I have streak marks on forehead and cheeks after my first IPL Treatment. (photos)

Not all IPL's are the same and not all providers are the same.  Older IPL systems create streaks which are sign of a low threshold of therapeutic to treatment ratio.  Older IPL's may use cryogen lamps instead of xenon lamps.  In addition, the threshold for therapeutic and burn is much lower in an older IPL system than newer IPL systems.  There are a select few 3rd generation IPL's which are much better at targeting browns and reds with higher absorption than older IPLs.  IPL's should be performed under a physician's umbrella as safety parameters and effectiveness parameters will be much more likely.    It is better to spend money on an effective treatment than less money on an ineffective one.  

IPL causes swelling and redness and will resolve. It usually takes a series of treatments to have improvement.  I find that fraxel is better the types of spots you're describing. See an expert in lasers. Any "streaks" mean you do not have appropriate treatment and you need to be see by an expert.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Thank you for
your question gphbecca. I understand your concern. IPL is a great
treatment for facial rejuvenation. Striping can occur if inappropriate amount of overlap is used. It can be treated with further sessions. We use the Sciton BBL IPL device which has a large spot size and fast repetition rate. This allows for multiple passes in different directions with good overlap using more conservative settings to prevent striping. Please consult
with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!