Why You Have Hyperpigmentation &
How to Get an Even Skin Tone

Ever looked in the mirror and wondered why your skin tone looks uneven? That’s hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation creates darker patches of skin, standing out against your normal skin tone. Your skin can appear particularly uneven after a bad bout of acne, but don’t worry. While this can be frustrating it is harmless and can be treated.

Hyperpigmentation is more common in darker skin tones, but it can affect any gender, race or skin colour. For many of us, hyperpigmentation can trigger confidence issues. We turn to make-up and other cover-ups to try and hide our patchy skin tone.

Here at Brains Street, we know that not everybody wants to wear make-up. And hiding your insecurities day after day can feel exhausting. So, we use science-backed products to get you good results, fast.

To treat your hyperpigmentation effectively, you need to know what sort you have. There are a few different types, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and post-inflammatory erythema. We’re going to explore each of those in more detail to give you the knowledge you need to diagnose your hyperpigmentation, choose a treatment plan and achieve that even skin tone you’ve been dreaming of.

Hyperpigmentation is a common condition that causes patches of your skin to darken. It occurs when skin cells produce too much melanin, the pigment responsible for the colour of your skin. Skin can end up appearing blotchy and uneven. Although harmless, hyperpigmentation can be frustrating and trigger low self-esteem issues.

Hyperpigmentation is a result of excess melanin production. There are several triggers but the most common culprits are acne scarring and sun damage. These are closely followed by age and hormonal factors.

Head this way to read more about what causes hyperpigmentation.

The easiest way to tell the difference between PIH and PIE is to look at the colour of the pigmentation on your skin.

If you have a darker complexion with grey or brown patches, then you likely have post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. If you have a lighter complexion with red, pink or deep purple areas, then it’s probably post-inflammatory erythema.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation

• More common in darker skin tones
• Grey or brown

Post-inflammatory erythema

• More common in lighter skin tones
• Red, pink or purple

It’s also important to remember that there can be other causes for discolouration and uneven skin tone; acne isn’t the only culprit.

The term hypopigmentation describes incidences when patches of skin become lighter in response to injury or illness, in contrast with hyperpigmentation, when dark patches form on the skin as a consequence of the skin creating too much melanin.

Although hypopigmentation is more noticeable in darker skin tones, due to the stronger contrast between light and dark skin, it can affect anyone.

How you treat hyperpigmentation will depend on what’s causing it. While some types of hyperpigmentation can fade on their own, we know how good it feels to be in control of your skincare with a solid skincare regimen.

There’s one thing that will never change in our hyperpigmentation treatment recommendations - sunscreen is always a good idea. No matter what type of hyperpigmentation you’re experiencing, you should be using sunscreen as part of your daily regimen. Why? Well, inflammation resulting in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can cause your melanin to be more active than usual, making it especially sensitive to the sun’s powerful UV rays. So, even if it doesn’t seem sunny outside, be sure to apply a high SPF before you begin your day.

Here’s how to identify what type of hyperpigmentation treatment you’ll need.

Before you start treating your hyperpigmentation, try to look for the cause. Have you added anything new to your life that could be leading your skin to react or become inflamed?

While acne scarring is the hyperpigmentation trigger we see most frequently in our customers, if the condition is exacerbated by allergies, reactions to skincare products, or new medications, you'll need to remove these triggers to see the best results from your hyperpigmentation treatment.

If you’re experiencing hyperpigmentation with melasma, which is caused by a change or fluctuation in hormones, it might not be possible to fully eradicate the hyperpigmentation until that hormonal imbalance has settled back down. But, you can still treat your hyperpigmentation to reduce its appearance, helping you to feel calmer and more confident again.

Topical Retinol optimises skin cell regeneration and can therefore work deep within the skin to improve discolouration and even out your overall skin tone.


If you are new to Retinol, start with a lower strength product every second day and slowly increase to daily application. Read our tips for getting started with Retinol treatments, here.

Please note: Retinol can cause your skin to be more sensitive initially and you must wear a sunscreen before sun exposure. We also recommend avoiding Retinol during pregnancy.

Read our tips for making your post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation treatment even more effective, here.

Hyperpigmentation can go away on its own, but it depends on the severity. If you’re experiencing dermal (deep) hyperpigmentation, it could take a long time for your skin to heal without treatment. This is because of the amount of skin cell turnover you’ll need to generate fresh layers of skin with lower levels of melanin.

If you’re hoping that your hyperpigmentation will go away on its own, it’s important to look for what’s causing your hyperpigmentation.

For hyperpigmentation with hormonal triggers, such as melasma, your hormones will need to return to their normal level before your hyperpigmentation heals fully.

Whilst if you’re experiencing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the cause of that inflammation will need to be eradicated before your hyperpigmentation can begin to heal on its own.

If you’re treating your hyperpigmentation, you can typically expect to see results within 4-6 weeks. This gives your skin cells time to complete their turnover cycle, whilst allowing products time to work.

Of course, everyone is different. We’ve had some reports of customers noticing changes from just one week of their new skincare regimen! Whilst more severe cases of hyperpigmentation, where the dermal layer is affected, may take a little longer.

There are some really simple thingsthat you can do toprevent hyperpigmentation that will alsohelp protect the health of the rest of your body too.

Here at Brains Street, our favourite way to prevent hyperpigmentation is through regular use of sunscreen. A good sunscreen should be a part of every skincare regimen. When your skin is exposed to UV radiation, it'll produce more melanin to absorb the rays in it’s attempt to protect your skin. Sunscreen helps prevent that. Since melanin is the main cause of hyperpigmentation, we recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50. This applies whether you’re trying to treat or prevent hyperpigmentation.

If you experience acne, you can help prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or post-inflammatory erythema. Treat your acne right away to prevent any acne scarring or long term damage to your skin. And, of course, don’t squeeze your pimples!

Finally, it’s always good practice to track your skin’s general wellbeing over time. Pay close attention to any reactions or irritations and take action to treat them before they become too severe. The earlier you notice any hyperpigmentation, the milder it’ll be, meaning it’ll be much easier to treat.

Check out our options for lightening hyperpigmentation here.

Not sure what type of product would work best for your skin? We offer free virtual skin consultation on our website everyday from 9am - 9pm AEST.