3 months ago
PIE or something else? Redness only visible in harsh lighting. Product recommendation.
I have a question about persistent redness after acne.
I've finally managed to get my breakouts under control, and most of my pigmentation has faded. However, I've noticed that whenever I'm under harsh lighting (CIR lighting, high-contrast lighting, or direct sunlight), the areas where I previously had acne look extremely red. Under normal indoor lighting, it's clear.
I don't think it's rosacea because the symptoms don't really match. I'm wondering if this could be post-inflammatory erythema (PIE).
I've also realized that less is more for my skin. I keep my routine very simple with lightweight products because my skin really doesn't like anything that feels heavy or occlusive.
Cleanser: Bioderma micellar water + Face shop rice Water Bright Foaming Face Wash (my skin is extremely oily in a tropical climate, and this helps control oil)
Toner: Round Lab Dokdo Toner
Morning: Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
Moisturiser - Etude house song jung soothing emulsion. (At night)
I'm looking to add one product that could specifically help with this redness. The products I'm considering are:
Anua Azelaic Acid Serum – I've heard azelaic acid can be quite slow to show results, and I'm also hoping to avoid any purging if possible.
Numbuzin No. 5 Glutathione Serum – This looks interesting, but I'm a little hesitant because it contains shea butter.
Medicube TXA Serum – I've seen mixed opinions on it, and I'm not convinced that higher concentrations necessarily mean better results.
Open to any other products suggestion.
Has anyone dealt with this type of redness before? If it does sound like PIE, which of these products would you recommend, or is there something else that worked better for you?
Comments (2)
Hi! There are limits to giving advice online, but if you were my client: ❌ Anua Azelaic Acid – I don’t think you need it if this is just leftover acne redness (PIE), not rosacea. ❌ Numbuzin No. 5 – Mainly a brightening serum. I don’t think it’s the best match for your concern. ❌ Medicube TXA Serum – I don’t have enough experience with it to recommend it. ✅ Bring Green Zinc Teca Serum – This would be my pick. A few friends with skin very similar to yours absolutely love it. I’d focus on calming the redness first before adding stronger actives. 💡 One more thing: If you’re using micellar water with a cotton pad, use a very light touch. Rubbing can make the redness look worse. Hope that helps! 😊
Thank you so much! This is exactly the kind of insight I was hoping for. I really appreciate that you explained why you would or wouldn't recommend each product instead of just listing them. I also hadn't even heard of the Bring Green Zinc Teca Serum before, so thank you for introducing me to something new. It actually sounds much more in line with what my skin tends to like. This really helps. 😊