Skin treatments
IPL Pigmentation Treatment in Melbourne
Intense pulsed light (IPL) uses filtered broad-spectrum light to target pigment or blood vessels in the skin. Once we've assessed your skin type and what's causing your concern, it may be an option for some sun-related pigmentation, redness or visible vessels.
What IPL Treatment Is
IPL delivers pulses of filtered light through a handpiece. The light is absorbed by pigment or by blood vessels, creating heat that may lighten some pigmentation or reduce visible redness over one or more sessions. You’ll wear eye protection the whole time, and we choose the settings for your skin type, sometimes after a test patch.
Not every brown or red mark is cosmetic. Any spot that looks suspicious, is changing or can’t be explained needs to be checked by a doctor rather than treated with IPL.
Pigmentation and Redness Concerns
People often ask us about IPL for concerns like:
- some sun-related pigmentation
- freckles or uneven tone, once they’ve been properly assessed
- general redness or some visible vessels
- sun damage within what the device is designed to treat
Having one of these concerns doesn’t mean you need treatment, or that it’s right for you.
Skin Type and Whether IPL Suits You
Whether IPL might suit you depends on having a clear cosmetic concern, your skin type, no reasons to avoid treatment and realistic expectations. We may hold off on treatment if you’ve recently tanned, have an active infection, take medicines that make you sensitive to light, or have a spot that needs diagnosing first.
We can’t decide whether it suits you from an online quiz, a photo, your age or one concern alone. You should have time to think things over, with no pressure to go ahead.
When IPL May Not Be Right for You
IPL may not be right for recently tanned skin, some darker skin types, people taking certain medicines that increase light sensitivity, active skin infection, or any spot that hasn’t been assessed. Some types of pigmentation, such as melasma, can get worse with heat or light and need a different approach. Your clinician will let you know if another option or a medical review would suit you better.
Test Patches and Treatment Planning
Your assessment should look at the spot or pattern, your skin type, any tanning or sun exposure, medicines that increase light sensitivity, pregnancy where relevant, past pigment changes, scarring, active infection and risks around the eyes. Any spot that’s uncertain, new or changing should be referred to a doctor for assessment.
In your consultation we’ll explain who does the assessment, what we look at, whether you need a referral and how your consent is recorded. Coming to a consultation doesn’t mean treatment will be recommended.
Risks, Side Effects and Pigment Changes
IPL pigmentation treatment can carry real risks and complications. This is a general summary only, not a complete or personal consent discussion:
- pain, redness, swelling or crusting
- burns, blisters and scarring
- temporary darkening or lightening of pigment
- post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation
- eye injury if protection is inadequate
- incomplete response or recurrence
Before you decide, the doctor or clinician responsible for your care will explain how likely each risk is, how serious it could be, how it’s managed and any risks specific to you. No procedure should be thought of as routine, risk-free or right for every adult.
Recovery, Sun Protection and Aftercare
Pigment may darken for a while, and you may have some redness or swelling. We’ll give you written instructions on avoiding the sun, sunscreen, gentle skincare, make-up and the signs of a burn or infection. We can’t promise zero downtime or permanent clearance.
It’s important to know the difference between normal effects and warning signs. The doctor or clinician responsible for your care will give you written instructions and tell you how to get urgent help if you need it. Recovery varies with you, the procedure, your work, how you heal and any complications, so we’ll talk about timeframes with you individually.
IPL Compared With Pixel RF and Skincare
Other options may include:
- no treatment
- professional skincare and sun protection
- facial vein treatment for some vascular concerns
- a medical or dermatology review
- another device, after assessment
IPL can’t diagnose spots, guarantee clearance or stop new sun-related changes. Pigment can come back and you may need more treatment, and some skin types or conditions may not be suitable. Choosing no treatment is always a valid option. A less invasive procedure isn’t automatically safer than, or equivalent to, surgery.
Questions
IPL Treatment: Your Questions Answered
Is IPL a laser?
No. IPL uses a range of light wavelengths rather than a single laser wavelength.
Can every brown spot be treated?
No. We need to work out the cause first, and any spot that looks suspicious or is changing needs to be checked by a doctor.
Can IPL worsen pigmentation?
Yes. Darkening, lightening or post-inflammatory pigmentation can happen.
Can I be treated with a tan?
A recent tan can increase your risk, so we may need to postpone your treatment.
Will redness or pigment be permanently removed?
We can’t promise a permanent result. Redness or pigment can come back, and new changes can appear.
What eye protection is used?
You and your clinician both wear protective eyewear for the whole treatment.
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