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New video! I’ve had a lot of questions about how to fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (aka PIH). I’m of East Asian heritage so I’m naturally pigmentation-prone, plus genetically I’m screwed – my dad’s face is basically one giant freckle. Sun, acne, scratches… all of these will leave pigmented dark marks that last for weeks.
While I’ve done a post on pigment fading ingredients before, this is an overview of my favourite types of products for fading PIH, and quick reviews of the products I actually use.
The products I swear by, that give noticeable results on my skin:
- A high UVAPF sunscreen with newer photostable organic filters. My favourite is Ultraceuticals Daily Moisturiser SPF 30 with Tinosorb S, which I also reviewed in this Empties video and this post of my RVR90 experience. I don’t hate avobenzone, but I don’t trust it if it’s the only UVA1 filter in a sunscreen.
- Vitamin C serum. I make my easy DIY vitamin C serum using these ascorbic acid crystals. I’ve also been getting lazier, so sometimes I just put a little pinch of powder into my moisturiser. Don’t do this if your skin isn’t used to acids, and proceed super slowly – if you’ve ever tried a gritty water-free ascorbic acid product you’ll know the pain that crystals can bring!
- Lactic and mandelic acid exfoliants. My most used products are Kate Somerville Exfolikate and Ultraceuticals Brightening Serum, but I’ve also been using Stratia Soft Touch AHA and Tarte Knockout Tingling Treatment lately.
I’m currently also trying out tretinoin, after a long period of being scared to death of retinoids after my retinol/flu/broken capillary experience, but it seems to be working out well – I’ll be writing/video-ing about that soon!
Niacinamide sadly doesn’t seem to do much for my PIH, but it could be just too subtle to notice.
Do you have favourite products for treating PIH?
Some products were provided for review, which did not affect my opinion. This post also contains affiliate links – if you decide to click through and support Lab Muffin financially (at no extra cost to you), thank you! For more information, see Disclosure Policy.
Hi Michelle,
I’m a new reader and still trawling through your blog archive – loving all the science-based information! I wish skin care had been a topic in chemistry class – it would have been so much more interesting.
I’m in the UK and still looking for a good affordable moisturiser with a high SPF and good UVA protection that won’t make my dehydrated combination skin break out.
I’m currently using La Roche-Posay Hydraphase UV Intense Light (SPF 20) which has the following ingredients:
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 4.7%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, hyaluronic acid fragments, La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water.
Inactive Ingredients: Water, isononyl isononanoate, glycerin, dimethicone, aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, sucrose tristearate, polymethylsilsesquioxane, polysorbate 61, PEG-12 dimethicone, carbomer, triethanolamine, dimethiconol, sodium hyaluronate, sodium stearoyl glutamate, disodium EDTA, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, caprylyl glycol, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, phenoxyethanol, fragrance.
Any thought on this one or other recommendations?
Leah
It looks OK but the protection is a bit low – if you’re having luck with LRP, maybe try one of their other sunscreens?
And thank you! 🙂
I feel the same about Niacinamide, it is a nice one to have, but not one to see dramatic results. But i just keep believing and add it to my routine anyway, it won’t hurt.
Left this comment on FB as well – I’ve had good luck with a combo of the Nip & Tuck Glycolic Pads (the “extreme” version; not very extreme) and Paula’s Choice Vitamin C spot-treatment. However, what I’m NOT sure about is how to PREVENT PIH (as much as is possible; I have light olive-y skin) in other words, what to do on a still-fresh pimple remnant. Too sensitive to use the aforementioned products but I want to do what I can to reduce the PIH I’ll ultimately be left with. Thoughts? (And thanks!)
I’m planning to do a post on spot treatments but I need to try out more products first…
is papaya soap good for things like that? there seems to be some hype about it
I’m guessing it’s the enzymes in it exfoliating – I have a bit of info in my Exfoliation Guide and in this post on chemical exfoliants.
Hi Michelle,
I do wondering why I keep on getting freckles/hyperpigmentation although I already using chemical sunscreen. I read somewhere that freckles were made by heat from the sun so chemical sunscreen is not the best option for people with genetics freckles. Can you help me with this?
Hi Michelle, whee do you get your supply of Exfolikate from? I’m based in Sydney, Australia. Thanks!
Mecca stocks it 🙂