In people with darker skin, an acute rash can be followed by chronic pigment that is slow to resolve, as seen here. Darkening of the skin in an area that was previously inflamed is common. This image displays post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark flat marks left after a skin problem has healed). Dark skin spots often follow acne lesions in black patients. This image displays deep skin darkening following a skin rash. This image displays a patient that was infected by both chickenpox (the small circles) and a staph infection (the large circles). This image displays darker color (pigment) in areas that had acne previously, which takes longer to heal in people with darker skin. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation may look almost purple-brown in darker-skinned individuals and take months to fade on the lower legs.
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Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation  Information for adults

Picture of Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: In people with darker skin, an acute rash can be followed by chronic pigment that is slow to resolve, as seen here. Divider line
In people with darker skin, an acute rash can be followed by chronic pigment that is slow to resolve, as seen here.
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Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
Some creams may help fade dark marks. These include 2–4% hydroquinone, tretinoin, tazarotene, azelaic acid, and glycolic acid. These products are often used in combination. Chemical peels or microdermabrasion are treatments not generally covered by insurance and need to be repeated monthly for a total of 4–6 sessions. If not done by experts, they may cause further irritation and darkening.


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Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
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