Read on Twitter
Hey y'all!
It's Olamide, co-founder at Topicals. I'm usually behind the scenes working on the business side, but I also studied pre-med at UCLA and worked at @SheaMoisture before Topicals. I've dealt with acne scarring my entire life! Let's get into what and why it happens.
It's Olamide, co-founder at Topicals. I'm usually behind the scenes working on the business side, but I also studied pre-med at UCLA and worked at @SheaMoisture before Topicals. I've dealt with acne scarring my entire life! Let's get into what and why it happens.
So what is post-inflammatory erythema (PIE) aka acne scarring?
Up until 2013, there was no term to describe the pink-to-red discoloration that was caused by acne. PIE mainly happens in lighter skin tones and presents as dyspigmentation.
Up until 2013, there was no term to describe the pink-to-red discoloration that was caused by acne. PIE mainly happens in lighter skin tones and presents as dyspigmentation.
It can look like this on different skin tones:
PIE is often confused with PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). PIH presents as excess melanin, while PIE happens when the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) at the surface of your skin are damaged.
Wanna know whether you have PIE?
Press down on a PIE mark and if it momentarily disappears or turns white, it is most likely PIE.
Press down on a PIE mark and if it momentarily disappears or turns white, it is most likely PIE.
PIE can be triggered by inflammatory skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis or cuts and burns and usually comes with boxcar, rolling, and ice pick scarring. Pictured below: (credit Osman Dermatology)
So how do you treat PIE since it's different than PIH?
The gold-standard treatment for PIE is pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy, which works by penetrating into the skin to break down damaged blood vessels. This procedure can only be done by a dermatologist.
The gold-standard treatment for PIE is pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy, which works by penetrating into the skin to break down damaged blood vessels. This procedure can only be done by a dermatologist.
Laser treatments are super expensive and can have side effects so here are some healing ingredients to treat PIE:
- niacinamide
- vitamin c
- ceramides
- azelaic acid
- green tea
- snail mucin
Find many of these in Like Butter & Faded launching super soooooon!
- niacinamide
- vitamin c
- ceramides
- azelaic acid
- green tea
- snail mucin
Find many of these in Like Butter & Faded launching super soooooon!
The key things to focus on when treating PIE is restoring your moisture barrier, reducing inflammation, and decreasing blood vessel dilation.
Any questions?
Any questions?
Good afternoon! Lily here again. 
Just wanted to add to this thread that atrophic + hypertrophic acne scarring can occur with or without post inflammatory erythema, and vice versa! The two don’t always occur together. So, it’s possible and normal to have PIE and no scarring.
Just wanted to add to this thread that atrophic + hypertrophic acne scarring can occur with or without post inflammatory erythema, and vice versa! The two don’t always occur together. So, it’s possible and normal to have PIE and no scarring.
