Preview

Medical alphabet

Advanced search

Current possibilities for the prevention and severity of post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation development in the treatment of patients with acne

https://doi.org/10.33667/2078-5631-2025-23-80-85

Abstract

Acne‑induced post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a common consequence of acne development, which contributes to patient dissatisfaction with the results of therapy. The pathophysiology of this type of dyschromia is a complex set of interactions between changes in the cellular structures of the skin, disruptions in the functioning of various signaling pathways and the immune response induced by the activity of bacterial biota. Retinoids are integral means of drug therapy for acne, which are also actively used for the prevention and treatment of various conditions accompanied by increased melanogenesis. Trifarotene is a 4th generation retinoid selective for RARγ. The conducted phase IV study LEAP (AkLief Evaluation in Acne‑induced Post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation) showed that trifarotene contributes to an active decrease in the severity of skin pigmentation with the achievement of a significant clinical effect on acne manifestations. Modern scientific achievements make it possible to take the path of timely prevention and elimination of persistent cosmetic defects that develop as a result of acne.

About the Authors

L. S. Kruglova
Central State Medical Academy of the Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation

Kruglova Larisa S., DM Sci (habil.), professor, head of Dept of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, vice‑rector for Academic Affairs 

Moscow 



K. B. Olkhovskaya
Central State Medical Academy of the Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation

Olkhovskaya Kira B., PhD Med, associate professor at Dept of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology

Moscow



References

1. Nikolakis G, Zouboulis CC. Evidenced based approach facilitates choosing between different topical compounds in acne vulgaris. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2025; 39 (4): 711–712. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.20590.

2. Zouboulis CC. Endocrinology and immunology of acne: two sides of the same coin. Exp Dermatol. 2020; 29: 840–859. DOI: 10.1111/exd.14172.

3. Gollnick HP, Bettoli V, Lambert J, Araviiskaia E, Binic I, Dessinioti C, Galadari I, Ganceviciene R, Ilter N, Kaegi M, Kemeny L, López Estebaranz JL, Massa A, Oprica C, Sinclair W, Szepietowski JC, Dréno B. A consensus based practical and daily guide for the treatment of acne patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2016; 30(9):1480–90. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.13675.

4. Reynolds, Rachel V. et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2024, V 90, Issue 5, 1006.e1–1006.e30. DOI: /10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017.

5. Drozhdina M.B., Bobro V.A., Sennikova Yu.A., Kornilova E.I. Post acne symptom complex. Approaches to therapy. Bulletin of Dermatology and Venereology. 2022; 98 (2): 00–00. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.25208/vdv1279

6. Shah SK, Alexis AF. Acne in skin of color: practical approaches to treatment. J Dermatolog Treat 2010; 21: 206–211. DOI: 10.3109/09546630903401496.

7. Kang SJ, Davis SA, Feldman SR, McMichael AJ. Dyschromia in skin of color. J Drugs Dermatol 2014; 13: 401–406.

8. Perkins AC, Cheng CE, Hillebrand GG, Miyamoto K, Kimball AB. Comparison of the epidemiology of acne vulgaris among Caucasian, Asian, Continental Indian and African American women. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2011; 25: 1054–1060. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468–3083.2010.03919.x.

9. Passeron, T., Nouveau, S., Duval, C., Cardot Leccia, N., Piffaut, V., Bourreau, E., Queille Roussel, C., & Bernerd, F. . Development and validation of a reproducible model for studying post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 2018; 31, 649–652. DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12692.

10. Tomita, Y., Maeda, K., & Tagami, H.. Melanocyte stimulating properties of arachidonic acid metabolites: Possible role in postinflammatory pigmentation. Pigment Cell Research, 1992; 5 (5 Pt 2), 357–361. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600–0749.1992.tb00562.x.

11. Gledhill, K., Rhodes, L. E., Brownrigg, M., Haylett, A. K., Masoodi, M., Thody, A. J., Nicolaou, A., & Tobin, D. J. . Prostaglandin E2 is produced by adult human epidermal melanocytes in response to UVB in a melanogenesis independent manner. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 2010; 23, 394–403. DOI: 10.1111/j.1755–148X.2010.00696.x.

12. Starner, R. J., McClelland, L., Abdel Malek, Z., Fricke, A., & Scott, G. PGE(2) is a UVR inducible autocrine factor for human melanocytes that stimulates tyrosinase activation. Experimental Dermatology, 2010; 19 (7), 682–684. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600–0625.2010.01074.x.

13. Nakano, S., Abe, Y., Nakajima, K., Sano, S., Yamamoto, O., Wakamatsu, K., Ito, S., Hayashi, M., & Suzuki, T. Establishment of a mouse model for post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 2021; 34(1), 101–110. DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12911.

14. Kruglova L.S., Ikonnikova E.V. Skin hyperpigmentation: modern views on the etiology and pathogenesis (part 1) Russian Journal of Skin and Venereal Diseases. 2017; Vol. 20 (3), 178–183. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.18821/1560-9588-2017-20-3-178-183

15. Cichorek, M., Wachulska, M., Stasiewicz, A., & Tymińska, A. Skin melanocytes: Biology and development. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology, 2013; 30 (1), 30–41. DOI: 10.5114/pdia.2013.33376.

16. Hasegawa, K., Fujiwara, R., Sato, K., Shin, J., Kim, S. J., Kim, M., & Kang, H.Y. Possible involvement of keratinocyte growth factor in the persistence of hyperpigmentation in both human facial solar lentigines and melasma. Annals of Dermatology, 2015; 27 (5), 626.

17. Kim, H. O., Kim, H. R., Kim, J. C., Kang, S. Y., Jung, M. J., Chang, S. E., Park, C. W., & Chung, B. Y. (2021). A randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of epidermal growth factor containing ointment on the treatment of solar lentigines as adjuvant therapy. Medicina (Kaunas), 2021; 57 (2), 166. DOI: 10.3390/medicina57020166.

18. Dreno B, Gollnick HP, Kang S, Thiboutot D, Bettoli V, Torres V, et al. Understanding innate immunity and inflammation in acne: implications for management. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2015; 29: S3–S11. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.13190.

19. Koike S, Yamasaki K. Melanogenesis connection with innate immunity and toll like receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21: 9769. DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249769.

20. Elbuluk N, Grimes P, Chien A, Hamzavi I, Alexis A, Taylor S, et al. The pathogenesis and management of acne induced post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Am J Clin Dermatol 2021; 22: 829–836. DOI: 10.1007/s40257-021-00633-4

21. Wang RF, Ko D, Friedman BJ, Lim HW, Mohammad TF. Disorders of hyperpigmentation. Part I. Pathogenesis and clinical features of common pigmentary disorders. J Am Acad Dermatol 2023; 88: 271–288. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2022.01.051.

22. Taylor SC, Cook Bolden F, Rahman Z, Strachan D. Acne vulgaris in skin of color. J Am Acad Dermatol 2002; 46: S98–S106. DOI: 10.1067/mjd.2002.120791.

23. Kashetsky N, Feschuk A, Pratt ME. Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation: a systematic review of treatment outcomes. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2024; 38: 470–479. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19566.

24. Andrew F. Alexis, et al. Efficacy and safety of trifarotene cream 50µg/g for the treatment of acne induced post inflammatory hyperpigmentation in subjects with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I–VI: Results from a phase IV trial (LEAP). E poster presented at EADV 2023.

25. Wu X, Wang X, Cen Q, Xi W, Shang Y, Zhang Z, et al. Intense pulsed light therapy improves acne induced post inflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation: a retrospective study in Chinese patients. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2022; 12: 1147–1156. DOI: 10.1007/s13555-022-00719-9.


Review

For citations:


Kruglova L.S., Olkhovskaya K.B. Current possibilities for the prevention and severity of post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation development in the treatment of patients with acne. Medical alphabet. 2025;1(23):80-85. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.33667/2078-5631-2025-23-80-85

Views: 7


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2078-5631 (Print)
ISSN 2949-2807 (Online)