Post-inflammatory erythema (PIE) are red/pink marks that can appear on the skin after an injury. PIE occurs when blood flow is interrupted during the skins natural healing process. On deeper skin tones this can also turn into Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH). PIE is usually not permanent, however can take months or years to disappear on its own.
Post-inflammatory Erythema Results
PIE can be caused from any type of injury to the skin, including acne, insect bites, cuts, burns or advanced skin treatments. The good news is that it’s a surface condition, making it relatively easy to treat!
Post-Inflammatory Erythema Treatment
There are two parts to treating PIE effectively.
1. Find the Cause & Treat It
If you’re experiencing PIE, it is important to stop or treat what it is causing the injury. For example, if you have PIE from acne, we would need to treat the acne first. If the cause (in this case, acne) is not treated, PIE will continuously recur and need to be treated.
2. Wait or Treat
Usually post-inflammatory erythema will gradually lessen on it’s own over time and return to your normal skin colour. However this is a long process that can take 12-24 months, or longer. For those of us who don’t want to wait 1-2 years for our PIE to fade, there is a faster solution!
Post-inflammatory Erythema can be treated by a few different modalities. The best treatment for you will depend on your availability, budget, and ability for downtime.
Treatment options include RF Microneedling, Q-Switched Laser Treatments, CO2 Laser (Level One), BioRePeel, and LED Therapy.
As with all laser treatments, the frequency & number of treatments will depend on your skin type and affected area. Within your consultation, one of our experienced therapists will design a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Technology
Post-inflammatory erythema requires treatments that will generate skin cell turnover. These treatments include RF Microneedling, CO2 Laser Treatments, Medlite Q-Switched treatments, BioRePeel, and LED therapy.
These treatments will also rejuvenate the skin and assist with your overall skin health.
Note: you will not need all of these treatments. The best treatment for your unique skin type and tone will be determined in your initial skin consultation.
Downtime
Q-Switched Laser Treatment – No downtime, however we do not recommend applying makeup after the treatment to prevent further congestion.
BioRePeel – 1 week downtime. Your skin will begin to mildly shed 2-3 days after your treatment which will last approximately one week.
Vivace RF Microneedling – 1 day downtime. Makeup can be applied the next day.
CO2 Laser Treatment (Level One) – 1-3 days of downtime.
LED Therapy – No downtime.
