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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Overview
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is darkening of the skin in an area of prior injury or skin disorder from increased pigment (melanin) left from the healing process. Sometimes the darkening may also be due to an iron pigment left behind when old red blood cells die. Acne is a common cause as well as any type of skin injury (scrapes, cuts, burns, insect bites, or chronic rubbing) or many other skin disorders, such as eczema (atopic dermatitis).
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Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
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