What Causes Black Pepper Like Flecks In Open Pores On Face?

Posted on Fri, 30 Sep 2016

Question: Hello. I am a 63 year old female. My concern is that I have developed some very black pepper-like flecks coming out of the pores in my skin. They can be picked off or rubbed off from clothing. They don't appear every day but started mostly on my right side upper arm and shoulder and some on my face two weeks ago. The larger flecks have a shiny appearance like mica on rocks. The flecks are not able to be smudged but will break up. I have noted them sometimes in the morning upon waking and then when perspiring. They can appear as a single spot or in a group. Along with these black dots I have noted extremely fine red - perhaps petechial type - rash on my skin (not concentrated to one area and not close together) . I have done some reading on the Internet and had some worrisome information about parasites, types of multi-systemic infections, Lyme disease, fungal infection, compromised immune or autoimmune disorder, etc. I haven't had any fevers, tiredness, shortness of breath, no muscle cramps, no headaches, no vision changes, no bowel changes, no urinary tract symptoms, no abdominal pain. My medical Hx is really not anything serious in my opinion. I do have chronic tinnitus and a chronic post nasal drip. I consider myself fairly healthy with only one major illness more than 7 years ago having had a lung infection (obliterans organizing pneumonia) for which I was on an oral steroid for a year. Surgeries - tonsillectomy, carpal tunnel release x 2, sleeve gastrectomy, tubal ligation, lap/chole. My major concern of course at this time are the black flecks/dots that are emerging from my skin.

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Seems fungal infection

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.

Your problem seems to be happening from a fungal infection. Nothing much to worry. But it may get worse with treatments that change the natural flora of skin. The red petechia is inflammation that helps by getting rid of the infection. A photograph would have been really helpful.

Now the treatment lies in the detecting the source of the infection. If it is coming from water (like most other fungal infections), then drinking cleaner water with TDS less than 25 ppm will help. Avoid taking any drastic skin treatments or medicines that may change flora or ph of skin.

Best advice is to not worry about it, if it is not causing any symptoms. It may be considered just blackheads.

Hope it helps.
Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (2 days later)

My internet searches have led me to very confusing and disturbing information on a diagnosis. A disease which seems not to be recognized by the medical community for some unknown reason other than the condition cannot seem to be explained for the most part and because medical doctors (in general) seem to think that the symptoms of this disorder are all in a person's head (when there are actual photos of the condition) and that being said, not much effort seems to have been put into research. I don't know how many thousands of people can complain of a condition ... for lack of a better name ... as being "Morgellons Disease". I do have some of the pin prick sensations they speak of, I do have the small shiny black flecks erupting from the pores of my skin that resemble glitter and they even have appeared on the palms of my hands. A lot of explanations go on to say the symptoms can be caused by a spirochete infection very similar to Lyme disease. For the most part, the more I have read, the more concerned I am about the outcome and seem rather defeated about the CDC or any research group advocating for the may people who end up with a condition that definitely has physical symptoms and is not a delusional state of mind. I do at this point need to know exactly how this disease can be treated over the long term and if not cured, at least managed. Thank you for your reply in advance.

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Can do complete blood count

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

I can understand your frustration of not getting a diagnosis. There are still many conditions on planet earth that need to be discovered and researched medically.

Just knowing that the condition is a fungus or a spirochete is sometimes good enough for starting treatment. In your case the organisms can be studied under microscope by a microbiologist. A complete blood count can also be helpful to come to a diagnosis.

From your explanation it seems to be a harmless condition and is only affecting the skin (hair follicles). If it was in blood it would have caused symptoms like abdominal pain and fever. Therefore oral and iv medicines are not required. You can check if sulfur ointment (upto 10%) tobe applied locally. Also try to detect the source of it.

I have seen a similar case in many people here in XXXXXXX but with white flecks. Nothing helped in that case except drinking cleaner water. So I figured that the source was drinking water. Cleaner water helped manage it, though did not cure it. Other sources could be pets or some medicine. Thus I recommend the same to you.

There is no need to panic. I feel you can live a healthy life with it.

Hope it helps.

Dr Vaishalee

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj