TREATMENT OF POST-INFLAMMATORY HYPERPIGMENTATION USING RETINOL: A NARRATIVE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/zx9c0438Keywords:
Keywords, Post-inflammatory hyperchromia; Retinol; Acne; Chemical peeling.Abstract
Abstract:
Introduction: Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a specific dysfunction characterized by darkening of the skin after inflammatory processes, such as acne, resulting from increased production and deposition of melanin in the epidermis or dermis. This condition has a high prevalence in aesthetic and dermatological practice and can significantly impact the quality of life of individuals. Objective: To analyze the use of retinol in the treatment of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation associated with acne. Methods: This is a narrative literature review, with a qualitative and descriptive approach, carried out through searches in the Google Scholar, SciELO, PubMed, and LILACS databases. The following descriptors were used: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, acne, retinol, and chemical peeling. Articles published between 2015 and 2026, in Portuguese and English, were included. Results: Twelve studies were selected that showed that retinol acts on cell renewal, modulation of melanogenesis, and improvement of systemic texture, contributing to the reduction of dark spots. Conclusion: Retinol is declared to be an effective active ingredient in the treatment of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, especially when combined with other aesthetic procedures, promoting significant improvement in the clinical picture.
Downloads
References
ADDOR, F. A. S. Além da barreira cutânea: benefícios dos retinoides no tratamento do fotoenvelhecimento e disfunções pigmentares.
Surgical & Cosmetic
Dermatology, v. 9, n. 1, p. 6-15, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/JDN.0000000000000284
ALEXIS, A. F.; SERRANO, G.; RODRIGUES, D. Acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in skin of color.
Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, v. 12, n. 6, p. 14-23, 2019.
CHEN, X.; YANG, M.; CHENG, Y. et al. Chemical peels for acne vulgaris: a systematic review. Dermatologic
Therapy, v. 31, n. 6, e 12773, 2018.
COSTA, A. L. et al. Abordagens dermatológicas para hipercromia pós-inflamatória. In: Anais de Congresso Científico, 2022. Disponível em: https://doity.com.br/.
Acesso em: mar. 2026.
DRAELOS, Z. D. Novel approach to the treatment of hyperpigmented photodamaged
skin:
4%
hydroquinone/0.3% retinol versus tretinoin 0.05% emollient cream. Dermatologic Surgery, v. 31, n. 7, p.
799-804, 2018.
GRIMES, P. E. Management of hyperpigmentation disorders. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, v. 18, n. 5, p.
1-8, 2019.
HEXSEL, D. et al. Dermatologia e estética: abordagem clínica integrada. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, V.
94, п. 2, р. 155-163, 2019.
KANG, S.; AMICHAI, B.; DEL ROSSO, J. Q. Effects of topical retinoids on acne and post-inflammatory
hyperpigmentation. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic
Dermatology, v. 15, n. 1, p. 28-34, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.13131
KONTOCHRISTOPOULOS, G.; BETSOS, G.;
GREGORIOU, S. Chemical peels in acne treatment: a review. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, v. 16, n. 1, p.
34 40, 2017.
LIMA, E. V. et al. Hiperpigmentação pos-inflamatória associada a dermatose inflamatória. Revista Médica, 2018.
MIOT, L. D. B. et al. Fisiopatologia do melasma. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, v. 84, n. 6, p. 623-635, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0365-05962009000600008
OLIVEIRA, M. R. et al. Complicações associadas ao peeling químico: uma revisão narrativa. Revista Científica
Multidisciplinar, v. 8, n. 3, 2023.
SANTOS, L. S. et al. Peeling químico e acne: efeitos terapêuticos. Revista Científica de Estética, v. 5, n. 2, 2021.
SILVA, R. M. et al. Peeling químico no tratamento da hipercromia pós-inflamatória.
Research, Society and
Development, v. 11, n. 7, 2022.
SOUZA, T. A. et al. Gestão da hipercromia pós-inflamatória: uma revisão integrativa. In: Anais Científicos, 2022. Disponível em: https://doity.com.br/.
Acesso em: mar. 2026.
STEINER, D. et al. Hipercromias: classificação, diagnóstico e tratamento. Surgical & Cosmetic
Dermatology, v. 9, n. 1, p. 58-65, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajd.7_12652
TAYLOR, S. C.; COOK-BOLDEN, F.; RODRIGUES, D.
Treatment of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, v. 3, n. 7,
р. 28-34,2020.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Larissa Sousa da Silva Vieira, Maria Natália da Silva Oliveira , Rebeca Rodrigues Viana, Débora Mendonça Cavalcanti

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits the sharing of the work with proper acknowledgment of authorship and initial publication in this journal;
Authors are authorized to enter into separate, additional agreements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (e.g., posting in an institutional repository or publishing it as a book chapter), provided that authorship and initial publication in this journal are properly acknowledged, and that the work is adapted to the template of the respective repository;
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post and distribute their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their personal websites) at any point before or during the editorial process, as this may lead to productive exchanges and increase the impact and citation of the published work (see The Effect of Open Access);
Authors are responsible for correctly providing their personal information, including name, keywords, abstracts, and other relevant data, thereby defining how they wish to be cited. The journal’s editorial board is not responsible for any errors or inconsistencies in these records.
PRIVACY POLICY
The names and email addresses provided to this journal will be used exclusively for the purposes of this publication and will not be made available for any other purpose or to third parties.
Note: All content of the work is the sole responsibility of the author and the advisor.
