Pepper Spots

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

These things are really embarrassing (especially as a guy), but you all know that.

The question is, I know people say that they will work their way out “eventually” or they will get “burned off” at the next treatment. The thing is, this is my 4th treatment, and I don’t want all the hair gone on my legs, so I was most likely going to stop after this treatment. The question is then, what do I do with these pepper spots? I’ve been using a rosemary mint sea salt scrub (by Sunshine Spa) about 2-3 times per week.

My thighs look horrid. I’ve been treated with a Gentlelase 18mm/16J, so it’s powerful enough to kill hair (I’ve seen a major reduction)… but even 13 weeks after the third treatment, there were a bunch of pepper spots. This is really depressing me :(. I keep wearing jeans, but it’s summer and super hot. They’re also on my arm and my friend pointed out how it looks like I burned all the hair on my arm.

#2

Can you please post a photo of them?

#3

Tretinoin 0.025% for a week or 2 should help. Or get an urea cream- 20%. Mild glycolic acid peels (30-40%) can also help with these.

If you can’t get any of these without a prescription, try salicylic acid 1-2% CREAM. Not face wash. You can even do some salicylic peels at home using this…

http://www.kaviskin.com/products/salicylic-acid-8.html

Tretinoin and salicylic acid may cause your skin to become dry. So moisturize in the morning and use them at night.

Tretinoin, SA, GA may make your skin more prone to sun burn. So if you decide to go out in the sun in shorts, wear a sunscreen.

1 Like
#4

Here are pics of the leg:

http://tinypic.com/r/123mfj9/6
http://tinypic.com/r/15e8s3s/6
http://tinypic.com/r/2iv0m1c/6

And arm:

http://tinypic.com/r/2yux3lx/6

Sorry the quality isn’t great. I generally stay inside most of the day anyways lol. I think I MIGHT be able to buy this online apparently:

http://www.amazon.com/Obagi-Tretinoin-Cream-0-025-20gr/dp/B004VUC9IG

How much do I rub onto me? Just a thin coating an leaving it there? I pray this works. I feel so embarrassed. I know it’s only been almost-2 weeks since my treatment, but I can tell what are going to be pepper spots

#5

I couldn’t see any pepper spots

Yeah a THIN coating. Start with 1/2 hour. If there’s no irritation for 3 days, leave it on for 1 hour …again for 3-4 days. If still there’s no irritation, let it say overnight.

DO moisturize in the morning.

#6

Oh don’t use it a week before and after laser. My dermatologist says one needs to discontinue it only 2 days before and after laser.

#7

I’ll look into getting some. Apparently it’s supposed to be a prescription-only cream (I think it goes by Retin-A in the US), so I’m wondering about getting it off amazon.

#8

It doesn’t look like you have major pepper spots. Retinoid cream won’t be a quick fix either, it’s designed to work slow over course of weeks. Won’t it be cheaper and faster solution to just go back for a touch up than ordering Retin A, which will make your legs peel like crazy? Eventually, all pepper spots go away on their own with time.

#9

It might not look major because the camera (aka cell phone) quality wasn’t great. Here’s a little higher quality one of my arm:

http://tinypic.com/r/6t1zx5/6

The thing is, I don’t really want a touchup on my legs. The third laser treatment ended up knocking out a lot more hair than I expected it to. The arms I plan on doing again (although I’ll see how much regrows before I decide to). The thighs I definitely will. The lower legs I most likely won’t. I just hate having this look that says “Yea, I shaved my arms and legs.” I don’t really remember having pepper spots on my face which was nice, but the arms are more embarrassing, as are the legs.

#10

Oh now I could see the pepper spots. I can understand why you are troubled. My sympathies!

If you’re worried about dryness and peeling, you can try urea-20%. It won’t dry out your skin. In fact, it will moisturize! And I think …it is not a prescription cream in US. Please check.

#11

Hi, I’ve suffered from those pesky pepperspots trying just about everything until I found what seems to be the cheapest quick fix-- now I’m not promising miracles but this is whats worked best for me: Palmers shea butter and a German “riffi” exfoliating glove.

