POST

 

 

INFLAMMATORY

 

 

HYPERPIGMENTATION

 

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a common condition caused by numerous preceding cutaneous insults such as drug and phototoxic reactions , infections (see elsewhere), physical injury or trauma, allergic reactions, and inflammatory diseases. Clinically, PIH consists of a macular hyperpigmentation at the site of inflammation  It is far more common and persistent in darker skin types and can be characterized by epidermal as well as dermal melanotic hypermelanosis. A Wood's lamp examination can determine depth of the hyperpigmentation . Histologic features include pigment incontinence with accumulation of melanophages and increased melanin in dermal or epidermal layers