IPL Has Caused Long Lasting Dark Skin Damage?

4-months ago I went to a certfied skin clinic seeking resolve from light acne discolouration. I am mocha coloured and had a few darkish brown spots I wanted treated. I was given the 1st 1 IPL treatement. The single treatment has now left me, 4-months later with dark discoolouration in all the areas treated. I have been back to the doctor once a month to review the healing. I have been perscribed Obagi and hydroquinone. The marks are fading, but sill present. What can I do? Please help.

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2 Doctor Answers | Asked by georgea_guernsey

Doctor Answers (2)
Community Comments (1)

Hyperpigmented marks from IPL

Unfortunately hyperpigmentation left from IPL at too high of settings can take a long time to resolve. It usually does, but it does take a long time (like over a year). My best advice is to be patient, continue your hydroquinone (the Obagi is fine too though in my opinion less effective than straight compounded hydroquinone), and make sure you are also wearing a good daily sunscreen. It's important to keep from burning or getting excessive sun exposure on the already hyperpigmented skin. more

IPL can cause skin hyperpigmentation, but this can be treated

IIPL can cause a burn-like damage to pigmented skin, and some patients respond with discoloration and pigmentation from this. For hyperpigmentation, skin bleaching agents such as hydroquinone and the Obagi treatment can be helpful. Other alternatives are available on the market if those do not help the problem. This information can be given to you by a knowledgeable provider. Do not hesitate to return to the skin care clinic where the procedure was done to have them... more

Comments (1)

georgea_guernsey 28 Jul 2012

Thank you for your reply. The Doctor has not admitted that the laser was too hot. He says my skin is just prone to hyper-pigmentation and thus has not reccomended any other treatments to aide in recovery. I have had a peel in the past and not had any pigmentation issues. Are there any other treatments like microdermabrasion or peels that can help remove the layers of darkended skin? As Im of mixed race and have light brown skin Im not very happy with the over all lightening caused by the hyderquinone.

thanks
Georgea

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