Best IPL burn treatment?

Question

I was recently burned by an IPL that was too intense and would like a recommendation on how to hopefully reverse this.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello, Tracy! I'm Landry - an aesthetician at Shah Aesthetics located in both Chicago and Winnetka. I apologize about your experience with IPL as this can be a result of misunderstanding or underestimating the settings. When experiences like these happen, I'd recommend discontinuing your service from where you went or providing documentation of what happens in hopes this will not occur in the future at this clinic. In terms of healing burns, here are a couple of tips in soothing your skin barrier:

1) Immediate Care:
Cool the area immediately and apply a soothing gel. This can be in the form of Aquaphor or Aloe Vera (make sure no fragrances are added as this can cause further irritation.

2) Aftercare:
Eliminate or highly reduce sun exposure to the area. Your skin is already compromised and you need to protect your skin at all costs. If you are outside, make sure to wear an SPF between 40-50 every 1-2 hours. It is also important to moisturize as the burned skin will be void of hydration. Choose a moisturizer that does not have any fragrances or exfoliants such as retinols, AHAs or BHAs. Vanicream is a great choice as it has no fragrances or dyes to cause further irritations.

3) Be patient with your skin. Skin burns usually take some time to heal, although it can be frustrating. If you're having severe pain or open sores from the burns, contact medical help.

Laser Skin Solutions - Portland · Answer

Experiencing a burn or excessive thermal injury from an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment requires an immediate shift toward barrier repair, inflammation control, and strict protection to minimize the risk of prolonged erythema or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
As an advanced licensed aesthetician in Portland, the primary focus when managing compromised skin post-laser or light-based injury involves several crucial steps:
Cooling and Calming: Immediately following a thermal burn, apply cool compresses (avoiding direct ice) to reduce residual heat in the tissue. Avoid any active topicals, acids, retinoids, or physical exfoliants until the skin barrier has fully re-epithelialized.
Barrier Restoration: Utilize a gentle, bland cleanser and focus on barrier-repair creams containing ingredients like ceramides, squalane, or panthenol to lock in moisture and support cellular recovery.
Strict UV Defense: Compromised skin is exceptionally vulnerable to UV radiation. Apply a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) daily without exception, as unprotected healing greatly increases the likelihood of permanent pigment changes.
Hands-Off Approach: If blistering, crusting, or peeling occurs, never pick, pull, or scrub the skin. Allow the tissue to shed and heal naturally to prevent scarring.
If blistering is severe, open wounds develop, or signs of infection appear, it is vital to consult with a medical professional or dermatologist immediately for evaluation and localized treatment.

Best IPL burn treatment?

Answers (2)

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