Would IPL be a permanent treatment for freckles?

Question

I have a very white skin and some freckles on my cheeks that I want to get rid of.I've had them for like 7 years because I once tanned severely.They never seem to fade even in winter but I keep on always wearing sunscreen. Is IPL treatment really effective? and if so, is it permanent? I want to know what I'm supposed to do after the treatment is complete. Will I have to avoid the sun or is wearing sunscreen a guarantee to not get them back again? Thank you in advance.

Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. It is best to consult with a Board Certified Dermatologist to give you the best treatment plan. I would recommend wearing SPF 30 with zinc everyday. IPL is best to treat brown spots and requires few treatments at least 5 to 6 every 4 weeks.  I hope this helps!

Brian S. Biesman, MD · Answer

Freckles tend to recur after IPL treatment, laser skin resurfacing, and other treatments.  However you can often achieve significant improvement in the appearance of freckles and many patients find these treatments beneficial.  I would discuss this question carefully which are treating physician before making a decision to move forward.

Peter J. Capizzi, MD · Answer

Great question. IPL can be an effective way to remove or greatly reduce the appearance of freckles and age spots. The IPL light is attracted to brown and dark pigmentation. It's important to know IPL will not destroy the cell in your skin that is over producing the pigmentation. So the troubling freckle or spot can and may return. You are correct that staying protected from the sun will be important to maintain results. Depending on the area of pigmentation, a series of treatments may be recommended. It is essential you have been out of the sun for several weeks before and after IPL treatment. Here at Stillwater Plastic Surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina, fall and winter are the best times of the year to have this type of treatment done. Best of luck. Has this been helpful?

Steven M. Gitt, MD, FACS (in memoriam) · Answer

One of the many side effects of sun damage to the skin can be freckling or a variation of pigmentation.  It is best to confirm with a Board Certified Dermatologist because while IPL is effective for many pigmentation irregularities, it is not always appropriate or the best option.  Regardless of skin tone, it is always best to wear sunscreen with an SPF 30 everyday, even for incidental exposure.  Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a permanent fix, but with a good maintenance regimen the results can be prolonged.

F. Victor Rueckl, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Freckles can actually be a variety of different types of skin discoloration.  You need to be evaluated in person by a trained dermatologist to see if this is the kind of discoloration that can be effectively treated with IPL, or a type that won't respond. I have seen so many people in my office disappointed by being treated with IPL at various spas and salons only to have me tell them they have a type of discoloration that would never respond to IPL..... This is why it's key to be treated by trained professionals. "This answer has been solicited without seeing this patient and
cannot be held as true medical advice, but only opinion. Seek in-person
treatment with a trained medical professional for appropriate care."

Would IPL be a permanent treatment for freckles?

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