Pepper Spots

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#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?

#21

I’m not sure ekade. But I know the riffi mitt, other mitts/gloves designed especially for exfoliation of the skin and pumice stones are all pretty rough.

I know lots of people who don’t advise using the St. Ives apricot scrub on one’s face because the kernals do more harm than good in terms of scratching the skin.

#22

Yes, I’ve heard it too!

#23

Yeh, so I’m guessing it’s the same on the body if you’re using scrubs with ‘bits’ in them.

I was just told it’s less harsh and damaging to exfoliate on dry skin.

From personal experience, my skin is in much better condition using this routine of dry exfoliation with the riffi mitt and moisturising well after every shower. I used to really ‘go at it’ with a pumice stone many years ago.

This new (for me) method didn’t loosen up my trapped hairs overnight, it took a week or two but when it happened, my skin looked much better than the sore, bumpiness I used to have using the stone.

#24

Interesting… I feel like I remember hearing that I should exfoliate on wet skin while I’m taking a shower. Though I wonder how much difference it really makes in the end?

The amlactin has lactic acid, so although it’s not glycolic acid, they’re both fairly similar. Both are alpha-amino hydroxy acids. Actually, according to this:

It seems as if the lactic acid is a bit milder than the glycolic acid. I’m a little concerned about using harsher compounds on me since I don’t know how I’ll react, and we’re talking about very large areas.

#25

My previous electrologist was adamant that it should only be done on dry skin. As many electrologist’s in the UK, she was also a highly qualified beautician, doing facials, waxing etc.

Anyway, yes lactic is similar but less harsh. You want to look out for the pH of the product if listed when comparing. Which you know much more about than me.

For the last two months, I’ve been using a simple cleanser that contains 10% GLA. It works better than anything else I’ve tried.

I’m linking the body products page of where I bought the cleanser (and a 15% night cream for my sister), so you can see what sort of products might be useful for you if you can find similar locally.

http://www.bravuralondon.com/body.html

If the results from the cleanser and night cream are anything to go by, I’m sure the body products are also very effective.

#26

10% GLA is better than riffi mitt? or are u using both of them?

#27

Hmm that’s an interesting point about dry exfoliation… I actually thought the opposite that dry would cause more irritation :s

Also I had removed this from my original post (cos I’m not sure if every location stocks them) but I get my riffis at Winners for 5 bucks! So check there first lol

#28

Hi, I know this is veryyy late, but I just wanted to ask what the outcome of the pepper spots was…I’m having the same issue right now…would be grateful if you could tell me whether they eventually disappeared or not
Many thanks :slight_smile: