Is it ok to get 2 IPL treatments within 1 week of each other? (Photos)

Question

I recently got an IPL for rosacea and am planning on doing more. I thought that you needed to wait 3-4 weeks between treatments, but the RN who did my IPL said I could do my next one in 1-2 weeks. I had some swelling that still isn't completely gone 4 days after the first treatment. The IPL also seems to have flared my rosacea, and I have a bunch of itchy red bumps on my cheeks that just appeared today. So maybe would be better to wait longer before the second one?

Jeff Angobaldo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question, it is recommended to space IPL treatments out. 3-4 weeks is a common practice.

Patrick Flaharty, MD FAACS · Answer

It is best to wait 3 to 4 weeks to allow complete healing from the first treatment and to see what is really left in terms of redness in the skin.  This allows your practitioner to target the remaining vessels specifically improving your ultimate result.

Jia Zheng, MD · Answer

We recommend waiting 3 weeks between treatments to allow the skin to heal. As you are experiencing inflammation, it is especially important to wait (3-6 weeks) and allow your skin to recover and improve prior to your second treatment. This interval also allows the technician to customize the settings for optimal results. Be sure to alert your provider about your skin reaction. Best of luck to you!

Manish Khanna, MD, FRCP(C) · Answer

Hi Surfsuncali,Thanks for your question. Typically the interval is 3 weeks so as to give the skin enough time to heal as well as for the medical provider to get feedback regarding the improvement and to continue to better tailor the treatment at each session. It sounds like you should visit/call your provider regarding your reaction and perhaps postpone the next session until your skin condition has normalized. Hope this helps! Best, Manish Khanna, MD FRCPC

Aurora DeJuliis, MD · Answer

IPL is the best treatment for rosacea, capillaries, and redness. They are usually done 3 weeks apart so the skin can improve between them and allow the laser light to correct the damage. There is no evidence that doing them every week will deliver a better result. Actually it could create too much inflammation.

Justin Harper, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi surfsuncali, You are correct. Depending on how you heal, laser treatment should be spaced 3-6 weeks apart. Even skin treated with non-ablative lasers need time to heal. Definitely a week apart is too soon, especially since you have a flare-up, and some inflammation.All the best, Justin Harper, M.D.

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