Will my beauty marks/sun spots return after my IPL photofacial treatments? (Photo)

Question

I have only got one treatment done so far and they faded a lot! I have three more sessions to go. I am planning on doing all three this month (march) however first week of May I am going to Mexico. I was told to wear 70 spf and try hard to avoid the sun. I have two questions. 1: if I wear 70 spf and my face is exposed under the sun will that protect my skin from the moles/beauty marks returning? And 2: will the moles ever return to my face again after months/years? Am I ever allowed to tan my face again?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

We advise patients to use a skin lightener such as Melarase after IPL to help improve surface pigmentation.  IPL alone will not permanently reduce age spots. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian Los Angeles

Jennifer Greer, MD · Answer

Pigmentation is made of melanin, a brown pigment made by the skin. Sun stimulates the skin to make more melanin; this is why skin tans when out in the sun. So being out in the sun will speed the return of any brown spots that were removed with IPL treatments, and deliberately tanning the skin will speed this process even further.  Even with minimal sun exposure, brown spots will return gradually over several years just from the little bit of sun we get during daily activities. Wearing sunscreen daily and reapplying it every 2-3 hours when out in the sun will slow this process down, as will using a skin lightener such as hydroquinone or Lytera (by Skin Medica).

Will my beauty marks/sun spots return after my IPL photofacial treatments? (Photo)

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Answers (2)

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