Ipl Laser For Sun Spots

Ipl laser treatment is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the world, and it has been for years. The Ipl laser treatment is used to treat acne scars, sun spots, and even unwanted hair. The Ipl laser treatment works by using a powerful beam of light that penetrates your skin and targets the melanin in your skin. This causes the melanin to be destroyed, which results in an even skin tone. The procedure itself is quick, taking only minutes to complete. There are no needles or pain involved with this procedure, so you can rest assured that your treatment will be comfortable and easy!

The best part about Ipl laser treatment is that it works on all skin types. Whether you have dark or light skin tones, there’s no need for concern about whether or not this procedure will work for you! You won’t have any downtime either since Ipl laser treatments can be done on an outpatient basis without any need to stay overnight at a clinic or hospital after receiving your treatment.

Have you ever wondered about whether IPL Laser for sun spots is a safe and effective treatment for treating your brown spots or freckles? You’re not alone. A lot of patients get confused online when comparing the various IPL machines and wonder who to trust. If you are one of those people, you have come to the right place. Read on to learn more about ipl for sun spots at home and best home ipl for dark spots.

*Disclaimer: Please note that there is no guarantee of specific results. Results may vary.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatments utilize advanced technology that is non-invasive to remove brown spots and sun spots anywhere on the face, hands, legs or elsewhere on the body.* It is also potentially effective for the treatment of melasma, red spots and rosacea.* At the Laser Aesthetic Center, we offer IPL treatments with Cutera’s LimeLight Facial™.

Treat Brown Spots and Sun Damage with Pulsed Light Treatments

IPL treatments may be administered to any part of your face, neck, upper chest or anywhere else on the body. While some IPL treatments are only successful for patients with light skin and dark spots, the LimeLight is also able to treat dark spots on darker skin tones, unlike other IPL technologies. It treats brown spots caused by sun damage.*

Post-treatment, patients often see a uniform skin tone and an overall improvement in surface imperfections.* IPL treatments not only manage existing spots, they can also remove deeper spots that are not visible yet, but if not treated, will become visible in the future as we age. In this way, the Limelight acts as a source of preventive treatment. For some patients, IPL treatments have also been found to help with melasma that is associated with post pregnancy.*

Important information for your IPL treatment:

Our aestheticians will meet with you and evaluate your skin care needs prior to recommending IPL treatments. We will ensure that your skin is healthy and safe to treat.
A thorough consultation will be done to ensure that you know what to expect pre, during and post procedure
Treatment sessions typically last between 15 minutes to a half hour.
Typically you will need 4 IPL treatments to achieve maximum results.*

Areas Appropriate for IPL Treatment

…as well as most other areas of the body.

How Intense Pulsed Light Treatments Treat Sun Damaged Skin

The LimeLight’s various settings allow your aesthetician to personalize your treatment according to your skin type and tone. True to its name, an IPL treatment delivers short blasts of light to brown spots on the skin. The brown spots attract the laser light. As the pulse reaches the skin, patients will feel a mild sensation, but this is alleviated by the cooling tip on the hand piece.*

After treatment, the skin will be slightly pink, with the sun damage appearing darker. But within a few days, the spots may begin to flake off from your skin, fading from your complexion. The treatment goal is for sun damage to decrease, leaving your skin evenly toned. IPL treatments can also be effective on post pregnancy melasma.*

In order to learn more about whether the LimeLight can even out your skin tone by removing brown spots, schedule a consultation.

Best Home Ipl For Dark Spots

a woman with dark spots looking into the distance, to illustrate at home IPL for dark spots, to illustrate at-home IPL for dark spots

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is typically used for hair removal, but it can also be an effective way to reduce skin pigmentation issues. But how does it work and is at-home IPL for dark spots—i.e. the DIY option—a safe solution?

Whether you call them age spots, sun spots or just pesky annoyances, those dark spots on your complexion can be tough to get rid of. They’re caused by pigment-making cells called melanocytes that live under the surface of your skin. As your skin matures, or gets aggravated by sun exposure, those melanocytes get to work, producing melanin that leaves you with the appearance of dark spots.

