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Plasma Pen Caused PIH!

ORIGINAL POST

Plasma Pen Caused PIH!

jtroyer1980

I developed PIH about 1 week after my plasma pen procedure. I consulted with a plastic surgeon, and a dermatologist and they both agreed that I had developed post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The dermatologist prescribed 5% hydra queen cream to be applied under my eyes once a day for three months. I decided thereafter to contact the plasma pen technician, and explain to her what had happened. She told me that she would refund 100% of my money, but she would need (her own) photos of my face for “insurance purposes“. I decided against my better judgment to go ahead and go

To her office and let her take pictures so I could receive my money back. After she took the pictures she proceeded to tell me I DID NOT have Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation, and she kept referring to the dark circles as “post inflammatory” not post Inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Which is not what the plastic surgeon or the dermatologist told me. She refused to refund my money and told me to come back in 5 weeks to see if the dark circles have disappeared.

Just as reference, I wore 50+ sunscreen everyday to protect my skin from the sun, and I did not go out in the sun at all before this developed.

Replies (2)

June 26, 2021
It happened to me in April.Went back to my estetician, she prescribed hidroquinone 5%. I used it twice a day for the first couple of weeks. It's working, no worries. Apparently all doctors forget to tell us about how common PIH is after plasma pen.
September 7, 2022
Thank you for your response about the plasma pen. Your undereye was able to take 5% every day? I am currently dealing with post inflammatory hyperpigmentation from the plasma can as well. I am six weeks out and I have terrible under eye hyperpigmentation from this procedure. My doctor prescribed me 4% hydrocodone but I am getting very red and irritated so I had to scale back. I’m so nervous that this is not going to go away.
UPDATED FROM jtroyer1980
3 months post

Update

jtroyer1980
Post Inflammatory hyperpigmentation still hasn’t faded. If you’re thinking about doing this DONT!! It will ruin your skin! Ive contacted the esthetician and she keeps claiming I don’t have hyperpigmentation! Pretty sure she’s just trying to deflect any blame. I really wish I knew this was common issue, I would have never done this.

Replies (8)

March 28, 2022
Did the provider do skin Fitzpatrick scoring first? Especially if you are Fitz 4 you’ll need to start with skin preparation by taking vitamin C supplements 1000 mg/day for 4 weeks prior and after procedure. This is to reduce the risk of PIH. Also you need to use SPF 50 twice or three times a day forever to maintain the result. Just like when you go to the gym, worked hard and coming home to eat whatever you can, it won’t work. You need to follow the aftercare directed by the provider very carefully and maintain the communication with them if you are not sure of what type of skin care to use. I hope this helps.
April 1, 2022
So sorry you have experienced this from a Plasma Pen treatment. I am not sure if it was one of our pens that was used, but regardless of this your technician should have filled in a consultation form with you and discussed the Fitzpatrick scale with you also, Have you any skin conditions, do you suffer with pigmentation. Was it a True plasma pen used or a cheap replica that generates an electrical arc, not a plasma arc?
Had you had any treatments before this treatment, Any fillers? Did you have a sun tan or have fake tan on? This is a no no also.
May 21, 2022
Have you done anything that has worked to lighten this?
September 17, 2022
Has your skin improved? Im 3 weeks after plasma pen all around my eyes and forehead. Skin around my eyes look similar to yours except I look like a panda. And to add to my horror I have indentations every spot the pen hit. I am so depressed. Has your pigmentation improved?
October 17, 2023
Hi Holly,
I am freshly out of plasma… biggest regret of my life.. indents all over the face and really worried it won’t improve over the time.. how is your situation?
June 2, 2024
Have your dents improved? If so, what did you do to improve them?I am 5 weeks and still have the dots.
October 17, 2023
I am over a year on and hav no hyperpigmentation and indents are barely noticeable if there at all. I think I can see them in certain light but no one else would. Maybe I stopped caring too.Please dont stress..i was so depressed and reading on here made me worse. Let scabs fall off naturally. I tried every cream etc suggested on here after scabs and ended up getting very inflamed skin. Let your skin heal but I think rosehip oil suited me best and may hav helped. Try not stress. I was in a very bad place but a year on Im fine and my skin is fine..no improvements on my eyelids or wrinkles. It probably will take 2 r 3 months for your skin to feel ok again but you can cover up with the right makeup. Take care. Here to chat if you need.
October 17, 2023
Also I think Bio-oil was helping indentations but I got inflamation reaction from something..probably not bio-oil but I had to stop using everything. Hope this heps