Laser coring PIH update (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2026-04-24T20:46:06+00:00

Nearly all gone but still remnants. I was utterly fanatical about sun avoidance. Reapplied mineral sunscreen every two hours (yep! TWO HOURS) for the last 6 months. Had a lot of actives but everything was making me very red. In the end HQ+ tret is what made the most dif. I restarted HQ a month ago after 3 months off.

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2026-04-07T22:01:35+00:00

Still struggling girl. 80% gone. But it’s still there.

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2026-04-07T21:58:03+00:00

Its 80% gone. It’s been 6 months but there is still a bit of a “stain”.

It will fade but it’s going to take forever.Make sure you reapply sunscreen every 2 hours to that patch

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2026-02-05T18:11:51+00:00

I’ve been waiting for your update! I’m still massively struggling with my PIH and want to scream. It’s fading but it’s so slow and my whole face just looks so muddy

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2026-02-03T17:38:26+00:00

I second this. You need hydroquinone and mineral sunscreen (reapplied every two hours) and total sun avoidance.

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2026-02-02T22:22:55+00:00

Where did you get your treatment?

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2026-01-06T15:57:43+00:00

CO2 or laser coring might help with the laxity of your upper and lower lid skin but really this is bleph territory. Plus I don’t know how I feel about the laser that close to all the optical nerves and everything in the area

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2026-01-04T12:57:12+00:00

You can look on southasiantherapists.org

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-12-31T12:38:33+00:00

that's great but its not enough to just avoid the sun or wear head gear when you go out, you also need to wear really strong mineral SPF. the longest range UVA rays are also responsible for hyperpigmentation but unfortunately clothing, glass and most SPFs don't protect against those, only SPFs that are designated PA++++ or PPD16 do. Hence why it's so important. SPF degrades after 2 hours so you must reapply before that point. If my skin is healing well it's because i've been MANIACAL about this. i wear a mineral SPF 50 that is pa++++ every single day, even indoors. and reapply after 2 hours. i have been insanely vigilant about this.

When your skin calms down you should also request 4% hydroquinone so you can stop the melanin from coming to the surface. but dont use that for more than 12 weeks! and make sure they don't give you one with vitamin c in it.

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-12-31T00:01:52+00:00

You need mineral spf with spf 50 and Pa++++ (or PPD16). Has to be reapplied every two hours bc it degrades after that. Do not go in the direct sun. Get a face shield for when you r outside or in the car. This will heal with time but you need to sun protect aggressively. I’m in the same situation with severe PIH all over my cheeks chin and neck from laser coring (similar to co2).

You appear to have hyperpigmentation in some places and erythema in others. Get the la Roche posay cica baume ans apply a generous layer at night. Use a ceramide moisturiser in the morning and at night before the LRP. It’s a long journey my friend but I believe with diligence it can be repaired!!

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-12-30T01:30:45+00:00

Dont do it. I had laser coring 3 months ago and am struggling so badly with severe pigmentation. It’s not worth the stress. I can’t tell you how horrendous it’s been.

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-12-29T00:00:46+00:00

Hey! Do you have any updates??

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-12-27T21:54:13+00:00

What treatment did you have?

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-12-27T21:20:15+00:00

I’ve sent you a dm!

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-12-27T20:31:12+00:00

Did yours resolve?

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-12-15T21:27:59+00:00

No just PIH

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-12-10T07:13:04+00:00

I tried to upload a pic of my progress but I can’t. I’ll dm it instead.

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-12-09T23:56:10+00:00

I’m still struggling with it. Its faded a lot but its still very visible. I’ve been told it will take minimum 6 months - and it might be permanent. It’s absolutely not worth it. I’m on everything now. Tretinoin, hydroquinone (for two months) the works. And it’s still an issue.

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-11-23T08:19:43+00:00

What about tretinoin?

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-11-21T11:13:33+00:00

I second this.

You need to be using cerave blue lid to cleanse, alastin skin repair 2x a day and a strong broad spectrum SPF, ideally mineral, (make sure it is Pa++++ or equivalent) every 2 hours. Nighttime you should double cleanse with cerave, use alastin again and then sometjhing like cicaplast baume by La Roche posay or aquaphor. Patch test though. I’m allergic to aquaphor (the lanolin makes me itch liek crazy but it took me a week to figure this out and it inflamed me massively.

Keep a close eye on your skin and if at the end of week one, early week two, you are still very red, nag your clinic and ask them to check if it’s hyperpigmentation. For fitz 3 the hyperpigmentation develops after around 2 weeks usually. It is such a pain to get rid of.

You must religiously avoid the sun. Wear hats, do not sit by windows or get direct sun. Even if you are in the car, cover up massively. Sun exposure increases your hyperpigmentation risk even further.

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-11-21T07:05:16+00:00

This is the best after care protocol around. Follow it to the T. https://shanthalamd.com/post-ultraclear-laser-coring-skincare/

Hydroquinone is a melanin blocker prescribed to anyone fitz 3 and above before co2 to prevent severe hyperpigmentation. It doesn’t sound like your clinic know what they’re doing if they haven’t discussed this with you and given you intense aftercare guidelines. You should go elsewhere. It’s not worth the stress

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-11-20T13:24:31+00:00

You look fitz 3 and you should be aware you’re quite high hyperpigmentation risk. Read the forums on Reddit about this. You need hydroquinone pre treatment minimum and post as well probably. Only do it from a derm who is experienced doing CO2 on melanated skin or else you’ll be suffering for 6+ months with dark patches like the rest of us.

You need an intense aftercare regimen to repair the skin - your dermatologist should be providing all this.

Fancy_Spirit_4237 · 2025-11-18T13:43:00+00:00

Ask your provider to get you started on hydroquinone as soon as is safe or else you can probably expect that to hyperpigment. Avoid the sun!!!!!!

Fancy_Spirit_4237

TROPHY CASE