Can hypopigmentation from being burned during an IPL treatment be permanent? (Photos)

Question

My forehead was burned during IPL tratment 3 weeks ago. The hypopigmentation is not getting better. How long does it take to recover? Does it recover at all? Does it stay forever? I am so deprssed. I cry everyday. It is all over my forehead!

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hello,It's understandable that you are concerned, but we believe that your skin will improve with each passing day.  The IPL does create crusting as seen in your first photo.  Once the pigment/color is "lifted" by the IPL process, it's expected to have skin that is lighter than the skin that was not treated.  It's too soon to determine if this is true hypopigmentation vs. an dramatic contrast between new skin as compared to surrounding, non-treated skin.  It is worth considering a treatment that will blend all areas once you have completely healed...meaning, no longer pink skin in the areas of treatment.  In our practice, using a Q-switched YAG laser helps avoid this patchy look that an IPL hand piece produces.  In the meantime, please express your concerns to your practitioner and be diligent with UV protection at all times.

Narin (Joe) Apisarnthanarax, MD · Answer

I understand your concern, although this could take several months to correct I do not think this will be permanent. It will become less noticeable with time.  I would contact your technician to let them know what has happened, they may be able to offer different treatment options to help correct this. I would recommend limiting sun exposure and using a good sunblock.

Katherine Dee, MD · Answer

From those pictures, it looks like you have effectively treated skin in the pattern of the handpiece placement-- separated by untreated skin. Additional careful treatment can even that out, but it will eventually do so on its own. This kind of result is why we generally avoid both laser and IPL in people who are well-tanned. The laser is targeting all the pigment in your skin-- if it is spread evenly throughout the skin it will all respond. I recommend at least wearing a good sun block every day and applying a skin lightening serum. That will hasten the skin's return to even tone.

Rebecca Gelber, MD · Answer

I am so sorry you are going through this. It is very important that if you have not done so, you contact the treating office. You probably also want to get other consultations from very experienced IPL/laser physicians.
There is no way to say what your final result will be - everyone heals differently, but at least some blending in will need to be performed with IPL of any sun damage between the hypopigmented areas, very careful sun avoidance, fractional laser (Latisse can even be added to the hypo pigmented areas to regenerate pigment stem cells), and possibly micro needling with prp.

Can hypopigmentation from being burned during an IPL treatment be permanent? (Photos)

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