Blisters to Chest, Back and Legs After IPL

asked 1 year ago by Pearl6471 in Pearl
Latest answer by Emily Altman, MD
Question viewed 899 times
Tags: back, chest, legs, blister, brown spots, healing, scar, timing

One week ago, today, I had the IPL laser tx on my entire body excluding my stomach. I was not told that blisters would develop. Actually, she (the esthetician) said I would develop brown spots that would peel off in 7 days.

They do not appear to be going anywhere (on day 7 now). Some of the blisters popped. I have been back to she her and the MD. Both say I will be fine, just that the popped blistered areas will take longer to heal. ? (1)How much longer? (2)Will I have scars? Thanks.

4 answers to Blisters to Chest, Back and Legs After IPL

Blisters are a potential but not expected side effect of IPL

Blisters mean there was at least a superficial burn. The settings on an IPL device prior to treatment must take into account the person's skin type (not just what is observed, but actually determined by an administered questionnaire) and the amount of sun exposure the person has had. The IPL device works by treating a more pigmented area in a field of less pigmented areas, so if the person's skin type is IV or higher or if a person has had recent sun exposure, there will... more

Emily Altman, MD
Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Blisters after IPL are Burns

Hi. IPL treatments to the skin are high energy applications that are to help destroy superficial pigmented areas or superficial blood vessels. The correct energy delivered is important, Too little and you get poor results. Too much and you can get a burn. The area treated cannot be tanned nor can you be a person of much color. The whiter the skin the less likely you will get a burn, everything else taken into consideration. Even skin next to a tattoo treated with IPL might burn if the... more

Harlow Hollis, MD
Victoria Plastic Surgeon

Blisters After IPL: Is This Normal?

Although you will likely heal up without scarring, blistering indicates a thermal injury from the IPL and is not an appropriate end-point of IPL treatment. While any treatment can have complications, it is always best to indicate when something didn't go as planned and explain the expectations going forward. I would agree that silver sulfadiazine is a good topical treatment for the blisters until they heal up.

Joseph Campanelli, MD
Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon