IPL For Sun Freckles on Chest and Back Made Me Red and Extremely Itchy

If you are within the first 10 days after your treatment, I wouldn't be too concerned about itchiness and redness...both are very common after IPL. The skin in the treated areas generally gets red, then perhaps brownish, dry and flakey. While this transition and healing is occurring after treatment it's very normal to be itchy and irritated. Hydrocortisone is generally helpful, as is moisturizer without scent or perfume. Don't have the water too hot... more

This is not a normal reaction to IPL.  Some mild redness and itching for an hour or so after the procedure is acceptable but does subside, leaving the area feeling a little warm and it's been out in the sun, but not severe itching. So I recommend seeing your doctor or particularly giving the doctor that did the procedure a call as soon as possible. You might also be having a reaction to anything that has been applied to the skin.  If there is any swelling of the lips,... more

The best answer to this question is you should refer your concerns to the physician who performed your IPL treatment.  This is a non-invasive procedure and your concerns for a Staph infection are extremely low, your physician can further educate you.  You should have been given post -procedure instructions which included icing the areas treated, to bring the redness down.  Some patients get a very vigorous response and require topical steroids to calm the area, which... more