Can the IPL treatment cause damage to your skin? - FotoFacial/IPL Treatments Questions & Answers

Answers

Replied on 10/19/2009

By: Cosmetic Laser MD | Susan Stevens Tanne, M.D.
Livingston, NJ

Usually any redness from FotoFacial is temporary. However, if the setting are too aggressive, the skin can burn and leave a scar. If you had browning up of you freckles, make sure to leave them alone. Browning up is a normal part of the FotoFacial process and will result in a decrease in the pigment spots that you are trying to treat. If you rub off any of the flaking up brown spots, that can lead to temporary irritation, loss of pigment or redness. Swelling can happen. Try using a cool compress or get some copper containing lotion from your physician, which will calm the skin.

Replied on 10/18/2009

By: Robert A Young, M.D. | St. Louis Plastic Surgeon
Chesterfield, MO

There is a misconception that "light" is always safe and "laser" dangerous. If you have a response that is unexpected you should return to the place you were treated promptly and see the physician.

Replied on 10/17/2009

By: Renew Medi Spa | Dr. Lisa Hatzos, MD
Windham, NH

Whoever did your treatment used inappropriate settings and burned you. You should complain to the owners/management.

Replied on 10/17/2009

By: Gia Laser Aesthetic Center | Dr. Jeffrey Kronson
Claremont, CA

Without seeing your face its hard to say but you can get a bit of redness that is very self-limited after IPL. If it is not fading in a few days you should contact your practitioner.

Replied on 10/17/2009

By: Eppley Plastic Surgery/Ology Medical Spas | Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Carmel, IN

IPL or pulsed light treatments do produce heat and, as a result, there is always the potential for some type of burn injury. Usually the treated area may be look like a sunburn for a day or two but should fade quickly thereafter. The pattern of the handpiece may be able to be seen on the skin with this reaction as it matches the geometry of how the energy is delivered by the handpiece. In some cases, the skin will react to the superficial heat injury but peeling of its outer layer but this is not common. If the response you have to the treatment leaves its 'mark' longer than a week, you need to return to where you were treated for further evaluation. Scarring is exceptionally rare with this pulsed light, not laser, skin therapy.

Replied on 10/17/2009

By: Aspen Medical Aesthetics and Laser Clinic | Dr Chris Knuth
Mequon, WI

IPL photofacial works by selecting "targets" that are usually brown spots (solar lentigines) or vascular structures (capillaries and red flushing). This will cause brown spots to get darker, then to flake off. Red targets typically get more red, then heal and improve.

Occasionaly some mild peeling will occur. Superficial burns can occur, these should be treat with aquaphor. Scarring would be rare but can occur with deeper burns.

Replied on 10/16/2009

By: Esta Kronberg, M.D. | Board Certified Dermatologist
Houston, TX

Yes , you can have damage if the power settings are too high, if you are tanand if you have very dark skin.

It also can depend on the experience of the person performing the procedure. You should not have discomfort with the procedure and you should not have red marks,blisters,or scabbing.

Replied on 10/16/2009

By: Celibre Medical Corporation | Laser Dermatology & Injections
Orange, CA

IPL (or lasers for that matter) can cause damage to the skin in the hands of the wrong practitioner. If you have not been back to see the practitioner that did the treatment, it is imperative that you go to find out what actions need to be taken to avoid any potential for
scarring.