Is IPL or Fraxel Best Treatment for Sunspots?

Great question! IPL is a great technique to remove unwanted freckles and sunspots. You can see the difference in just days after the first treatment, but the number of treatments may vary depending on your desired results. Fraxel, on the other hand, also improves sun damaged skin, as well as tone and texture. It is best to visit your doctor for a consultation to decide which treatment would work best with your skin and achieve your desired results.Best wishes,Barbara L. Persons, MD, FACS

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

IPL is not the same as laser. Light based treatments like IPL and LED use multiple wavelengths of light. Lasers use a single wavelength, making the results far more predictable. Sunspots are caused by the increased production of melanin as a result of excessive sun exposure. Lasers like Fraxel Dual are able to reach into deeper layers of the skin to break up the pigment. Fraxel Dual was even demonstrated on the Rachel Ray show for the removal of sun spots. You can view this episode on You Tube using the keywords: Fraxel Rachel Ray sun spots.

I also use Fraxel Dual in my Los Angeles office. I am able to use it on patients with different skin tones. I've attached a case study video of a woman who wanted to have her brown spots cleared.

You would be better off getting an in person consultation with a board-certified dermatologist prior to committing yourself to one laser or another. Most sun spots may be safely removed or minimized by Diode laser utilizing 532nm laser first. Residual dyspigmentation can be faded with Nd:Yag laser and/or IPL laser depending on your skin type and prior skin medical history.

In my opinion and experience, IPL (intense pulsed light) is the best treatment for sunspots.  Most patients require a course of treatment (between 1-3 visits), discomfort and downtime is minimal, and the results can be permanent.  However if sun exposure reoccurs then the sun spots will return or you can develop new ones!  Therefore prevention is extremely important once you have been treated.  
Always use a good quality, high SPF sunscreen, avoid the sun as much as possible and invest in a nice hat that you will not be afraid to wear!  I am sure that you will be happy with the results of your IPL treatment on your sunspots.  With my best wishes.

 Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a wonderful tool for color correction of the face, neck, chest, arms, hands, and back. It is reasonably priced and you will see improvements after the first treatment. We use the Sciton BBL device and recommend color correction first with 3-4 successive treatments followed by maintenance facials quarterly. We have a bundle that includes 12 Hydrofacials and 4 IPL treatments a year. I also recommend a professional grade sunscreen such as Image Skincare Sunscreen and Lytera Skin Brightening cream. Not only do you need to treat the existing discolorations, you need to prevent reoccurence.

For sunspots we use the IPL. This Intense Pulsed Light, or Photo Rejuvenation, treatment focuses mainly on achieving a beautifully even tone to your skin. With every treatment, there is noticeable improvement in brown hyperpigmented areas, as well as a reduction in overall redness.

There are many different lasers on the market, including the IPL and Fraxel, which can improve sun spots.  The appropriate laser or combination of lasers really depends on one's lesions (sun spots), skin type, treatment goals, and downtime concerns.  There are also other treatments besides laser, such as cryotherapy, eletrodessication and topical treatments, which can also improve sun spots. I recommend you consult with a board-certified dermatologist for proper evaluation and discussion of treatment options. 

Hyperpigmentation from the sun damage can live at different depths of the skin.  IPL Photofacial targets that pigment pulling it to the surface of the skin, breaking it apart and eventually flaking off over the coarse of a few treatments. I love to combine IPL with a fractionated laser treatment to increase results with fewer treatments
If you are picking one or the other, specifically for pigmentation, a series of 4-6 IPL treatments works great and with out any downtime!