IPL before & after photos
53%
276 reviews
Worth It Rating Our index shows the percentage of community members saying this was "Worth it". See cosmetic treatment rankings
IPL Cost $700 average cost

IPL for Sunspot Removal?

Are Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) systems such as Prolite II okay to use for sunspot removal?

Asked 34 months ago by Yantes in Louisville Kentucky
Sort 4 expert answers by:
+1

IPL is a great treatment for sun spots

IPL is a great treatment for sun spots, as long as you are otherwise an appropriate candidate for the procedure. Good candidates for this treatment are patients with a light to medium-dark skin tone and superficial hyperpigmentation. IPL is not an appropriate treatment for melasma, which is a deeper type of hyperpigmentation that can be worsened by the heat of an IPL, so it is important that you get professional clarification on the type of pigmentation that is presenting on your skin.... more
Nick Slenkovich, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Sun spot treatment with intense pulsed light (IPL,etc.)

Yantes: Intense Pulsed Light treatments have been effective for sun damage pigmentation on the face, neck, hands, arms, and other areas. A few treatments are usually scheduled, with additional improvement noted each time. Sun protection is important, and some pigment may return gradually, and benefit from retreatment. Choose an experienced laser operator, under the supervision of a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
Sutton Graham II, MD
Greenville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Absolutely. IPL is the perfect choice for lentigo / sun spot removal.

Thanks for your question. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is an excellent treatment for lentigo/sunspot removal and in many circles, it is considered a first choice treatment. There are many different IPL systems on the market and most do an excellent job. You will need 1-3 treatments to get rid of most of your sunspots. After each treatment, you will notice the sunspots getting darker and then flaking off. It is important to not touch the crusting and allow the natural peeling process to occur... more
Don Mehrabi, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologist
+1

Defintitely Yes

IPL is a very effective and popular (as judged by its 77% worth it rating on real self) modality for treating sunspots. The light from the IPL turns from light energy into heat energy. It targets a specific chromophore (color) in the skin. The wavelengths used in this particular IPL, targets the coloring of the melanin and destroys it. Usually a package is purchased. Each treatment is done a little more aggressively than before and the spots are lifted off. A few days later the... more
Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist
Use of this website and the posting of any reviews or other content on this website constitutes acceptance of the RealSelf® Terms of Service. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. © 2011 RealSelf, Inc. All rights reserved.