride excimer laser: therapeutic efficacy of different initial doses according to treatment areas"

Skin sensitive to touch Skin senses Skin melanin Skin hydration

concluded that 308-nm xenon-chloride excimer laser was effective in inducing repigmentation of the hypopigmentation patches of vitiligo.

Camouflage procedures like tattoo had been successfully used to cover small areas of post inflammatory hypopigmentation.

In cases where the melanocyte loss is permanent, skin transplants and autologous melanocyte transplantation have been successfully done to manage post inflammatory hypopigmentation. In autologous melanocyte transplantation, cultured melanocytes are introduced into the hypopigmentation skin.

Related topics in the natural skin care: Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis. Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis treatment. Nevus anemicus. Nevus simplex. Nevus depigmentosus. Pityriasis alba. Tinea versicolor. Vitiligo camouflage. Glutathione for skin. Treatment of pityriasis alba.

Interesting topics in the natural skin care: Vitiligo hypopigmentation. Water blisters on hands and feet. Vitamin B12 deficiency and skin. Pale white spots on children. Permanent skin lightening. Causes of skin sensitivity. Fordyce spots granules. Homemade face moisturizer. Acanthosis nigricans pictures. Symptoms of angioedema.

Reference: 1.Vachiramon, V. and Thadanipon, K. (2011), Postinflammatory hypopigmentation. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 36: 708–714. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2011.04088. 2.Choi KH, Park JH, Ro YS. Treatment of Vitiligo with 308-nm xenon-chloride excimer laser: therapeutic efficacy of different initial doses according to treatment areas. J Dermatol. 2004 Apr;31(4):284-92.

Current topic on natural skin care: Post inflammatory hypopigmentation

Oct 24, 2015