Name a common cause of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation after facial treatments.

• A. Inflammation or trauma to the skin, often worsened by sun exposure.
• B. Increased skin hydration.
• C. Regular use of sunscreen.
• D. Gentle cleansers.

Answer: (A)

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation happens when the skin’s inflammatory response to injury or irritation during healing stimulates melanocytes to produce extra pigment. After facial treatments, any inflammation or microtrauma can trigger this pigment production, and sun exposure makes it worse by UV light increasing melanin synthesis. That combination—inflammation or trauma plus sun exposure—is the common trigger for PIH. The other options don’t fit because hydration alone doesn’t cause pigment changes, regular sunscreen actually helps prevent PIH by reducing UV-triggered pigmentation, and gentle cleansers reduce irritation rather than causing pigment changes.