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IPL for Type IV Skin Tone

asked 1 year ago by New Jersey6995 in New Jersey
Latest answer by Jeffrey Kenkel, MD
Question viewed 685 times
Tags: age 35-44, female, brown spots, freckles, skin type IV, sun spots

I am a 42 year old woman who is noticing more sun spots/freckles and brown spots lately (mainily after giving birth). I am considering IPL, but am a little reluctant because my mother had a bad reaction about 15 years ago when she had laser resurfacing under her eyes...turned to hyperpigmentation which she had to treat with Renova for months. Is there an alternative for darker skin gals or am I a viable candidate for this procedure? The Medispa I consulted with seems to think I will be fine.

3 answers to IPL for Type IV Skin Tone

+2

Darker skin types and IPL

I think you are right to raise this question. Darker skin types are at increased risk for developed pigmentary problems after treatment with lasers/peels/ and light based devices. In your case, you have several options: 1. a good MD directed skin care reg. should be part of any treatment you decide to do; 2. IPL can be done in darker skin types with caution. Make sure you see someone with experience and has MD oversight ( if you are choosing a medispa); 3. Light peels work really... more
Jeffrey Kenkel, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+2

IPL for skin type IV

First and foremost, who is doing your treatment?  What are they licensed for?  For example, in the state of Florida; only a Nurse Practitioner, Physicians Assistant, or a MD can perform IPL treatments.  There are parameters for skin type IV on an IPL laser.  You mentioned that you noticed more after pregnancy which brings up another skin condition called melasma which is hormonal.  I would have an assessment under a skin scope to see the level of damage.... more
David V. Poole, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+1

IPL can be used safely but cautiously in type IV skin

There should be settings and filters that would allow you to do that.  A couple of words of caution though: 1. pigmentation after pregnancy can be melasma, even though it may look like freckles.  Melasma can sometimes get worse with IPL.  So it needs to be looked at with a Woods lamp to see where the pigmentation is.  If it is strictly superficial (epidermal) it may do fine with IPL. 2. make sure they do a proper evaluation to determine what skin type you are... more
Emily Altman, MD

Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

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