For anyone who has been battling dark spots and hyperpigmentation, Intense Pulse Light (IPL) laser treatment is available. What’s it really like? And, are the results worth it?
However, the idea of voluntarily putting ourselves in a situation that may involve some discomfort and pain for the sake of vanity is often enough to make us think twice about booking that appointment.
A pain-averse friend recently took the plunge and went to her first laser treatment based on a personal recommendation*. Over the years, she had tried many different topical skin lighteners to minimize the look of dark spots, all with varying degrees of success. (Admittedly, her use was inconsistent and never long enough to yield results, but the idea of a quick fix was tempting so she decided to give laser treatment a try). Here’s a summary of her experience:
1. The appointment began with a consultation to ensure that she was a good candidate for the IPL treatment. Once that was established, her face was cleansed by the technician before applying a cooling gel. Tabs were placed over the eyes for protection from the laser light.
2. Two passes were made on each side of the face, chin and nose with the larger IPL tool. While it glided over the cooling gel, a red flash emitted as the light penetrated the skin to target damaged cells.
3. During the treatment, the technician said my friend would feel what could be compared to the snap of a rubber band. In reality, it felt more like a strong static shock on the face each time the red light flashed.
4. The technician then switched to a smaller IPL tool to target specific areas and dark spots, “zapping” each one two or three times. As this second tool covered a smaller area, the discomfort was less.
5. A cold, damp towel was placed over the face for a few minutes after the treatment to relieve any discomfort. Finally, the face was wiped to remove the gel and a post-treatment cream was applied as well as some tinted moisturizer with sun filters.
Total time of actual treatment was no more than about 5 or 6 minutes, with the whole appointment lasting less than an hour. The face felt slightly sunburned for an hour or two afterwards but there was no noticeable redness.
Over the following 24 hours, the pigmented areas on her face darkened as the damaged cells came to the surface. It looked like someone had lightly sprinkled black pepper on her cheeks. These fell off within the first 7 days. Sunscreen and makeup were recommended daily to protect the face. The technician recommended using La Roche Posay Posthelios Gel as a night cream for the first week. Retinoids and exfoliants like glycolic acid were to be avoided for two weeks.
A few weeks later, most of the stubborn dark spots have lightened noticeably. A few, however, have not changed at all. Given the results, would my friend do it again? I think she’s already booked her next session!
*As with any cosmetic treatment, choose your technician wisely. Ask friends, check credentials and do a search online. And remember, that your results may differ from those of others.
