What remains after inflammation

Post-inflammatory marks

Separate brown or grey post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from red post-acne marks and true indented or raised scars.

Four-part Idalia educational diagram explaining post-inflammatory marks
Idalia educational diagram - simplified and not to scale.

What it means

Start with the pattern, not the treatment name

After acne, eczema, picking, a burn or another injury settles, colour can remain. Brown, grey or blue-brown marks usually reflect extra melanin at different depths; red or purple marks can reflect lingering vascular change. Neither is the same as a true texture scar.

Options at Idalia

How this concern may be approached

Treatment is selected after your concern, skin response, medical history, suitable product route and realistic benefit have been reviewed.

From £45

Barrier-first facial

Reduces unnecessary irritation while the cause is controlled.

Explore this route

From £45

Selected peel

A cautious superficial route for suitable stable epidermal pigment.

Explore this route

A useful home-care foundation

  • Treat the cause first
  • Use gentle fragrance-free products
  • Wear tinted broad-spectrum sunscreen
  • Give marks time; many fade slowly

When to pause cosmetic treatment

  • The original rash or acne is uncontrolled
  • Marks are grey-blue, deep or persistent
  • A lesion is changing or symptomatic
  • Pigment follows medication or systemic illness

Medical boundary

New, changing, painful, severe or unexplained symptoms should be assessed by a GP, pharmacist, optometrist, dermatologist or another appropriate clinician before cosmetic treatment.

Further reading