White Pimple-like Blisters After IPL

The blisters you are describing - if they are very small - may be pustules associated with acne Rosacea. Have you been diagnosed with Rosacea or Acne Rosacea? If they are in fact associated with Acne Rosacea, we would highly recommend switching to pulsed dye laser treatments instead of IPL. The IPL treatments may have caused a bit of irritation which may have triggered the acne Rosacea outbreak, but it is difficult to say without seeing what they look like up close.

If the white bumps are collected in a particular area, it is possible this is a herpetic outbreak stimulated by the treatment. I recommend getting a viral culture and if positive, treat for herpes. This is not dangerous if treated properly, and will be helpful to be aware of so that you can request preventive medication to take before a future laser or IPL treatment.

If the bumps are more spread out, there may be another cause, such as a bacterial infection.

Most likely, however, this is your rosacea/acne pustules being exposed to the surface, and hopefully they will heal nicely, and allow you to return for a second treatment. Make sure to see a board-certified dermatologist to evaluate what happened, before seeing the esthetician for a second treatment.

After IPL treament, we expect and we want to see some redness. However, this usually goes away after 1-2 days. We also expect to see a darkening of any brown spots or freckles. I'm not sure what exactly is going on with the little white bumps that you describe. People with a history of herpes cold sores can get a flare-up after laser treatment which could potentially spread if not treated. I recommend that you see a dermatologist right away.