Most people, especially adults, tend to have very minimal reaction to insect bites. Mosquito bites, for instance, are usually harmless, but can leave a puffy, reddish bump on the skin. These bumps do go away on their own in a few hours or days, provided they don’t get infected. In some cases, however, a mosquito bite can also manifest as dark or black spots. To some, the spots on their skin may present like a skin bruise, while for others, it can present as small blisters on the surface of their skin. This occurrence is known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).

This condition usually occurs when a wound, skin scrape, rash or pimple causes the skin to be inflamed, which subsequently, triggers the skin healing process. During this process, too much melanin (the protein in skin which gives the organ its colour) can be released, causing a skin discolouration that presents itself as dark or black spots1. PIH usually fades away over time (with or without treatment), although the duration it takes to fully disappear varies for different individuals. The condition can also be treated using a prescription cream, which is especially effective for deep scarring. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s), hydroquinone and topical retinoids can all work in their own ways to treat the dark spots which occur with PIH¹. Alternatively, you can prevent the occurrence of PIH by limiting the amount of time you spend under the sun, or by using a sunscreen cream to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays.