Is Cosmelan better than IPL for sun damage?

The new formula will reduce damage without hurting skin; however, after a month, all pigment will come back. The old formula cosmelan is extremely strong. I was informed that it is safe, but it caused my skin to thicken. I had IPL 1x, which I regret to this day. The result was textural change and discoloration, which I am currently treating with GHK peptide. Check the internet regarding IPL damage. Unfortunately, you can predict the outcome of this procedure. Many dermatologists and medspas advertised IPL as safe and low risk. Not so. In fact, when I had the side effect, the dermatologists insisted that it rarely occurs. Some victims end up with loss of fat tissue on their faces. Again, doctors claim that this cannot occur. So I guess when it happens, then it is rare? I would not do both if I were you. All non-invasive lasers are just as risky as invasive lasers no matter what these doctors and nurses lead you to believe. I have had CO2 and dermabrasion in the past with great results and was told of possible risk. No one told me about IPL risk. I was just told to sign a form.

Hi Chrissy, I'm surprised we don't receive more questions about sun damage to the chest, which is a common problem for many women especially here in Southern California. This condition is called poikiloderma and usually presents as red/brown pigment to the chest and sometimes has textural changes. I noticed that Dr. Shah stated that he discovered that Cosmelan has unacceptable levels of hydroquinone. This is not our understanding. Mesoestetic, the manufacturer of Cosmelan has emphatically denied this, and there is no independent research to support claims that the product has hydroquinone. With regards to your question as to which modality would be most appropriate for you - that is difficult to state. There is no one perfect treatment plan that fits all. Some of our patients are considered non-responders to Cosmelan but receive nice outcomes with Class IV medical lasers for sun damage. We currently use Q-Switched Nd: YAG lasers for pigmentation removal. We have tried Cosmelan on the chest with poor to fair results. I would not recommend it for this area nor does the manufacturer. We prefer lasers to treat the red/brown pigmentation of the chest. For sun damage to the face, we currently use Cosmelan, non-ablative (no downtime) lasers, and the Erbium MicroLaserPeel which is ablative. There are pros and cons of each modality as well as different expectations. Make certain that the practitioner knows what your goals are and is knowledgeable with any possible risks/contraindications. Lori Haney, RN

Be careful about using Cosmelan. I am not using it here in Canada, as the distributor stopped carrying it once he found that it carried an unacceptable level of hydroquinone. I think IPL can work for sun damage as well as various Q Switch lasers, which I use for sun damage and the hyperpigmentation. They give good results with little or no downtime and also good results much more quickly. My recommendation would be to see a physician who has a choice of lasers available so they can pick the best one for your skin type and the type of hyperpigmentation.

I paid $500 for one session and had my whole face done - about 45 minutes. It felt like someone was systematically burning my face with cigarettes! I expected my face to be a terrible red mess afterwards, but it was not too bad and the redness completely subsided within the hour. Although my whole face was done, I was particularly concerned about one dark spot under my eye. The girl really worked that area and it did fade, but not the broken capillaries around my nose. Now I have noticed sun damage around my temples again and I think I would opt for microdermabrasion instead. I did not feel that I got sufficient results for my $500. For the record, I am blonde, 43, and spent my youth worshipping the sun. I am paying for it now (literally!!) in my 40s as the sun damage emerges as a result of my youthful neglect.