01/29/2026
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) — and why winter skin damage makes it worse
PIH is the discoloration that lingers after skin has been inflamed or injured. That injury doesn’t have to be a breakout — it can come from windburn, over-exfoliation, picking, harsh products, or raw, chapped skin.
Here’s what happens:
When skin gets irritated, it triggers inflammation. In response, melanocytes (your pigment cells) go into defense mode and produce extra melanin. That excess pigment settles into the skin and leaves behind brown, red, or grayish marks that can last for months
— especially in deeper skin tones.
Winter makes this more common because:
• Wind and cold air weaken the skin barrier
• Compromised skin becomes inflamed more easily
• Inflamed skin is more likely to pigment
• Indoor heat adds dehydration, slowing healing
So that “just dry” or “a little wind chapped” skin?
If it becomes raw or irritated, it can absolutely turn into lingering discoloration.
How to prevent PIH right now
• Protect skin from wind exposure (cover up)
• Prioritize barrier repair over exfoliation
• Avoid picking, scrubbing, or aggressive actives on compromised skin
• Use daily SPF — yes, even in winter. UV deepens PIH inflammation is temporary. Pigment is not.
The goal is always to calm skin first, correct later.