Angela O

Great Results! Great Pricing! Wonderful Treatment by Shirley! - Fairhope, AL

Gel BLUSH make-up. I need a little color on my olive skin. My hyperpigmentation rears it's ugly head with just a bit of slacking off my daily regime. Now that I am hitting 50 it seems worse. Ugh! I sometimes slice a fresh lemon and rub it on my arms and chest (clean with no sunscreen) and let it sit on for about 20 minutes (reapply as you dry), then rinse off. Then apply more sunscreen. My girlfriend uses a glycolic solution to encourage cell turnover, but I haven't tried that. Probably you are going to need 6-9 months of home regime to see results. I will warn you: ONE DAY OF NO SUNSCREEN COMBINED WITH UV LIGHT, AND HYPERPIGMENTATION WILL BE BACK WITH A FURY. It really sucks. Why did I not accept myself and enjoy my average (slightly scarred) as it was? It seems like I have problems that intensified with TX. Remember, though--we are usually our harshest critics, and often what we see as HUGE flaws are not really even noticed by others. Do you have someone you could ask for an unbiased honest opinion? I would be leery of someone who now offers you a fix with another expensive treatment. I would give my skin some time to settle down first (at least 6 months). Good luck, Texas Girl. I am rooting for you!

I have medium olive skin tone. I ALWAYS wear sunscreen or a sunblock, even in the house. I apply a gel blush, then I use Obagi Rx hydroquinone with vit C as my base BEFORE my sunscreen and I let it absorb for about 10 minutes before I apply my sun screen. I reapply my sunscreen at least once during the day ( ALL sunscreens/blocks need to be reapplied, even if you don't get sweaty). I add a hat if I'm out in the sun. My skin tone seems pretty even now. Try not to stress--remember that your DAILY regime is far more important than the TX. We ALL have that in our control, if nothing else. Good luck. A.

My technician told me that for some people, hyperpigmentation can result from laser use. She recommended hydroquinone (4% Rx) BEFORE treatment, then everyday after, followed up by sunscreen (not just a moisturizer with sunscreen) and a hat. She said to put it on FIRST thing in the morning, as ANY light source will stimulate hyperpigmentation (including light bulbs!!! WTH?!!!). My situation is different though, as I was being treated with a nonablative laser. I use Obagi hydroquinone with C for oily to normal skin. There are lots of different kinds out there though. But sunscreen to reduce stimulation is the most important (I use an SPF of 45). Good luck! Let us know what happens, o.k.?

AMEN. I often get the feeling that 'somebody' has equipment to pay for...

Megan, it was well worth it and I plan to follow up this treatment with another in a month or so. I have a special family occasion coming up and I plan on having another treatment about a month before the date, so that I have time to let the discoloration from the IPL gradually slough off. Also, I checked pricing in the area for facial IPL and the special of $150.00 is very competitive.