Should I be concerned about red marks and bruises after IPL treatment? (photos)

Question

I’m 41 w/ fair skin that’s prone to discoloration & broken capillaries. Throughout the years I’ve had about 10 IPL treatments without any issues. Saturday I had a treatment & later that day I developed dark red & purple marks all over my face. For point of reference it’s been about 7 yrs since my last IPL. The marks shown are all a result of the IPL. I had no prior marks in those areas. Should I be concerned about permanent damage? Is there anything I can do to expedite healing?

Chris Atkinson, MD · Answer

Hi, I see the small red purple areas on your face after your recent IPL treatment and I think that they are going to be temporary. I have had the same appearance on my own face after IPL and it went away after a week or two. I think the spots probably indicate that they treated some small vessels or other pigmented areas.

Jeffrey B. Wise, MD, FACS · Answer

IPL can be a good rejuvenating device for lighter skin types, assuming there's no predisposition for developing melasma. For lighter skin types like yours, recovery is favorable despite an aggressive setting. Best to keep the recovering areas lubricated with Aquaphor and protected from UV at all times.Best of luck!

Michael J. Brown, MD · Answer

Good afternoon and thank you for your question! Intense pulsed light (IPL) is great at treating red vessels and sun damage. When treating vessels, the energy typically needs to be at a higher setting which can sometimes result in bruising and/or swelling after the treatment. Because you have light skin and light hair you should have favorable results despite being bruised at the moment. All of your dark spots should slough off and the bruising should dissipate soon. If the bruising and dark spots do not go away then I would consult a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist. Best of luck! For more information, please feel free to visit our website!

Neetu Khurana Sodhi, DO, MPH · Answer

It appears as though the settings were a bit high but in your skin tone I would expect complete clearing of the marks. Make sure to use broad spectrum sunscreen daily to prevent extended hyperpigmentation.

Aurora DeJuliis, MD · Answer

IPL is a great treatment for skin discoloration, capillaries, redness and fine lines. They are usually performed in a series of sessions according to the skin type. IPL uses intense heat in order to correct skin problems so it is very important the procedure is accomplished in a medical setting by an experienced physician. In your particular case I think the intensity of the laser might have been too strong, but since you have a light skin tone the redness should resolve without any discolorations. 
Good luck.

Should I be concerned about red marks and bruises after IPL treatment? (photos)

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Answer: Downtime after IPL

Answer: Downtime after IPL

Answer: Should I be concerned about red marks and bruises after IPL

Answer: Should I be concerned about red marks and bruises after IPL

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Should I be concerned about red marks and bruises after IPL treatment? (photos)

Answers (5)

Answer: Downtime after IPL

Answer: Downtime after IPL

Answer: Should I be concerned about red marks and bruises after IPL

Answer: Should I be concerned about red marks and bruises after IPL

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about IPL

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.