What is IPL?
Laser Treatment: IPL
Best For: rosacea, sun damage, brown spots
Downtime: redness and sandpaper texture for a few days to two weeks
OK, technically IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is not a laser. So why are we including it in this list? It works just like a laser by heating specific areas on the skin, but instead of being equipped with a glass filter, it has a crystal filter. The tool can make a dramatic difference for people with rosacea, and it can also treat sun damage, redness, and brown spots.
As with lasers, there is some pain involved, including flashes of heat and the minor sting of a rubber band snapping against the skin. Following the treatment, patients can expect a bit of redness that looks and feels like a sunburn for a few days, Dr. Eidelman says. He also mentions that treated brown spots can take on the texture very fine coffee grinds and take up to two weeks to fall off.
He also warned that IPL should not be used on dark skin. It is better suited for those with lighter complexions because it can cause hyperpigmentation and discoloration.
