Dimorphiq
Positivity is what the world needs more of
- Joined
- May 26, 2026
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From the beginning of my sophomore year until the end of my junior year, I dealt with severe acne that made me incredibly insecure. Now, entering my sophomore year of college, the active breakouts are gone, but I am still dealing with the leftover hurdle: PIE (Post-Inflammatory Erythema).
Going back to my starting point, I felt super insecure as I had never broken out prior; which made me cope and think I just had terrible skin due to genetics.
Looking back with the knowledge I have now, I was just a dumbass. I didn't have a skincare routine, had no restrictions inside of my diet, and kept popping my pimples.
However, this thread isn't about how I cleared up my severe acne (I can cover that in another thread; and no, I didn't use Accutane). Instead, I will be talking about my current regimen to get rid of my left over PIE (big thanks to Clav as this is a modified version of his old skincare).
My skin has cleared up hella, I am still shocked!
Going back to my starting point, I felt super insecure as I had never broken out prior; which made me cope and think I just had terrible skin due to genetics.
Looking back with the knowledge I have now, I was just a dumbass. I didn't have a skincare routine, had no restrictions inside of my diet, and kept popping my pimples.
However, this thread isn't about how I cleared up my severe acne (I can cover that in another thread; and no, I didn't use Accutane). Instead, I will be talking about my current regimen to get rid of my left over PIE (big thanks to Clav as this is a modified version of his old skincare).
A lot of people confuse general PIH and PIE. If you want to treat your skin effectively, you have to know exactly what you are dealing with.
PIH stands for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which again means it is a melanin issue. It leaves behind brown/dark spots after a pimple heals. However, this is a lot more common in darker skin tones (can happen even if you have a lighter skin tone though).
PIE on the other hand stands for post-inflammatory erythema. Unlike PIH, this is not an issue with melanin. Rather, it is a vascular issue. PIE leaves pink, red, or purple marks that are caused by damaged capillaries (microscopic blood vessels). This is what we are targeting here, although it could work just as well for PIH.
PIH stands for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which again means it is a melanin issue. It leaves behind brown/dark spots after a pimple heals. However, this is a lot more common in darker skin tones (can happen even if you have a lighter skin tone though).
PIE on the other hand stands for post-inflammatory erythema. Unlike PIH, this is not an issue with melanin. Rather, it is a vascular issue. PIE leaves pink, red, or purple marks that are caused by damaged capillaries (microscopic blood vessels). This is what we are targeting here, although it could work just as well for PIH.
- Cleanser (clean ingredients)
- Moisturizer (clean ingredients + containing ceramides)
- Spray bottle (able to lightly mist)
- Niacinamide + Zinc Serum
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Caffeinated Eye Serum
- Tinted SPF (non-comedogenic)
- Azelaic Acid
- Dermastamp
- 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
- Moisturizer (clean ingredients + containing ceramides)
- Spray bottle (able to lightly mist)
- Niacinamide + Zinc Serum
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Caffeinated Eye Serum
- Tinted SPF (non-comedogenic)
- Azelaic Acid
- Dermastamp
- 70% Isopropyl Alcohol
- In the morning, make sure you DO NOT CLEANSE . Over-cleansing can strip your body of its essential ceramides which can increase inflammation. Just splash your face with water. As for the drying portion, this is pretty self explanatory, but make sure you dry face with a clean towel or let air dry.
- Niacinamide + Zinc Serum: Niacinamide is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. PIE is just damaged capillaries near the surface of the skin due to inflammation. Niacinamide calms the blood vessel walls preventing them from dilatation, while Zinc promotes the healing of any residual tissue damage.
- Mist + Hyaluronic Acid: The appearance of PIE appears much worse when the skin is dehydrated. The plumping up of the stratum corneum (outer layer of your skin) through deep hydration leads to a masking effect, which makes the appearance of redness appear much less noticeable right away. Hydration is also crucial for cellular turnover and tissue repair.
- Caffeinated Eye Serum: I just have this in the routine to aid with slight eye bags. However, if you have RECESSED INFRAORBITALS, then this will not work for you (a big reason why a lot of people say it is cope).
- Moisturizer: If your skin is working hard to fight off irritants, the time it takes for you to heal your blood vessels from PIE will increase. Look for moisturizers that contain ceramides, Cica, or allantoin to help soothe any redness caused by the damaged blood vessels.
- Tinted SPF: Protects your skin from UV rays that will stimulate angiogenesis (creation of more weak, leaky blood vessels), which makes PIE darker and permanent (You don’t need tinted).
- Niacinamide + Zinc Serum: Niacinamide is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. PIE is just damaged capillaries near the surface of the skin due to inflammation. Niacinamide calms the blood vessel walls preventing them from dilatation, while Zinc promotes the healing of any residual tissue damage.
- Mist + Hyaluronic Acid: The appearance of PIE appears much worse when the skin is dehydrated. The plumping up of the stratum corneum (outer layer of your skin) through deep hydration leads to a masking effect, which makes the appearance of redness appear much less noticeable right away. Hydration is also crucial for cellular turnover and tissue repair.
