Which would you recommend; IPL or Fraxel Dual for sun damage ?

Our office has many different treatments for the skin and scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.

Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

While Fraxel and IPL are both laser treatments that can help reduce signs of aging, they are very different procedures and a recommendation would be based on each patient's specific needs. There are several types of Fraxel lasers ( and several types of fractionated lasers—not just Fraxel) that we use to resurface the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, and pigmentation. Fraxel treatments are an effective way to stimulate new collagen and provide a younger, texture to damaged skin. The downtime will vary from 1 day to 1 week depending on the type of fractionated laser and how strong you need the laser to be for your problem. IPL is a more gentle treatment that is ideal for patients with a lot of color problems like sun damage spots, broken capillaries, and age spots. It also improves the texture of the skin and pores, but really isn’t used for wrinkles or acne scars. Using intensed pulsed light technology, this treatment reduces uneven pigmentation without causing damage to the surrounding skin. IPL treatments are gentle, yet effective and there is no downtime required. Visit a board-certified dermatologist to discuss your skin concerns and determine whether Fraxel or IPL would be best for you.

Both IPL and Fraxel can remove pigmentation, and I often use a combination of the two depending on the patient's background skin tone and the depth of the pigmentation. I would recommend seeing a practitioner in your area that has experience with both modalities and see what he or she recommends.Best of luck.

What works better for hyper pigmentation from sun damage,
IPL or Fraxel or both:

For individuals with light skin, IPL can be used for
superficial skin discoloration and broken capillaries. Individuals with
olive or dark skin are at a higher risk of complications with IPL which may
include burns and worsening of hyper pigmentation. Fractionated lasers such as
Fraxel are effective in improving the texture and, color of the skin.
There are some categories of fractionated lasers that can be used in all skin
types and colors with little risk of hyper pigmentation.

Fraxel DUAL is intended to provide fast results. You'll get the benefits of improved skin texture with a laser in a way that IPL can't act.But IPL is a convenient zero downtime treatment that is quite affordable and virtually pain free - what you sense during a treatment is the "flash" burst from the light application - hence the word intense in Intense Pulsed Light.If your hyper pigmentation is not particularly severe, then I'd suggest trying the IPL alone. You could find satisfaction from IPL without any of the laser risks and at a lesser cost.If the pigmentation is combined with early wrinkling and poor skin texture AND your skin has a lot of natural pigment, then another option exists called eMatrix which does what Fraxel DUAL does at a lighter level - but is more appropriate for darker skins or those with ethnic backgrounds that tend to hyper pigment easily.(One of the reasons there are so many lasers is that there are many skin colors and types. We try to provide the best outcomes with the least risks to the patient.)But now that you are aware of what the sun can do to your skin, take the preventive steps and use sunscreen and good antioxidant products on your skin. It's never too late to be proactive in keeping your skin in good condition.