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POSTED UNDER IPL REVIEWS

IPL for Sunspots

ORIGINAL POST

I got several courses of IPL for very dark sun...

luminousJanuary 18, 2010
$450

I got several courses of IPL for very dark sun spots that suddenly showed up after a Greek vacation. I was dissappointed that they did not go away entirely - they are still visible. But they did fade a lot. I even used a hydroquinine cream for a while and it seemed to do nothing.

If I could guarantee that they would fade completely, I'd go back for more courses, but results seem very individual and it is expensive.

luminous's provider

Ailesbury Clinic, Dublin

0

Replies (10)

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clongowesfaceman
January 18, 2010
Hello in Dublin. My experience with IPL is that you will periodically require a "tune up" procedure. A more permanent and very effective solution is the fractionated CO2 laser. The treatment can be applied at relatively high density and low power without significant downtime (albeit more than with IPL).
luminous
January 18, 2010
Can it be used if you scar easily (keloid)?
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clongowesfaceman
January 18, 2010
Keloids typically occur on darker skin types, patients of African, Asian, or South American descent. A keloid, defined by a scar that grows beyond the natural boundaries of the scar in a botyroid fashion, occurs most commonly on the chest, deltoid, and ear/earlobe regions. True keloids on the face are exceedingly rare. A low power fractionated treatment is generally very safe.
cujola
February 11, 2010

I have had sun spots successfully treated by a dermatologist with a simple office visit. In my case, the sun spots were seboreic kerotosis. You can google that term. The dermatologist zaps the spot with liquid nitrogen, aka cryo-surgery. This procedure freezes the spot. The spot initially blisters, then dries out and flakes off in 1-2 weeks.

luminous
February 11, 2010
Thanks for the information. I am definitely not satisfied having these spots on my forehead, even though they aren't as dark as they used to be.
T1000
February 11, 2010

Here's a photo and doctor answer to treating sun spots that are seborrheic keratosis:

How do I get rid of sun spots and Seborrheic Keratosis?
luminous
February 11, 2010
Thank you - that is what mine look like only much smaller. I think I will make an appointment with a dermatologist before considering more laser.
Anita L. Dormer
January 23, 2012
IPL is something that i really dont understand its popularity. It just is a money maker for businesses but with little results. It requires several treatments. It is a light and not a laser. There are several lasers that with one treatment will remove 80% of the spots. this treatment is about 575 per 15 minutes and hands take about 10 minutes for most people. Post care must be done but I am rather astonished that people keep offering IPL when better technology with fantastic cheaper results are out there. One of my clinics was built on the failure of IPL pts and the referrals to a treatment that would actually work with little risk or downtime. Patients should be informed as unfortunately you may find yourself a victim. I expect many IPL fans will be a furious but this is fact and I would be happy to compare one treatment with 6 treatments for an IPL.
UPDATED FROM luminous

Turns out it wasn't sun spots

luminousMay 19, 2019
I did do more courses of IPL and it ultimately made the dark spots much darker because it turns out it was melasma, not sun spots. I have since worn physical sunblock religiously every day, hats when there is sun and stopped using birth control with estrogen - and the areas have faded a bit. They are still there but I cover them up with makeup mostly and just live with it.

Replies (3)

KK Consumer
June 5, 2019
HI and just to share, I also had IP for sun spots - some light, some medium and some dark. A complete waste of time and money imo. Did nothing. I had one treatment on arms with a plastic surgeon and then tried a dermatologist who (re-) did arms plus we did back and decollete. Both are very well-regarded and experienced professionals. Both told me that I should get some benefit but would probably need multiple treatments. But at $1500/pop with ZERO results I'm done. To the poeple who manufacture IPL: if you have a viable product here then step up to he plate and give us some money-back guarantees. I'm the kind of person who is willing and able to pay, but I'll be damned if I'm going to pay for crap. What exactly IPL is you success rate and how do you measure it? I'd like you to show us some transparency around this. If you only work on 30% of people or 30% of spots, let us know.
luminous
June 8, 2019
It didn't work for me because it turns out that I didn't have sunspots at all - but melasma, which is pigment resulting from hormones. It's hard to treat and IPL has variable results on it - sometimes it makes it lighter, sometimes it makes it worse. I just wish they had been able to diagnose the melasma before I went ahead and did something that made it worse. However, you live and learn! I'm sorry IPL did nothing for you. I think laser results seem to be more unique to people's skin than advertised.
luminous
July 31, 2019
Yeah, it feels like a waste of time and money when there's no result - but I wish I had known I had melasma because it turns out IPL tends to make it worse. I don't expect the laser technician to recognize all skin conditions, but I was seen once by the dermatologist at the same place and he didn't recognized it. Unimpressed.
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