A large percentage of people experience unwanted skin discolorations. Fortunately, thanks to the aesthetic industry’s latest technology, these percentages no longer need apply to you. Sure, there are dozens of effective skincare products that work to diminish the appearance of discoloration, but even more than that, there’s IPL. 

IPL, short for Intense Pulsed Light, is a treatment that uses—no surprise—light to address and reverse signs of discoloration. Discoloration doesn’t just pertain to age spots and acne marks. IPL treats rosacea, broken blood vessels, and fine lines.

What Are IPL Lasers?

First things first, let’s be clear: While IPL treatments are widely recognized as a type of laser, really it is a high-intensity light, not a laser. Lasers are defined by emitting a single wavelength of coherent light energy, whereas IPL devices emit multiple wavelengths of high-intensity light, ranging from 500 to 1,300 nm. IPL has many possible targets because it can use a wide range of wavelengths. These include the dermal matrix, blood vessels, pigment, and hair follicles. Because of this,  IPL can be used to treat multiple issues, including facial lines, vascular lesions (including rosacea, broken capillaries, port wine stains), brown spots, acne, and even the removal of unwanted dark hair

The high-intensity light penetrates the dermis (aka the second layer of skin) without harming the epidermis. Because of this, visible adverse side effects may be less likely to occur. 

How Does IPL Work?

The pigmented cells in your skin absorb [IPL’s] light energy, which is then converted into heat in the dermis. The heat destroys the unwanted pigment. Or, in the case of hair removal, it destroys the [dark] hair and follicle, causing damage that prevents the hair from growing again over time.

The Benefits of an IPL Treatment

•Diminished the appearance of dark spots

•Reduces the appearance of rosacea

•Blurs the appearance of broken capillaries

•Removes dark hair

•Evens skin tone

Thanks to IPL’s wider range of wavelengths, it’s able to address several complexion concerns across various skin types and tones. It’s this versatility that makes IPL such an appealing treatment.

Who is a Candidate for IPL?

Since IPL uses light energy to target dark discoloration, it’s most effective and safe on lighter skin tones with distinguishable pigmented areas. Darker skin tones can cause the light to target more than the desired treatment area. That said, people with darker skin tones can still consider IPL; they just need to be more careful with the use of this technology. 

What to Expect During an IPL Treatment

Depending on the area being treated and the concern being addressed, IPL procedures typically take between 20 and 60 minutes. One session is often not enough to fully address most concerns. It can often take several treatments, four to eight weeks apart, to achieve the best results, which makes sense considering IPL hair removal appointments often require at least six to ten spaced out over a six- to eight-month period.

Timing aside, during IPL sessions, you can expect to wear eye protection to shield your eyes from the light. IPL is associated with nothing more than a slight sensation like a rubber band snapping against your skin, 

What are the Possible Side Effects of Intense Pulsed Light Treatments?

IPL is definitely safer on lighter skin tones, but it is still possible to treat problems on medium to dark skin tones if the provider uses caution. Caution is important because IPL targets dark spots and melanin in general, so the provider needs to avoid heating all of the skin and causing a complication or damage. Darker or lighter pigmentation issues can result in directly treated and even non-treated areas

Applying IPL to complexions with a tendency to pigment can cause trauma—including the development of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and even keloids and other scarring

There are other options for dark skin tones that require less concern and caution. The best way to determine whether highly adverse side effects could be waiting for you after an IPL treatment is to sit down with your clinician and discuss the best options for your skin's needs and receive a test patch to ensure there are no negative side effects before a full treatment.

Possible side effects for those who undergo IPL treatments may be swelling and short-term redness.

IPL Aftercare

Since skin is sensitized following IPL treatment, I recommend using an ultra-gentle cleanser with tepid water on the area and avoiding products containing benzoyl peroxide, Retin-A, Retinol, or glycolic acids. Additionally, be generous with moisturizer, as ceramides and hyaluronic acid can speed up healing. Lastly, skip out on makeup for 48 hours following treatment, and—as always—don’t forget to load up on SPF (30 or higher).

Final Thoughts

If you have lighter skin, IPL is an effective treatment with little downtime. If you have darker skin, you need to exercise caution when contemplating the treatment. 

Although IPL treatments are performed widely, even at spas and non-physician practices, they come with significant possible risks and long-term side effects. IPL can be dangerous in the wrong, untrained hands. I have seen numerous cases of burns, long-term pigment changes, and scarring from IPL treatments. Because of this, it is very important to get treatment from a provider who is well-trained and experienced with IPL.