Your Essential IPL Aftercare Guide

Understanding the Importance of IPL Aftercare

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments have gained popularity for their ability to address a variety of skin concerns. IPL treatments utilize a non-ablative fractionated laser that targets pigment and redness in the skin. It is used to treat sun spots, melasma, rosacea and redness. This treatment can be used in a series, or combined with other modalities, to reduce the appearance of brown and red spots caused by sun damage or aging. IPL is non-invasive and requires minimal downtime compared to other treatments. Consultation is required prior to treatment, and pre-procedure skin preparation with prescription hydroquinone and/or tretinoin is recommended for best results.

IPL Pre-care Guide

To maximize the benefits of your IPL session and promote optimal healing, it's essential to follow a proper post-care regimen. Following the necessary post-procedure steps will help to ensure your skin recovers beautifully and that you have enhanced treatment results.

IPL Laser Aftercare Guide

Redness & Swelling: A mild sunburn-like sensation is expected. This usually lasts 1-2 hours but can persist up to 24 hours, individuals may vary. Mild swelling, tenderness and/or redness may accompany this.
Pigmented lesions may initially look raised and/or darker with a reddened perimeter, this is normal. It will gradually turn darker over the next 24-48 hours. It may turn dark brown or even black and will begin to flake off in 7-10 days. Rarely would it progress to a scab or crusting phase, if this happens, please call us.
Discomfort: Apply ice packs or gel packs (do not apply direct ice) to the treated area for 10-15 minute intervals every hour for the next four hours as needed. A topical anti-inflammatory can be used for redness and tenderness. An oral, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be taken to reduce discomfort, use according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Blistering: In rare cases, prolonged redness or blistering may occur, if this happens please call our office. A prescribed antibiotic ointment may be recommended to be applied to the affected areas twice a day until healed.
Showering/Bathing: Shower as usua but avoid super-hot showers. Treated areas may be temperature-sensitive. Avoid soaking in a hot tub of water. Avoid scrubbing, use of exfoliants, scrub brushes and loofah sponges until the treatment area has returned to its pre-treatment condition.
Veins or vascular lesions may undergo immediate graying or blanching (turning white) or they may exhibit a slight purple or red coloring. If the treated area develops crusting or a scab, it will start to flake off in 7-14 days. The vessels will fully or partially fade in about the same amount of time. Repeat treatment to veins may be every 7-14 days, or when the skin has fully recovered.
Scabbing: Do not pick, scratch or remove any scabs. Allow them to flake off on their own. Lesions are usually healed in 7-10 days. They will continue to fade over the next 6-8 weeks after treatment.
Avoid Applying Cosmetics to the treated area until all redness has completely resolved.
Avoid Hot Showers, Hot Tubs, Jacuzzis, Saunas and Ocean Swimming for 48 hours.
Avoid Swimming, especially in pools with chemicals, such as chlorine, until all redness has completely resolved.
Avoid Exercise, excessive perspiration, or irritation to the treated area until all redness has completely resolved or a minimum of 48 hours.
Avoid Sun Exposure to the treated areas – to prevent skin color change. Use a sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater for 4 to 6 weeks after treatment.
Avoid Skin Flushing Activities - example: drinking alcohol, heavy exertion activities.
Avoid Hair Removal Treatments (electrolysis, facial waxing, or depilatories (hair removal products)) for 14 days after a treatment.
Avoid Harsh Topical Products such as retinols and glycolic acid products for one week after each session.

When will I notice IPL Results?

General Results: It should take 4-6 weeks to see the full result and 3-5 treatments may be required to achieve an optimum result.
Pigment Results: It will take four to six weeks to see the full results from a single treatment, however you should see dark spots fade and slough off within a week. If you complete a series of treatments about one month apart, the maximum results will be visible in two to three months after the last treatment.
Veins Results: The results of IPL begin to appear right after treatment and continue to improve over the next few days to weeks. It does take some time for veins to fully collapse and be reabsorbed by the body, so full results cannot be seen right away. If symptoms accompanied the spider veins, they are usually relieved immediately after treatment.
Acne Results: While you may see results after a single IPL treatment for Acne, multiple treatments are usually required and it may take weeks to months to see full results.