Client with Addison’s, has hyperpigmentation on her face. Will I be able to treat the skin with a E-light IPL laser?

Question

Hi, I have a client with Addison’s. As a result she has hyperpigmentation on her face. Will I be able to treat the skin with a E-light IPL laser?

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

You must be the IPL practitioner since you "have a client," and since most physicians call the recipients of their care "patients," I worry that you may have insufficient knowledge about a number of concerns. Appropriate treatment of the Addison's is the first step. Once this is stable, the hyperpigmentation typically remains, and only then is pigmentation reduction appropriate.IPL is NOT a laser, so the fact that you confuse this basic fact in your question is another concern. If you are a physician, I would humbly suggest that you obtain more training. If you are not, please talk with your physician medical director, but only if s/he is sufficiently experienced to answer this question for you.Finally, the best results in this setting would more likely be achieved with a chemical peel, which would leave much more uniform results without the checker-boarding that IPL can yield, especially with dark skin. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Jennifer Greer, MD · Answer

I suspect that IPL therapy will not be affected by the Addison's disease, and vice versa. But I would recommend getting clearance from the patient's endocrinologist- he or she will know what effects Addison's has on the skin, and on healing time. You will also need to check the patient's medication list for any meds that cause sensitivity to sunlight.

Client with Addison’s, has hyperpigmentation on her face. Will I be able to treat the skin with a E-light IPL laser?

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Client with Addison’s, has hyperpigmentation on her face. Will I be able to treat the skin with a E-light IPL laser?

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about IPL

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