When Is IPL Photofacial Recommended for Sun Spots?

Sun spots, also called solar lentigines or age spots, are flat darker areas linked with cumulative ultraviolet exposure. IPL targets selected pigment with pulses of light, so a spot may darken or become more noticeable briefly before it gradually sheds or fades.

Not every brown mark is a sun spot. A new, changing, uneven, itchy, crusted, or bleeding lesion should be assessed before cosmetic treatment. Recent tanning, active irritation, or some medicines can also make IPL unsuitable or require a different plan.

Book a skin examination before treatment and describe any change in the mark. Tell the clinician about recent sun exposure, tanning products, medicines, pregnancy plans, a history of pigmentation changes, and previous light treatments. Follow instructions about pausing irritating products and protecting the area from ultraviolet exposure.

After treatment, keep the skin clean and moisturised as advised. Do not scratch, peel, or scrub darkened spots. Use the recommended sunscreen consistently, because further ultraviolet exposure can encourage new spots and make uneven colour harder to manage.

Seek medical assessment promptly for a spot that changes quickly, has irregular colour or borders, bleeds, crusts, itches persistently, or fails to heal. After IPL, contact the clinic for blistering, severe pain, spreading swelling, pus, or an unexpected colour change that continues.

Ask whether each mark is suitable for cosmetic IPL, whether any lesion needs closer examination first, how your skin tone and tanning history affect treatment, and what aftercare lowers the chance of irritation or renewed pigmentation.