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POSTED UNDER IPL Reviews

Aging Texture Changes Post-IPL.

UPDATED FROM Still_sorry

Another photo - THIS is what you might be trading brown spots, sun spots or redness for ...

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Still_sorryJuly 29, 2015
$550
I think what really unites people who have damage from IPL is how ugly and foreign the texture changes are. I am too young for this skin I have now, and I don't even see these textures on older people.

Replies (5)

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LillyLake
July 29, 2015
Yep... That's the texture I have. On my lower cheeks too when I smile. It's soft and mushy with odd bumps like chicken skin...
Cjjr
August 4, 2015
Wow same thing here.
Neomag
July 29, 2015
Thank you for allowing us to follow your experience of IPL. I am grateful because IPL was something I actually had an appointment to do. I will never, ever do it. How frustrating for you and all those it has damaged, to be told it's not damage from IPL. I know panic attacks, and I can certainly understand how this kind of stress could bring them on. My heart goes out to you.
selfaware2
July 29, 2015
so sorry :( I've been following your post and thought it was limited to your forehead. It seems to overheat the skin and cause fat/collagen loss that fills in with abnormal wrinkling. It seems very easy for these devices to do that given the extreme heat and incomprehensible that "doctor's" so flippantly turn these devices on as if it's like getting your hair dried. It sounds like you are over a year out -- a time when most say any fat loss would have run its course. Do you think it's been progressive or it petered out at the 7-8 month mark? What a truly harrowing experience and I wish you healing. Some I've read do feel it gets better. Im not sure if it's a blood supply issue, scar remodeling issue or has an oxidative stress exascerbating component. I feel best to treat it like a wound/scar tissue which means keeping moisturized but finding something that won't be an irritant is not easy. Hope more public awareness is picked up from honest discussions like you have shared.
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Still_sorry
August 15, 2015
My forehead is the part that changed the most, and the first I noticed. I remember the day I noticed, it was about 3 months after. My skin was drier after IPL so I thought I was just clogging my pores with lotion but I cut back and it didn't get better it got worse. I used to wear my hair up and light would hit a very smooth, line and pore free forehead it was actually one of my best features. I'm Ukrainian and we have foreheads that are very noticeable. Now it's all crinkled and looks worse than my moms who is 62 (though not dull, it still has a youthful brightness, and without deep lines ... The damage is odd looking I think because it ages you in a non uniform, atypical way. Only when I smile can you really see the damage on the cheeks, but it's bad too. I have some doctors tell me this is dehydrated Rosacea skin but I don't actually have Rosacea in the areas with the worst texture (my Rosacea concentrates on mid cheek and t-zone). It could be a component so I've been taking care of my Rosacea as best as possible, and yes, SPF 50 reapplied throughout the day.

Thank you everyone for all the support. When I get a chance I'll capture some more of the cheek damage. The latest dermatologist I saw suggested IPL made the skin around the bad skin better, so now I'm noticing bad skin. Well, that's an idea but not what happened for me.
normal again
July 29, 2015
Yes, that's also exactly what I see when light from the side hits my cheeks. As LilyLake says, like chicken skin. My damage was in 2009, by the way, and I have fat loss. I think you'll see some improvements from here on out, but IMO this is still just putting aging on fast-forward. Remember to ALWAYS wear high SPF.
tah4228
August 16, 2015
I have what you describe before my IPL. It is a normal part of aging to have "chicken skin" according to two well respected dermatologists. It is sun damage plus sleeping in the same position for years. I sleep on my right side so I see the damage there. My left side is perfectly fine.

I'm not discounting that you have issues, I am simply stating that it is possible that you are just suffering the effects of getting older.
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Still_sorry
August 18, 2015
That's good to know, thank you.
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LillyLake
August 21, 2015
@tah4428; The thing is, and yes I know normal ageing does that, I got this damage almost overnight and everyone I know noticed it, including my estheticiain whom I see once a month and my Dermatologist. It is "normal" ageing accelerated by the IPL somehow. I never go in the sun btw, I have Rosacia, I can't tolerate it, I wear hats, sunscreen, etc.
UPDATED FROM Still_sorry

Two more pictures showing IPL damage

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Still_sorryMay 29, 2015
My pictures yesterday didn't capture the damage so here are some new ones. Note how when eyebrows are raised the pores (they look like holes more than pores) connect together

Replies (1)

ty333
May 30, 2015
Hi, Have you looked into having a peel to help with the fine lines and to reduce pore size? I just started looking into them so
ty333
May 30, 2015
I dont know much but I have seen some great results in the before/after shots that doctors have posted. I think if you started doing a light peel (at home peels may even be enough for you if you are brave) on a regular bases it might help with the things that are bothering you from the IPL. Good luck...thanks for sharing your results.
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Still_sorry
May 30, 2015
Hi ty333, I consulted 2 dermatologists and neither recommended a peel as I have Rosacea and its contraindicated. I imagine some peels are safer Rosacea than others but both derms said basically they would advise staying away from peels. And retinol. Thank you for your suggestion, though. I wish there was more I could do.
UPDATED FROM Still_sorry

One year after IPL - no improvement in texture changes

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Still_sorryMay 29, 2015
It's been a year now, and the texture changes I noticed shortly after IPL have not improved but I have learned to cope with them a bit better, also, at about the 7 or 8 month point it stopped looking worse so I've been getting used to it. I considered bangs for a while and will likely go that route. Primer helps, Cereve Cream helps, but it's still a lined and dotted mess up there. This photo I'm attaching doesn't do it justice, its blurring out both the lines and pores, I'll post another few once I can better capture it. Partially I think it's better in the summer from the humidity (I have Rosacea so skin tends to be dry). I'm wearing a bit of powder in the photo and Cereve cream

Replies (2)

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Nannietil
August 19, 2015
I had IPL too, only one time thank god. But it has changed my skin... It's more blotchy and uneven in color. I definately had fat loss but I am used to it now. It's not as bad as it was in the beginning. Never never never again. All my hyperpigmentation came back and then some. The estitician said I need more treatments but I am done. I had amazing skin on my face, I used to get compliments all the time.... Not anymore. Don't give up. I am a Healh coach and found that eating high quality fats and lots of filtered water helps the skin heal. The body is an amazing machine. Try working from the inside out and take care of yourself. I wish you beat of luck
indigoguy
August 21, 2015
Where are comments from the hundred of doctors who are presently and still using I'pl lasers. I have also seen pictures and comments from dozens of people who have used I'pl,s and have success. It's hard to really know if you are aging and this sped up the process. I can't judge thousands of I'pl procedures. By one not so successful ones. Why are no skin care doctors daring to post on this thread. Something is not right here
Lurking
August 10, 2016
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