So how exactly do you get rid of them? While you might have considered using at-home laser hair removal for, you know, actual hair removal—it’s also effective when it comes to erasing dark spots too.

WHAT IS AN IPL TREATMENT?

How does IPL therapy work, then?

“IPL uses light energy at different specific wavelengths to treat many skin concerns,” explains Dr. Robert Morrell, M.D., founder and director of Medical Rejuvenation Centre(opens in new tab) and Di Morelli Skin Care(opens in new tab).

“It’s used for many therapeutic purposes due to the broad spectrum of wavelengths in IPL treatments,” he says. More specifically, IPL can be used to treat pigmentation, rosacea, veins, acne and hair removal, too.

HOW DOES IPL HELP REDUCE DARK SPOTS?

As Dr. Morrell explains, “IPL works to fade dark spots by selectively heating up the brown color with a band of light specific for brown pigment. Typically, these spots will become coffee-like granules that will shed off on the surface of the skin in five to seven days.”

When the light penetrates your skin, the targeted heat zaps only the spots with excess melanin, and leaves the rest alone. It works to eliminate the pigmentation that you see toward the surface of your skin so that you can naturally slough off or exfoliate those cells.

Unfortunately, IPL doesn’t permanently stop or remove melanocytes from producing melanin, so your dark spots will likely return in time. However, a lot of women see significant reductions in visible dark spots after professional treatments.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF USING AN IPL LASER AT HOME?

So if getting IPL done in a professional setting works well on dark spots, can we try at-home IPL for dark spots? Using this kind of advanced technology at home sounds like risky business—and, according to the experts we consulted, it is.

“In the last few years, there has been a rapid increase in home light devices that have had very little testing,” says plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Simone Matousek(opens in new tab). “Home IPL devices are unregulated and should not be used for management of pigmentation, or any skin problems,” she advises.

Both doctors noted that these DIY devices aren’t really strong enough to produce significant results. In fact, they can actually cause “darkening of pigmentation, as the intensity of home IPL units is too weak,” says Dr. Morrell. “And, if the intensity is stronger, there is a possibility of burns.”

So, zapping your skin with an at-home IPL device might actually worsen your unwanted dark spots, by making them even darker.

“Even in the hands of trained medical practitioners, an IPL device can cause side effects,” adds Dr. Matousek. Clinical trials(opens in new tab) have found that these can include redness, rashes, blistering, swelling, and hypopigmentation—patches of skin lightening—in addition to dark spots. If powerful IPL technology is misused, it can even lead to eye injuries and scarring.

AT-HOME IPL VS PROFESSIONAL IPL

If you’re comparing at-home IPL devices against professional-grade equipment, the latter will always be safer and more sophisticated.

“The more high-end IPL devices that are operated in medical practices are more tunable, have more precise targeting of skin problems, and are safer in darker skin types. Medical-grade broadband light is one such device, and is more effective and has inbuilt cooling to make it safe,” explains Dr. Matousek.

She continued, “At-home devices will likely be too weak to have any real impact, as any manufacturer would be worried about the potential of being sued. The machines that will actually have a real impact on skin problems are way more powerful than is safe for any consumer to use.”

Moreover, despite how easy at-home IPL for dark spots might sound, managing pigmentation concerns isn’t as simple as zapping your skin a few times. According to Dr. Matousek, “It requires correct topical medication before and after such treatments; some of these can only be prescribed by a doctor.”

So, if an at-home IPL product promises to clear up dark spots in no time—without any medical oversight, topical treatment, or training—it’s probably too good to be true.

HOW TO USE IPL TO TREAT DARK SPOTS

If you want to proceed with an IPL treatment for dark spots, “You should always go see a professional; do not try it at home,” advises Dr. Morrell.

The price tag for professional treatment might be higher, but experts advise against trying a DIY device as a way to cut costs on skincare.

As Dr. Matousek suggests, “Going to a trained plastic surgeon or dermatologist, having a proper skin assessment and treatment plan, and getting effective, evidence-based therapies is a far better use of time and money than buying a home device. There’s a reason the best lasers and light devices cost hundreds and thousands of dollars; they require precise engineering and regular checkups and tuning to keep your skin safe.”

CAN I STILL USE AN AT-HOME IPL FOR HAIR REMOVAL?

