Shea Butter for Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Learn how to use shea butter for post inflammatory hyperpigmentation in this article!

What is Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation?

Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation is a type of temporary pigmentation that arises due as a response to inflammation (such as acne inflammation, psoriasis, dermatitis, etc) or because of injury (such as thermal burns or burns due to chemical peels, dermabrasion or laser skin therapies).

This type of hyperpigmentation is characterized by flat spots of discoloration on the skin. They range in color from red, pink, purple to brown or black spots. It often appears due to acne and mostly affects people with a darker or olive skin tone.

How does Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation Come About?

When an injury, acne or skin condition that causes inflammation occurs on the skin, it triggers the melanin producing cells to release excessive pigment granules. These pigment granules contain a pigmentation enzyme that starts the melanin production. This causes the granules to darken the inflamed area. The hyperpigmentation remains visible long after the injury has healed. This is the main reason people seek all sorts of treatments – to make hyperpigmentation disappear and fast.

Thankfully, you don’t have to go for expensive treatments to remove hyperpigmentation at the dermatologists. More and more people are turning to natural remedies to help naturally soften hyperpigmentation. And the best part is that they do work when used consistently!

The remedy I’m sharing in this post is shea butter. This is a natural plant butter that has been used for centuries to moisturize skin and keep it soft and supple. Some of the benefits of shea butter for post inflammatory hyperpigmentation include:

Naturally speed up healing process. Shea butter works for post inflammatory hyperpigmentation because it is filled to the brim with antioxidants, vitamins and fatty acids. All this nourishing nutrients sink deep into the skin and speed up the natural healing process.
Shea butter contains anti-inflammatory properties that reduces inflammation and soothes redness.
It’s extremely soothing for rashes and sensitive irritated skin.
It has protective fatty acids also known as Vitamin F that create a protective layer over the affected area, lubricating it and allowing it to heal while keeping out skin irritants like germs.
Shea butter has scar fading properties that help lighten the post inflammatory hyperpigmentation spots and even out the discoloration.

Where to Get Shea Butter

Always ensure to purchase 100% pure raw shea butter. This is the type that has all the nourishing nutrients intact. Also, buy shea butter from a reputed seller so you can get it at a high quality and fresh. I love Better Shea Butter’s Unrefined West Shea Butter. It comes in one pound packet, which keeps the shea butter fresh. It’s soft as cookie dough and can be used straight or melted and whipped into a cream!

How to Use Shea Butter for Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

You can use shea butter straight on your face in place of your usual moisturizer. Or better yet, add more nourishing ingredients to boost healing and even out your skin! Here’s the recipe for a DIY Shea Butter Hyperpigmentation Healing Cream:

What you need:

¾ cup of pure shea butter (where to get it)
1 tsp raw honey (where to get it)
1 tsp sea buckthorn oil (where to get it)
3 tbsp rose water (where to get it)
5 drops lavender essential oil (where to get it)
5 drops geranium essential oil (where to get it)
5 drops carrot seed essential oil (where to get it)
High speed blender (where to get it)
Wide mouth amber jar for storage (where to get it)

Directions:

Simply place the shea butter, raw honey, rose water and sea buckthorn oil into the blender.
Blend away for about a minute or two till you get a white creamy mixture.
Transfer it into a wide mouth jar then add the drops of essential oils.
Stir the mixture to combine the essential oils.
Your cream is ready!
Apply a pea-sized amount all over your face in place of your usual moisturizer.

Are you ready to use shea butter for post inflammatory hyperpigmentation? What other natural remedies have you used to naturally treat PIH?