IPL or laser as second treatment for sun damage/freckles on arms? (Photo)

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.

Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Hello,

Thank you for your question. The arms can be a tricky area to treat. We can't treat as aggressively because it has a higher risk of hypo-pigmentation, so it often takes several treatments for complete correction. Good luck!

Usually a combination is needed to remove freckles and it will take a series of treatments. I recommend a combination of lasers, IPL combined with Fraxel, as well as TCA peels that give great results. I would recommend seeking a board certified dermatologist to give an accurate opinion on your specific needs and wants as it's hard to say without an image to go by. Best, Dr. Emer

Thank you for your question jessica6494. I understand your concern.
IPL is a great treatment for facial rejuvenation. It can also be used off the face for pigment. It is difficult to make an assessment without before photographs. However a series of treatments is normally required to see full results. For my patients I recommend 6 monthly treatments followed by 1 maintenance treatment every 3 months thereafter. Please consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

I would personally not use laser for freckle removal.
There are different types of IPL, and efficacy varies depending upon energy settings and the skill of the operator as well as the number of passes. IPL is much more specific for treating pigmented spots and it's safer for use on body parts than laser resurfacing. 

Hello, thanks for sharing your concern.  In general, you may need 3-5 IPL treatments to see marked improvement on brown pigmentation. You can also consider combination of skin resurfacing laser( Such as Halo Hybrid) to improve more with deeper pigmentation and quicker.  Please don not forget to apply sunscreen as well.

Dr. Kevin Belasco, Newport Beach, CA

Hello.  It does look as though you've had some response to the IPL treatment.  However, deeper pigmentation often requires more than one session.  You can choose to either 1) do a series of IPL treatments 2) do a fractional CO2 laser treatment if you want to be more aggressive  or 3) do a series of micro-fractional such as the Clear & Brilliant laser, which may be the best of both worlds.  We do all three and get excellent results at sun damage and freckle removal.

Hope that helps.

Thank you for your question and posting a picture.  Hyperpigmentation / dark spots are often multiple layers deep and usually require a series of treatments.  We use both an IPL or PicoSure FOCUS to treat dark spots.  We tell our patients to expect the spots to get darker before they get lighter.  This is cause by the melanin getting closer to the surface.  Some patients will get a coffee ground appearance on the surface that flakes off.It sounds like you had a good treatment.  If you are satisfied with the treatment provider and their equipment, you should continue.  The fact that you had to ask your questions on this forum, rather from your treatment provider leads me to believe that there isn't appropriate medical supervision.  Ultimately, the patient has to get their questions answered.  If your provider can't give you satisfactory answers, you probably need a different provider.  Best of luck.

If you are having overall treatment for an area than IPL laser will take at least 5 treatments to remove most of the dark spots.  Fraxel laser is much better for  overall pigment removal.  If the spots are your main concern then I would prefer the Alex-Trivantage Laser since it is generally a treatment that is only one or two times.  Please consult an expert in lasers and sunspots.  Best, Dr. Green