How can I get rid of PIH on my hands? (Photos)

Question

I used a skin Lightening cream on my inner to get rid of pigmentation. Unfortunately it has resulted in causing discoloration/PIH to my hands and palm and it’s bothering me. I’ve applied before and after pictures of what my hands used to look like.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

What you’re describing fits very well with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) triggered by irritation from a skin-lightening product. This is actually something we see fairly often on the hands because the skin there is exposed, frequently washed, and tends to react more strongly to active ingredients.

The key point with PIH is that it’s not permanent damage—it’s a signal that the skin has been inflamed, and now it’s in a “repair and pigment overproduction” phase.

Why this likely happened

Many skin-lightening products contain ingredients that can be too harsh depending on concentration or formulation, such as:

hydroquinone (especially if overused or unsupervised)
strong acids (glycolic, kojic, salicylic in high percentages)
retinoids
or combinations that disrupt the skin barrier

When the barrier gets irritated, the skin responds by producing extra melanin—especially in areas like the hands.

The good news: hands can improve

PIH on the hands can take a bit longer than the face, but it does fade with the right approach, especially once the trigger is removed and the barrier is restored.

What helps most (step-by-step)
1. Stop all irritating/lightening products for now

This is important. Continuing actives while the skin is inflamed will keep the pigment cycle going.

2. Focus on barrier repair first

Before treating pigment, we need the skin calm. This usually includes:

thick, bland moisturizers (ceramide-based creams, petrolatum-based ointments at night)
gentle cleansing only
minimizing friction and excessive washing

Think of this phase as “resetting” the skin.

3. Gradual pigment correction (once calm)

After a few weeks of stabilization, we can introduce gentler fading agents such as:

niacinamide
azelaic acid
licorice extract or kojic acid in low concentrations
vitamin C (gentle formulations)

These are slower but much safer for irritated skin like hands.

4. Sun protection (very important even for hands)

Even incidental UV exposure (driving, walking) can keep PIH lingering. A broad-spectrum SPF on the hands during the day makes a noticeable difference over time.

5. In-office options if it lingers

If the discoloration is persistent after calming the skin, dermatology treatments can help:

very low-strength chemical peels (carefully selected for hand skin)
gentle laser toning (only if skin type is appropriate and stable)
targeted prescription fading creams once irritation is fully resolved
What to expect

Hand PIH typically improves slowly—think 8 to 16 weeks for visible change, sometimes longer depending on depth of pigment and ongoing exposure.

The most important predictor of improvement is not how strong the treatment is, but how consistently the skin is kept:

calm
protected
and non-irritated

How can I get rid of PIH on my hands? (Photos)

Answers (1)

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