Treatment of Acne-Induced Macular Hyperpigmentation in Fitzpatrick Skin Types V - VI: A Scoping Review.

Acne-induced macular hyperpigmentation (AMH) is a common issue among patients with highly melanated skin, particularly those with Fitzpatrick Skin Types (FST) V - VI, which includes nonwhite patients with 'brown' and 'black' skin types. Despite the significant physical, emotional, and social harm caused by AMH, many clinical trials either fail to report FST data or do not include patients with FST V to VI. This scoping review summarizes current research on AMH treatment for patients with FST V to VI. Our review underscores the need for more data on the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of AMH treatments for patients with FST V to VI. Dermatologists who treat AMH should routinely collect data on patient FST, race, and ethnicity. Clinical trials should enroll more patients with FST V to VI from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to generate data that better informs clinical practice. This approach will ensure that treatment strategies are based on data relevant to the patient populations most in need of effective AMH care.Citation: Smith CA, Hogeling M, Cheng CE. Treatment of acne-induced macular hyperpigmentation in Fitzpatrick skin types V to VI: a scoping review. J Drugs Dermatol. 2025;24(6):579-584. doi:10.36849/JDD.8703.