How I Help Fade PIH Without Irritating the Skin

If you’ve ever had a breakout that left behind a dark mark long after the blemish healed—you’ve experienced post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH. As an esthetician in NYC, I treat this concern daily. PIH can affect all skin types, and it's especially common in melanin-rich skin.

The key to improving PIH isn’t going harder with actives—it’s about calming inflammation, supporting the skin barrier, and gradually fading discoloration. One product that checks all of those boxes is Anfisa Ân-Dew, a silky, antioxidant-rich serum I recommend often for clients with reactive, breakout-prone, or pigment-prone skin.

Why I Like This Formula for PIH

When treating PIH, I’m always balancing two priorities: helping fade pigment while keeping the skin calm and stable. Harsh treatments often backfire by causing irritation—which can actually make pigment worse.

Anfisa Ân-Dew uses a combination of pigment-correcting and anti-inflammatory ingredients that allow me to make visible progress on dark marks—without compromising the skin’s barrier.

Key Ingredient Highlights

Azelaic Acid (10%)
One of my top recommendations for fading PIH—azelaic acid helps regulate melanin production, calms redness, and has antimicrobial benefits. It works especially well in clients who deal with both pigmentation and breakouts. It’s also well tolerated by sensitive skin, making it a safer long-term solution than hydroquinone or aggressive acids.

Hexylresorcinol
This brightening agent is known to target tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin overproduction. It supports a more even skin tone and has antioxidant properties that make it great for urban or stressed skin types. I like it because it works at the source of discoloration without causing sensitivity.

Gluconolactone (PHA)
A gentle exfoliant that also hydrates—this helps improve skin texture and allows other ingredients to penetrate more effectively. PHAs are less irritating than AHAs, making them ideal for treating PIH in barrier-compromised skin.

How I Recommend Using Anfisa Ân-Dew

Here’s how I guide my clients in using Anfisa Ân-Dew for PIH:

Use it morning and/or night, applying 1–2 pumps on clean, dry skin before moisturizer.
Always follow with sunscreen in the morning—UV exposure can worsen pigment.
Be consistent—results typically show within 4–8 weeks with daily use.
Avoid over-exfoliating—this serum already includes PHA, so there’s no need to layer additional acids unless your skin is already very tolerant.

Real Results in the Clinic

One of my clients came in with stubborn PIH from hormonal acne. Her skin was sensitive, and previous treatments had only made things worse. We rebuilt her routine around calming ingredients and made Anfisa Ân-Dew the core of her brightening step. After six weeks, her skin looked clearer, smoother, and brighter—and she no longer felt like she had to cover everything with makeup.

Final Thoughts

PIH is common, frustrating, and absolutely treatable. You don’t need to strip your skin or push it to the edge to see results. With the right ingredients—like those in Anfisa Ân-Dew—you can calm inflammation, regulate pigment, and gradually reveal more even, healthy-looking skin.

If you’re dealing with PIH and want help building a routine that works for your skin, I’d love to support you. You can book an in-person session at my NYC clinic or schedule a virtual consultation.

Book your appointment here—and let’s create a plan to help your skin heal beautifully.