Black specks after IPL are burned pigment

Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD answers: What are those black specks on the skin after IPL?

What are the black specks (coffee ground looking things) on the skin after IPL treatment? Is that pigment?


Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD
7 months ago
By Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD - Chicago Plastic Surgeon

When the IPL gets attracted to the sun damaged spots, it brings up the pigment to the surface of the skin. It kind of cooks the pigment which looks like black specks, resembling ground coffee or black pepper. It can take up to a week for the pigmentation to exfoliate or flake off the skin. This reaction occurs only after the first or second treatment and you should expect great results if it happens. 

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