IPL for Type IV Skin Tone

If you noticed brown spots particularly after giving birth, my first inclination is to ask if you have melasma. IPL treatments can exacerbate the issue if this is indeed the case. Although IPL treatments can be performed on Fitz IV skin tones, there is usually much caution taken with settings that one may not see the amount of resolve you're looking for immediately. Dermaplaning, a peel series, and home care that includes a skin lightener, such as, hydroquinone would be a good place to start. You may find that you achieve the results you desire by investing in monthly skin care treatments with an aesthetician.

I think you are right to raise this question. Darker skin types are at increased risk for developed pigmentary problems after treatment with lasers/peels/ and light based devices. In your case, you have several options:

1. a good MD directed skin care reg. should be part of any treatment you decide to do; 2. IPL can be done in darker skin types with caution. Make sure you see someone with experience and has MD oversight ( if you are choosing a medispa); 3. Light peels work really well for superficial pigmentation and are really safe.

There should be settings and filters that would allow you to do that.  A couple of words of caution though:

1. pigmentation after pregnancy can be melasma, even though it may look like freckles.  Melasma can sometimes get worse with IPL.  So it needs to be looked at with a Woods lamp to see where the pigmentation is.  If it is strictly superficial (epidermal) it may do fine with IPL.

2. make sure they do a proper evaluation to determine what skin type you are.  It's easy to make assumptions but they don't always hold true.  There are a series of questions you need to answer to determine your skin type.