15% TCA Peel Vs. IPL for Hyperpigmentation on Cheeks?

It is so hard to definitively say whether TCA peels or IPL treatments would work better for you. Hyperpigmentation is frequently difficult to treat ,and plan on maintaining the result with good medical grade skin care, sun screen use and sun avoidance as much as possible. I have seen peels and skin care work for pigment as well as IPL. IPL or Intense Pulsed Light, technically is not laser energy but light based energy. it works well in most patients for brown and red color. It may... more

Both the 15% TCA peel and an IPL can give you a good end result. As someone who has utlized both, I am a bit more confident in the results of the IPL. As with many procedures, both of these are less risky the fairer the skin. In fact those with Fitzpatrick Type 5 and above skin should not have an IPL done at all and a TCA peel should be done by someone very experienced in darker skin tones.

IPL or 15% TCA peels for hyperpigmentation can produce similar results. Both treatments are about as effective for hyperpigmentation. However, if it is a diffuse hyperpigmentation the IPL might be a better treatment since there will be less downtime. However, in some cases where an IPL does not work, a stronger solution of TCA typically 35% can be effective in improving the hyperpigmentation but more risks occur with the chemical peel in either the higher or even lower strength.... more

Hyperpigmentation of the cheeks is a difficult and frustrating problem. Several light chem peels such as Jessner's solution or 10-15% TCA do well in most cases. Plan on 3-6 peels at every 2-4 week intervals @$250-350 each. IPLs help more than lasers as a rule but both are unpredictable and can cause the dark patchs to worsen more so than chemical peels do. You will of course need to wear sunscreens and start a bleaching cream after 1 week after each peel. Do expect the dark spots to... more