Why Can IPL Burns Happen?

IPL treatments and devices are extremely safe when used appropriately.  Any device including a tongue depressor has some risk associated with its use.  Informed consent and patient education are important parts of a doctor patient relationship.  IPL can cause a burn if the settings are too high for a particular skin type, if there is an abundance of a target chromophore,   if the shots are "stacked", if the crystal chiller is not cool enough, or if there is arking from the edge. While most of these issue can be minimized, there is some small risk.  Fortunately even if you experience a burn, the vast majority of patients heal well without any scarring or long term effects.

IPL burns can happen for a variety of reasons, including the skin type of the individual, and most importantly if the person has a tan (high risk of burn). Also, ofcourse, the skills of the operator of any laser or light based device are critical, so ensure your treatments are performed at a medically-supervised office or clinic. Buyer beware (e.g. we regularly see burns from hair salons performing lasers), you get what you pay for out there.