Exfoliation is key but this glove is absolutely amazing getting the job done. HOWEVER I warn it’s not like any loofah or sponge you’ve tried before… the first few times it will be painful, almost like sandpaper (yeahh trust the Germans for that) but it definitely helps free those trapped hairs and as an added bonus literally leaves your skin like silk. You can find them online (or this site: http://www.denmanbrush.com/acatalog/Riffi-700-Original-Massage-Mitt.html ) just make sure it’s the original riffi.

Secondly, going over board on moisturization is crucial. Most people don’t realize this, but simple lotions do.not.work. With the palmers it locks in moisture to plump the skin and lubricate the follicle which both help to push the hair out. Additionally, I massage it in for about 10 minutes which also helps to “loosen” the hairs. I suppose baby oil or vaseline can have the same effect but those are messier :slight_smile:

Lastly I’d strongly advise against Tretinoin and salicylic acid… as someone whos suffered from acne I can definitely say they won’t be quick fixes and if anything may impede future pepper spots as another user has mentioned it drys the skin which will ultimately clog pores!

Anyways best of luck.

#12

Looks like I can only order the glove from Australia or UK. Might be interesting haha. I think with international shipping and currency conversion it comes to around $20.

I wonder if I can use aquaphor as a moisturizer. I also have this lotion:

I’m coming up now on 3 weeks since my last laser treatment. Still looks like a lot of pepper spots (this is the first treatment on my arm with the Gentlelase, but I had a lot more before that with “ok” settings on the apogee elite… and this is my 4th on the legs). My friend told me I had smoother legs than his mom lol. I would just like it to look smooth rather than shaved.

#13

Amlactin is nice. You can also try a moisturizer which contains glycolic acid.

#14

I have so much of this lotion that I feel like I should use it just to start getting rid of some of it. I showed in the mornings so I’ll probably apply it at night before bed. Then I guess I should use an exfoliating mitt in the morning in the shower?

#15

Odd, I can’t edit the above post. I was just going to add that I’m not sure if I should be exfoliating everyday or not. I thought it should only be a couple times a week, but for pepper spots, maybe I need to do it more?

#16

Did somebody try blackhead remover tool like this http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/revlon-blackhead-remover/ID=prod1354602-product?V=G&ext=frgl_Google_Beauty
for these pepper spots?

#17

Brenton what I do is exfoliate on alternating days. So day 1 I’ll use my mitt and day 2 a simple bath puff then repeat. And yes, do exfoliate in the shower! If you’re planning on getting the riffi I’d like to mention I’ve never used it dry as a “massage glove”. In fact, just the though of that makes me cringe…

Also the blackhead remover sounds like a good idea. Not sure if it would work since these things are so deeply embedded and persistent on living but it’s worth a shot!

#18

Hmmm interesting. Sadly the amlactin lotion has kind of a disgusting smell, but maybe I can do that each night before bed, and then exfoliate on alternating days? The place I go to for electrolysis gave me some exfoliating gloves as well. I might consider the riffi glove, though I wonder how much better it is. It seems to be getting good reviews though from what I can find.

I remember my dermatologist did that black head remover thing on me before (I assume what she used was higher quality)… I don’t remember it making a huge difference, but maybe it could work?

#19

It might make you cringe but my electrologist who recommended me the riffi said you cause tiny scratches on your skin when you use it wet.

Previously, I had tried all kinds of abrasive exfoliation methods from other mitts to fine pumice stones. I had always used them wet, so using something dry was new to me too.

She suggested I use it on dry skin before shower, in gentle circular motions. She stressed that moisturising was just as, if not more important. So I’d use the mitt a few times a week but made sure I moisturised (I used bio oil) daily. My issue wasn’t pepper spots, it was fine hairs on my legs growing in a coil and caught just under the skin. In the past I had tried products like tend skin without much success. For me, a week or two of the above routine sorted out my problem.

I do think glycolic acid products would help as well.

#20

So, all body scrubs in the shower cause tiny scratches on one skin as well?