Is beard hair loss from one IPL treatment permanent? (Photo)

Question

I am a 43 year old male and had IPL treatment for general sun damage and fine lines two days ago. Now I am noticing a patchy appearance to my beard. Is this permanent? The doctor never told me about potential hair loss to the beard area. Will my beard grow back or am I going to have a patchy beard going forward?? I bought a series of 4 but am really nervous now about going back.

Alex Eshaghian, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question tdme. I understand your concern.
IPL is a great treatment for facial rejuvenation. When performed over hair bearing areas it can result in patchy hair loss. The hair sometimes returns. This is something I address with men prior to starting a series of treatments. If the patient wants to retain the hair we avoid the area and use other treatments such as peels and fractional lasers combined with products. Please consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

David A. Sieber, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for the great question. As the others have already stated, it will take about 3 months to see if the hair loss you have is permanent. We use IPL for hair removal and I do not use it on the beard area in men because of this risk. In my opinion, I would not complete your additional treatments if you want to keep your facial hair. Other treatments such as fraxel or halo can be used to treat sun damage and fine lines and will not cause hair loss. Look for someone in your area with one of these lasers for additional treatments. Best of luck!~Dr. Sieber

Kevin Cavanaugh, MD · Answer

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear about your hair loss after IPL. IPL can cause hair loss and it is my protocol to discuss this with male patients prior to undergoing this procedure. It is difficult to assess whether your hair loss after one treatment is permanent, but it certainly could be and this will be answered with time. In terms of treatments for small areas of hair loss after IPL, you could try topical treatments (Latisse, minoxidil), but I would recommend following up with the person who did the procedure or a broad certified dermatologist to discuss hair loss after IPL and potential treatment options. The next time you get IPL they can avoid the beard region. I hope this helps.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

Please consult a board certified dermatologist to evaluate. One of the potential problems with IPL, depending on which setting is used, is hair loss.  There are other lasers such as Fraxel, Clear and Brilliant, Thermage, etc which do not have that potential side effect.  Please find out which settings were done to determine if you will have permanent hair loss.  Best, Dr. Green

Is beard hair loss from one IPL treatment permanent? (Photo)

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Answer: IPL and Hair Loss

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Is beard hair loss from one IPL treatment permanent? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: IPL and Hair Loss

Answer: IPL and Hair Loss

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