5 days post-op. IPL burn mark is getting worse every day. What can I do to help it heal? (photos)

Question

I had an ipl done on my chest 5 days ago and was burned very badly. Every day it looks significantly worse. Is this normal for it to look worse each day and not better? PLEASE WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP THIS BURN MARK HEAL?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

please see an expert immediately so you dont get permanent scarring or hyperpigmentation.
Burns need a combination of:
1) healing lasers and light such as aerolase or laser genesis and LED therapy with light stim
2) topical growth factors, stem cells, antioxidants
3) oxygen facials
4) platelet rich plasma and A cell topically
5) sun protection
6) vascular lasers for redness such as venus versa IPL, excel V KTP, and pulsed dye laser/VBeam
After 6-12 weeks you can treat for hyperpigmentation with cosmelan peels, hydroquinone, retinol or non ablative lasers like clear and brilliant or radiofrequency like venus viva.
Please see a laser, scarring and burn expert.

Kyle Holmes, MD · Answer

If your entire chest was treated, it is odd that you have a single burn, unless it was a test spot done at higher energy. Fortunately, burns from IPL usually heal uneventfully because the energy is delivered to superficial layers of the skin, which heal faster than deep dermis or fat. The best thing you can do to speed healing is use Bacitracin ointment twice daily (vitamin E has been advocated in the past, but new info shows it can worsen scarring). Give it 3 weeks, as mild burns usually heal in that time. If you have darkened skin after that healing time I would recommend seeing a different practitioner, as it can still be treated with IPL.

5 days post-op. IPL burn mark is getting worse every day. What can I do to help it heal? (photos)

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5 days post-op. IPL burn mark is getting worse every day. What can I do to help it heal? (photos)

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about IPL

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.