IPL Burns - Matachewan, ON

Probably one of the best things to do now is low level chemical peels. With your olive skin it can be trickly to use a laser/IPL, especially if you are in either cold or hot weather. Both estremes are can be very harsh on your sensitive skin. I'm an aesthetician and when I'm in doubt I always do a test spot on the face. I've had the doctor I work for issue a perscription of HQ at least two weeks before the treatment. Chemical peels can help with this discoloration but in your climate you should alway protect your face. Always use a sun block. If you were diagnoised with a condition such as melasma (which is driven by hormones) I definitely not do any type of laser/IPL because the heat from these machines can make the discoloration worst. Initially the discoloration will go away but if it's melasma it will come back.

I am so sorry this happened. Your technician was clearly unskilled and inexperienced. Based on your photos, your skin before IPL was actually a bit too dark to receive treatment. If your skin is naturally darker or the least bit tan from the sun, IPL can burn you. Your technician was pretty clueless and you have a right to be upset. Best of luck to you!

Hi Leahan! I am so sorry this happened to you. The people that did your treatment messed up on so many levels. By looking at your first tx photos I can tell that you most likely had melasma by the way the pigment lifted. (Though your melasma then was nothing compared to what it is now.) Laser should never be used to treat melasma and there are many studies out there to back that up. Laser (and IPL) will make melasma worse because the IPL creates an inflammatory response in your skin- they should never have sold you the treatment package. Also by the pics I can see that the settings were much too high. Having bar marks like that is terrible. ALSO I just can't even believe they did another treatment over the lifted pigment to lift it more!!!! That is like a big laser 101 no no!! Seriously girl these people screwed up big time and they are lucky you are being so sweet. You have every right to get your money back and honestly even to sue for all of ur money back plus damages and all the product you have had to buy. The clinic you went to should be paying for your hydroquinone products, giving you free facials, doing everything in their power to apologize and make this right. They messed up big time and they need to apologize! As far as your skin healing goes it is best to stay out of sun for at least 6 months post burn like u had -1 year is best. Ur hyperpig should clear over time but melasma ain't goin nowhere and should only be treated with topicals. Never laser, never any harsh scrubbing (aggressive microderm) aggressive peels (some peels are good but do the progressive approach like a PCA skin peel). Again I'm so sorry! Stick up for urself girl and don't let them bully you.

The settings were definitely too high- I never saw marks like that hours after treatment. IPL does give you onion-skin-like scabs days after treatment that kind of molt off but you definitely should not have that kind of discoloration the first day. I think practitioners should recommend a highly soothing, antioxidant-rich balm for aftercare of the treated areas to speed healing and shedding of the ablated tissue.

Yes, either the setting was too high, or the machine wasn't properly serviced. When I first got IPL it was by a beautician and she burnt my skin like that, but luckily it was on my shoulder. It took months to heal and I had some pigmentation issues, but it did eventually fade. Incidentally when I contacted her she said her machine was broken and she was waiting to have it fixed. I never went back. I did get IPL again, but at a specialist clinic, and I never had the problem again. I think it's good advice to really choose the clinic carefully.

I don't see burns - I can only see the pigmentations coming to the surface. That's what the IPL does. It destroys the dark pigmentation and it then goes even darker and is peeled of. But I do understand your concern. They should have informed you much better. You should have known that this would happen so you could have prepared yourself for it. And it hurts like hell!!! They always say: "it's only minor discomfort". Discomfort? No, it really hurts!

Tell them that you will report them to the board of professional misconduct, and the bba, and that you also wish to receive back the reimbursement for the treatment you did not have, you're entitled to it.

I am so sorry that this was your experience. My aesthetitian just recommended this procedure to help with a few tiny broken capillaries. I'm glad that I checked. I think I'll pass.

I am sorry so many have has ba experiences with IPL. I just had a treatment today, with very little discomfort and other than some itching, no ill effects tonight. This is my third series, over 3-4 years and I have been very happy with the results for my rosacea. Each of my series was performed at a different dermatology clinic. I would recommend this procedure for rosacea.