- Caffeinated Eye Serum: I just have this in the routine to aid with slight eye bags. However, if you have RECESSED INFRAORBITALS, then this will not work for you (a big reason why a lot of people say it is cope).
- Moisturizer: If your skin is working hard to fight off irritants, the time it takes for you to heal your blood vessels from PIE will increase. Look for moisturizers that contain ceramides, Cica, or allantoin to help soothe any redness caused by the damaged blood vessels.
- Tinted SPF: Protects your skin from UV rays that will stimulate angiogenesis (creation of more weak, leaky blood vessels), which makes PIE darker and permanent (You don’t need tinted).
- Cleanser: Use a cleanser to break down sebum, SPF, and daily bacteria. Unlike the morning, a thorough cleanse at night is essential to clear the face so your active ingredients can actually work.
- Dry Face: Either clean towel or air dry.
- Azelaic Acid: Acts as a potent anti-inflammatory and inhibits dark spots. By reducing the swelling and calming the blood vessels, it actively fades the stubborn red and pink marks left behind by acne.
- Moisturizer: Locks in hydration and supports skin barrier while asleep.
- Dry Face: Either clean towel or air dry.
- Azelaic Acid: Acts as a potent anti-inflammatory and inhibits dark spots. By reducing the swelling and calming the blood vessels, it actively fades the stubborn red and pink marks left behind by acne.
- Moisturizer: Locks in hydration and supports skin barrier while asleep.
- Change Pillowcase Every 3 Nights: Reduces the buildup of bacteria, oils, and dead skin cells contacting your face
- Clean Diet (No Processed Sugars): Sugar spikes insulin and triggers systemic inflammation
- Dermastamping (Once a Month): DO NOT USE A DERMAROLLER. Rollers enter and exit the skin at an angle, creating micro-tears and scratching the tissue. A derma stamp goes straight down, creating clean micro-channels that stimulate collagen production and skin remodeling. (MAKE SURE YOU KEEP EVERYTHING STERILE).
- Forehead Depth: 1.0mm
- Left Side of Face Depth: 1.5mm (Zygos/Cheekbone area: 1.0mm)
- Bottom of Face Depth: 1.0mm (Avoid lips entirely)
- Right Side of Face Depth: 1.5mm (Zygos/Cheekbone area: 1.0mm)
- Eyebrows, Under Eyes, and Nose Depth: 0.5mm
- 4 Liters of Water Daily: Keeps the skin hydrated from the inside out (aids cellular turnover)
- Good Sleep: Deep sleep is when your body undergoes optimal tissue repair
- Sauna: Flushes out the pores and boosts healthy blood flow
- Clean Diet (No Processed Sugars): Sugar spikes insulin and triggers systemic inflammation
- Dermastamping (Once a Month): DO NOT USE A DERMAROLLER. Rollers enter and exit the skin at an angle, creating micro-tears and scratching the tissue. A derma stamp goes straight down, creating clean micro-channels that stimulate collagen production and skin remodeling. (MAKE SURE YOU KEEP EVERYTHING STERILE).
- Forehead Depth: 1.0mm
- Left Side of Face Depth: 1.5mm (Zygos/Cheekbone area: 1.0mm)
- Bottom of Face Depth: 1.0mm (Avoid lips entirely)
- Right Side of Face Depth: 1.5mm (Zygos/Cheekbone area: 1.0mm)
- Eyebrows, Under Eyes, and Nose Depth: 0.5mm
- 4 Liters of Water Daily: Keeps the skin hydrated from the inside out (aids cellular turnover)
- Good Sleep: Deep sleep is when your body undergoes optimal tissue repair
- Sauna: Flushes out the pores and boosts healthy blood flow
- Potential purge (because of the pushing of underlying clogged pores to the surface)
- Temporary redness and localized inflammation (from dermastamping)
- Infection and irritation (If dermastamping unhygienically)
- Temporary redness and localized inflammation (from dermastamping)
- Infection and irritation (If dermastamping unhygienically)
Niacinamide + Zinc: https://theordinary.com/en-us/niacinamide-10-zinc-1-serum-100436.html
Hyaluronic Acid: https://theordinary.com/en-us/hyaluronic-acid-2-b5-serum-with-ceramides-100637.html
Caffeine Eye Serum: https://theordinary.com/en-au/caffeine-solution-5-egcg-eye-serum-100412.html
Azelaic Acid: https://theordinary.com/en-us/azelaic-acid-suspension-10-exfoliator-100407.html
Moisturizer/Cleanser Duo: https://based.com/products/daily-skincare-duo
Dermastamp: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DG88MXVR?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
70% Isopropyl Alcohol: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006Q0062?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
Hyaluronic Acid: https://theordinary.com/en-us/hyaluronic-acid-2-b5-serum-with-ceramides-100637.html
Caffeine Eye Serum: https://theordinary.com/en-au/caffeine-solution-5-egcg-eye-serum-100412.html
Azelaic Acid: https://theordinary.com/en-us/azelaic-acid-suspension-10-exfoliator-100407.html
Moisturizer/Cleanser Duo: https://based.com/products/daily-skincare-duo
Dermastamp: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DG88MXVR?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
70% Isopropyl Alcohol: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006Q0062?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
My skin has cleared up hella, I am still shocked!
