Dietary Modulation of Melanogenesis and Inflammation in Post‐Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: A Narrative Review
Leah Cliatt, Valerie FoyABSTRACT
Background
Post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a common acquired disorder that disproportionately affects Fitzpatrick skin types III‐VI. Current treatment options include topical depigmenting agents, oral tranexamic acid, and laser treatments, which often have variable and incomplete results. This review examines dietary factors such as antioxidants found in vitamins C, D, and E, polyphenols including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and omega‐3 fatty acids that may modulate inflammatory signaling, melanogenic pathways, and oxidative stress, including emerging evidence from the gut‐skin axis.
Methods
A narrative literature review was conducted in April 2026 using PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. The initial search yielded 593 articles, after screening 104 underwent full‐text review, and 54 were included. Related pigmentary disorders were included when relevant to melanogenesis.
Results
The advanced glycation end‐products/receptor for advanced glycation end‐products (AGE/RAGE) and interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) axis provides evidence linking metabolic dysfunction to melanogenesis. Dietary antioxidants have been shown to modulate tyrosinase and reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐mediated pigment production, while EGCG demonstrates both antimelanogenic and gut barrier effects. Omega‐3 fatty acids reduce inflammatory cytokines and promote tyrosinase degradation in preclinical models. Emerging evidence from the gut‐skin axis suggests that gut dysbiosis may influence cutaneous inflammation through shared immune and metabolic pathways.
Conclusion
Although direct clinical evidence remains limited for dietary intervention in PIH and bioavailability gaps are another challenge, dietary modification may serve as an adjunct to standard therapies and warrants additional investigation through prospective clinical trials.