How to Remove Small Dark Bumps (DPN) at Home: Step by Step
Reviewed by OcuraLife Skin Experts · Updated June 2026
Step-by-Step Guide
How to remove small dark bumps (DPN) at home
Dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN) are small, harmless dark bumps on the face, most common on deeper skin tones. With the Ocura Plasma Pen you flatten each bump at the surface with a light touch. Because deeper skin marks easily, the technique here is slower and gentler than for other spots. Here is exactly how to do it, safely.
The Right Settings
Tip and power for DPN
A light tap to flatten each small bump. Use the lowest effective power, treat one bump first, and wait two full weeks to see how your skin heals before doing any more.
Your Treatment
Step by step
Patch test first. Lowest power, fine tip, on a hidden patch of similar skin. Wait 48 hours and check carefully for any dark mark before treating the face.
Confirm it is DPN. Small, soft, dark, on the cheeks or temples. If a bump is large, changing, or you are unsure it is not a mole, see a doctor first.
Cleanse and dry. Wash with a gentle cleanser and pat fully dry. The skin must be oil-free.
Numb, then re-dry. Apply numbing cream for twenty to thirty minutes, wipe it off completely, and confirm the skin is dry.
Set up the pen. Fine tip, low power. Hold the tip 1 to 2 mm above the skin at 90 degrees.
Treat one bump, lightly. A single light tap to flatten the bump until the surface frosts. Do not go deep, the goal is a shallow, even result that heals clean.
Wait two weeks. Heal that one bump fully and check for any dark mark before treating others. This patience is what protects deeper skin.
Aftercare. Apply the included aftercare cream and a healing patch, then follow the timeline below. SPF every day.
Deeper skin tones need extra care
DPN mostly affects richer skin tones, which are more prone to dark marks after treatment. Use the lowest power, treat one bump at a time, heal fully between, and wear SPF daily. If you are unsure, a professional experienced with skin of color is the safest route.
Aftercare
What to expect while it heals
Before You Start
When to see a doctor instead
| It is changing | A bump that is growing, changing color, bleeding, or itching must be seen by a dermatologist before treatment. |
| You are not sure | If you cannot tell whether it is DPN, a mole, or seborrheic keratosis, get it checked. The plasma pen does not diagnose skin conditions. |
| Do not use the pen if | You are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a pacemaker or implant, are prone to keloid scarring, or have taken isotretinoin in the last 6 months. |
Clear them at home, at the source
The OcuraLife Plasma Pen treats each small bump at the surface. A tiny scab forms, falls off on its own, and the skin renews. Adjustable settings, single-use tips, 90-day money-back guarantee.
See the Plasma PenBack to all Step-by-Step Guides · New to the device? Read the full Plasma Pen guide · More on small dark bumps.
