IPL: Stories

Natasha, if you've done your IPL treatment 3 years ago, I don't think your breakout is due to your IPL since you just broke out for no reason a year ago. I am not from Montreal so I don't know of any good dermatologists there. However, perhaps your diet as well as hormones may have caused you to break out. Stress may also be one of the reasons. I am not 100% sure if natural treatments work that well because I personally find some not as useful as others. Perhaps you can take a look at products like http://www.skinceuticals.com/_us/_en/category/blemish-age-defense.htm For Rosacea, you may want to check out http://www.obagi.com/patients/product-line/rosaclear Re diet and skincare, I like Perricone's suggestions:http://blog.perriconemd.com/losing-the-acne-battle-try-the-dr-perricone-diet-for-clear-skin/

Hi Natasha, I am sorry that you are feeling so bad about the changes in your skin. That sucks, And you are so young. I do not know why your skin would start having indentations and marks like in the pic. (BTW, that's not me, but my skin did the same) I believe the lines or indentations that you see in the skin, that are like in the pic here (same ones I have) are from the collagen being destroyed along with (I am speaking of my face) fat atrophy which made the skin sag a bit. If you pull the skin back or stick a finger in the inside of your cheek and poke it out just a bit, the lines will be gone, making me believe that the underlying structure (fat? collagen?) has been messed with. I am not a doc , however if you did not have a problem with the IPL 3 years ago, I am tempted to say it was not from the IPL. My advice to you would be to go to the best (very best) plastic surgeon (who does FACES ONLY) and is knowledgeable about ALL of the lazers, IPLS etc. A dermatologist has some (but limited knowledge) where as a facial plastic surgeon (and I suggest one who also does facial reconstruction, even more knowledge) to take a look at your face and see what they have to say (not because you need surgery, but the more knowledge they have the better). The one I like most, but have not seen yet because I am in Colorado in grad school, is in New York City. Dr. Andrew Jacono. There is also the IPL and Laser damage web site where lots of women have written in giving there thoughts on various docs and ideas about what helped and what didn't. I have not tried the Obaji products but have read lots of post from women who have said it helped. I also want to tell you to get your hormones tested, when are hormones change as in menopause (and I know you are way to young for this) it can change your skin. See where your estrogen is at and your testosterone (used in building collagen). On the mental health side of things I constantly remind myself that all is impermanent and changing. I remind myself that the culture is over the top on its perfectionist ideas of women and how difficult it is to live up to that. There is a great film by Sut Jholly called Killing us Softly. If you get a chance, watch it. maybe you can find it on you tube. I look really bad on cloudy days and sunny days much better. My eyes were hollowed out and I may still opt for surgery, not sure. It has taken me a couple of years to be ok with it (most of the time). But it was hard. I hope that helps. Be kind to yourself. Let me know how it goes. Keeping you in my thoughts.

Thanks Nicole, I appreciate your response.

What do you think of the obaji products and can you recommend a couple for me to use if you are familiar? MSM is a supplement, correct? Thanks!

Hi Grace, I am not sure if you were writing to me, but I would love to be of support to you while you go through this and the healing. I am in my early 50's and in graduate school for counseling. When I am done I hope to offer some free counseling to woman who have been damaged by laser/IPL etc. And no I do not think you are naive. You are already ultimately ok. It's just difficult to have someone who is supposed to be helping you look better cause damage. My face was burning for the last couple of days from nerve damage. I took a double the recommended amount of B and double the recommended amount of Gaba, put aloe and Arnica Oil on my face and today I had NO PAIN! I can not tell you how excited I am about that!!!! I am going to keep pampering my face, wear 50 sunblock, eat tons of fruits and veggies and keep the humidifier on high! Best of Luck to you too!!!

Grace can you recommend a glycolic and moisturizer? Thanks much!

I thought it was stem cell where the doc lipo's your abdomen, separates the rich stem cells, then injects that into your face. As for hyperbarics, I need to go as I have nerve damage, an annihilation of my oil, sweat & sebaceous glands and no longer have heat & cold receptors and low dose radiation poisoning...all of which have been diagnosed. Was told hyperbarics would help to heal, especially the nerve damage. As well, makeup and tinted moisturizer no longer adhere to my skin and if that's the case, sunscreen probably doesn't work either...

From what I have read, they cannot separate the stem cells and the process of obtaining the fat cells is apparently pretty traumatic so the fat cells, stem cells etc may not survive. How did you get the low dose radiation poisoning diagnosed? Hyperbarics didn't work for me but I hope it well help you.

Hi Matinee, I had nerve damage as well. I am two years out and most of the nerve tingling and soreness has gone, but it has taken this long. I was scared that it would never go away and was more worried about that then my looks. How or who did you go to (what type of doc) to diagnose the annihilation of oil, sweat and sebaceous glands? No matter how much I moisturize it doesn't seem to make a difference. Can you tell me a little bit about hyperbarics and where I might find that. I live in Colorado. Thanks!

The hyperbarics doc that I went to said that I had low dose radiation poisoning just by looking at my skin. He treats cancer patients on a daily bases who have radiation poisoning from their treatments.

One of the MANY dermatologists that I went to confirmed I had no sebaceous glands. My face doesn't sweat, no matter what and my skin is chronically dry. I'm constantly applying oils and lotions. I haven't had a pimple, black or whitehead in 3 yrs. Here is one link to help you understand about hyperbarics and what it can do for you: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/MY00829

wow. Can I ask what city? I may have to research radiation poisoning.

I'm in Alberta, Canada

Wow. I did a little bit of research. These treatments cause a thermal injury versus a radiation injury. I'm wondering if the symptoms are similar in general. From what I can tell, heat and radiation damage tissues in similar ways. Ionizing adiation injuries are far worse. My skin still sweats in some areas but is full of little blood vessels and there is an obvious loss of subcutaneous fat tissue which is a known complication of radiofrequency treatments. I hope for more research into the damaging effects these treatments can cause. Sadly the money for research is mostly from the laser companies or for new studies, not complications.

it's called FAMI and there is a guy in London/Spain (possibly LA) who does this. Search for London fami clinic on the internet. The doctors name is Roger Amar.

I thnk everyones results are different .mayb if u continue with those ipl's ull probobly end up with some damage.it is basically heating up ur skin . Im glad that people from this site help us understand the two sides of what can happen.