A Middle Aged Woman with Sudden Onset of Hyperpigmented Patch

Abstract

A middle aged woman presented with asymptomatic, non-progressive brown patchy discoloration of face for past 2 months. The lesions developed after a session of chemical peeling at a salon by a beautician. Based on history and examination findings, the diagnosis of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation was made. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is a reactive hypermelanosis that develops following cutaneous inflammation and occurs more commonly in individuals with darker skin (Fitzpatrick skin type IV, and V). Sometimes, when there is severe cutaneous inflammation, loss rather than dysfunction of melanocytes occurs, resulting in postinflammatory hypopigmentation or depigmentation. The mainstay of treatment of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is addressing the cause of the inflammation, strict sun protection and antipigmentary agents.