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.