So, what if you’re already using an at-home IPL device for hair removal? Is that still safe?

These at-home devices aren’t suitable for treating skin pigmentation concerns, but they can be useful when it comes to hair removal.

Gia Jurosky, director of influencer marketing and brand strategy at RoseSkinCo(opens in new tab), a brand that makes an at-home IPL handset, notes that they are not intended as a treatment for your complexion. “While IPL can be used to treat acne scars, melasma, and other concerns, we recommend the devices for long-term hair removal,” she says. “Someone looking for an IPL skin treatment should consult a physician beforehand.”

Woman using at home hair removal device at home — PHOTO: OHLAMOUR STUDIO / STOCKSY

Ipl For Sun Spots At Home

Home IPL devices are unregulated and should not be used for management of pigmentation, or any skin problems,” she advises. Both doctors noted that these DIY devices aren’t really strong enough to produce significant results.

WHAT IS AN IPL TREATMENT?

How does IPL therapy work, then?

HOW DOES IPL HELP REDUCE DARK SPOTS?

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF USING AN IPL LASER AT HOME?

IPL hair removal is one common option, which offers a more lasting result than shaving or even waxing. (In fact, it was one of the top five most popular minimally-invasive procedures in 2020, according to the most recent Plastic Surgery Statistics Report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons [ASPS].) While you may associate the treatment with med spas, numerous at-home IPL devices have hit the market, promising an alternative for people who’d rather take matters into their own hands. If you’re wondering whether the ability to use the tech from your home is too good to be true, here’s the full scoop.

What are at-home IPL devices?

IPL stands for intense pulsed light, the form of scattered light that these handheld tools give off. “These are devices that emit a wide spectrum of light to treat the skin,” says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. The technology is similar to but different from laser hair removal. “Technically [IPL devices] are not lasers since lasers emit only a single wavelength of light,” while IPL emits multiple wavelengths, explains Dr. Zeichner. (Related: Everything You Need to Know About Trying Laser Hair Removal at Home)

IPL can be used to treat brown spots or broken capillaries and redness in addition to its application in reducing hair production. “Different filters are used to limit the light that is delivered by the device to offer a customized treatment that addresses your particular need,” says Dr. Zeichner.

“[IPL] uses a big [dose] of light to capture certain targets in the skin,” says Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at La Jolla Laser Dermatology. “In terms of hair removal, the target would be melanin.” (Reminder: Melanin is a natural pigment in your skin and hair.) When the goal is hair removal, IPL devices are filtered to emit light at a wavelength of 600 to 700 nanometers, which can selectively heat and destroy melanin without heating the surrounding skin, she explains. When the light heats the melanin in a hair follicle, that causes the strand of hair to fall out and kills the hair follicle, thereby decreasing regrowth. (Although it takes multiple sessions to achieve full results, which only ever amounts to a reduction of hair growthrather than permanently eliminating new growth, according to Dr. Shirazi.)

Home IPL devices — e.g. Kenzzi, SmoothSkin, and Braun IPL devices — use the same technology at lower energies compared to what the pros use, according to Dr. Zeichner. Of course, that comes with a tradeoff. “The IPL devices in the office are obviously going to be a lot more powerful and hopefully are being used by trained professionals, whereas the IPL devices at home are going to be much weaker in terms of the amount of energy that they’re able to deliver so the results aren’t going to be as good,” says Dr. Shirazi. That said, a small study on at-home IPL devices published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology reported a 78 percent reduction in amount of hair at the one-month mark and a 72 percent reduction after three months, with participants receiving biweekly treatments with an at-home device over the course of six weeks.

What are the perks of using at-home IPL devices?

You can use at-home IPL devices on any area of the body where hair is found, whether that means treating your facial hair or giving yourself a full Brazilian, according to Dr. Shirazi. Investing in an at-home IPL device can also save you money compared to in-office treatments. Home IPL devices typically cost around $150 to several hundred dollars, while the average cost of a single session of professional IPL cost roughly $412 in 2020, according to the ASPS report. Most people need six to 12 IPL treatments to achieve full results, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Then there’s the convenience factor. Switching to using an IPL at home will save you time if you normally shave. To give you an idea, Braun recommends using its Silk Expert Pro 5 once a week for four to 12 weeks, then every one to two months for maintenance. Taking matters into your own hands also eliminates any awkwardness you might feel around having a stranger treat your bikini area while you attempt to make small talk. (Related: How to Shave Your Bikini Area Without Causing Irritation)

What are the downsides of trying IPL at home?

