IPL (intense pulsed light)

An effective solution for brown discoloration (hyperpigmentation), IPL is delivered in a series of treatments. IPL can initially darken some of the area treated. This is a sign of good things to come, indicating the brownish pigment superficially located in the layers of your skin has been reached. Over seven to 14 days, most patients notice a lightening of these superficial brown spots. If the pigment is located in the deeper layers of skin, as is often the case in melasma, we may recommend a profractional laser treatment. It is not always possible to eliminate all spots and brown pigmentation, but dramatic lightening and improvement is common.

The IPL can also be used to treat facial, neck and chest redness. Redness can look slightly more evident and patchy after a session. A short series of treatments is typically needed to see significant results.

The most common (and expected) side effect is a darkening of the more superficial brown spots and areas being treated. This darkening will flake off after one or two weeks. You may also experience generalized redness of the skin and redness around the brown spots, like a halo. This can persist 48 to 72 hours. To avoid complications, IPL should not be done prior to or after sun exposure.

There is minimal downtime with IPL treatments. Typically, darkening and discoloration is most evident after the first treatment, is less obvious with subsequent sessions, and can be covered with makeup. To avoid complications and assure best outcomes, we require that

• you do not tan, or use spray tan/self tanner two weeks before your treatment, and
• you avoid direct sun exposure for 48 hours before and after your treatment.

With proper skin care and sun protection following IPL treatments, results can last for years. But skin naturally creates brown spots in response to UV radiation exposure. Since it’s impossible to avoid all sun exposure, new brown spots may emerge gradually over time.

You can prolong your good results with a skin care regimen that includes products designed to suppress the development of brown and red discoloration, followed daily, year-round. Skin damage can occur even in dreary winter months when there is much less sunshine. The damage often does not become apparent until sunnier months. Most people find they need a single IPL treatment once a year for maintenance.