We all know how fantastic IPL-short for intense pulsed light can be for the treatment of vascular conditions such as broken capillaries and brown spots (age spots) which are caused by sun damage. New IPL machines can also be effective in removing hair. But did know, you should be avoiding the sun at all costs after IPL?

Going right back out into the sun after an IPL treatment will pretty much undo any improvement and increase the risk of additional hyperpigmentation! Burns may appear on the skin (24 to 48 hours after treatment) and more damage can be done to skin’s underlying structure.

If you do go in the sun, you need to be absolutely religious about applying and reapplying sunscreen regularly (SPF50+), using hats, sunglasses, antioxidants and minimizing your sun exposure during the 10am-4pm hours. We recommend Everysun Anti Ageing UV Face Protection and the AVON + SUN High 30 Spf. If you protect your skin properly, you will not reverse the effects of your IPL treatments. 

In most cases  IPL requires more than one session, however the great news is that pigmentory changes linked to IPL tend to resolve with no treatment, but may take 6 to 24 months. Many patients that achieve a youthful glow through IPL skin rejuvenation along with seeing the final positive results, say it’s totally worth sacrificing a sunny day and become more diligent about sun protection.

To conclude, IPL treatments can be highly effective when wanting to reverse age spots, hair removal and other sun damage conditions but staying out of the sun is vital along with making sure you always use a high SPF, re-applying it every 2 hours.