IPL can be moderately painful. It also comes with potential side effects, which is one reason why Corey L. Hartman, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama, finds the idea of putting the technology in the hands of non-professionals unsettling. When used improperly, IPL can cause “blistering, redness, scarring, discoloration, hyperpigmentation, pain, oozing, or crusting,” says Dr. Hartman. “IPL devices are not casual.”

“I’ve seen some terrible burns and terrible scarring from IPL done in the office and done at home,” echoes Dr. Shirazi. “It’s tricky because you’re playing around with energy and heat and if the skin absorbs all of that, you can certainly get a burn.”

Additionally, both IPL and laser devices have the potential to do the exact opposite of what you want. “If you use conservative settings or low energy settings of light to try to remove hair,” you can actually stimulate growth,says Dr. Shirazi. “You could end up with a condition called paradoxical hair stimulation from laser treatments. The low energy is not enough to chill the hair follicle, but it’s enough to stimulate the hair follicle to grow.” That’s why you may have heard of low-level laser-emitting caps designed to promote hair growth.

Another major downside? IPL isn’t well-suited to dark skin tones or light-colored hair. “IPL is high-risk for people with dark skin tones,” who naturally have more melanin, according to Dr. Shirazi. “What happens, as the light passes through it’s going to capture the melanin on the surface of the skin. The more melanin there is on the surface of the skin the more likely it is to absorb all the energy, and then you can end up with a burn.” IPL device brands often provide charts on their websites indicating which skin tones should avoid using their products altogether.

All in all, is at-home IPL worth trying?

The experts interviewed for this story were divided on whether at-home IPL is worthwhile or even okay to try. If you buy an at-home IPL device, you can assume that it uses lower energy than professional devices, making it safe to use at home, says Dr. Zeichner. “The biggest potential risk associated with using IPL devices is the development of hyperpigmentation,” he says. “This risk is very low with at-home devices because of the safety measures put in place that allow them to be used without professional supervision.”

Not everyone gives at-home IPL devices a thumbs up. Any IPL device will be either be able to “really do some harm” or they’ll be ineffective, and that there’s no in-between, says Dr. Hartman. “I don’t understand at-home IPL devices,” he says. “I’m scared of them. I do not recommend.”

IPL technology is better suited for treating brown spots, redness, and sun damage than hair removal, he adds. When his patients ask him about IPL for hair removal, Dr. Hartman steers them toward laser hair removal instead. More specifically, Nd:YAG and alexandrite laser hair removal are ideal for dark and light skin tones, respectively, he says.”They just work better, and they have more science and studies behind them,” says Dr. Hartman. (Related: I Was ~This Close~ to Lasering Off My Pubes for Life—Here’s What Stopped Me)

Finally, IPL is fine to try at home provided you a) don’t have a dark skin tone, b) have read up on IPL, and c) have managed your expectations, in Dr. Shirazi’s opinion. “I always recommend that people do a test spot, wait a day or two and make sure that your skin is not reacting in an adverse fashion,” before using one of the devices on a large area, she says. Another pointer: “You have to be really careful around going around curved areas, so particularly around the bikini or contours of the face it’s really important to have good contact [between your skin and] the device, because if you’re at an angle or you don’t have full contact of the light with the skin you could just be delivering pure heat rather than the light,” preventing the device from functioning properly, she adds.

If you’re after a dramatic reduction in hair growth, it’s probably best to visit a pro, since they’ll use a much more powerful device, says Dr. Shirazi. “I think [at-home IPL] is fine to use as a maintenance treatment but it’s really not going to work as effectively as in-office IPL.” And IPL in general is “much weaker” than lasers for hair removal to begin with, she adds.

One thing’s for sure: If you want to remove your body hair but at-home IPL doesn’t feel quite right, you’ve got plenty of other options to consider.