IPL photofacial: what it treats, realistic results, and what to expect

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is one of the most widely offered treatments at med spas and dermatology offices. It's also one of the most misunderstood — because "IPL" describes a category of technology used across many different devices with meaningfully different capabilities. Here's what it actually does.

What IPL is (and isn't)

IPL is not a laser. A laser emits light at a single, specific wavelength. IPL emits a broad spectrum of light across multiple wavelengths (typically 400–1200 nm), filtered to target specific chromophores in skin — primarily melanin (pigment) and oxyhemoglobin (blood vessels).

What it treats:
Sun damage and age spots (solar lentigines): Brown spots respond well
Redness and rosacea: Dilated blood vessels and background redness
Broken capillaries and telangiectasias: Small visible surface vessels
Uneven skin tone: Blotchy pigmentation
Mild photodamage — fine lines, texture improvement (secondary effect)
Active acne (specific IPL devices and settings)

What IPL does not treat:
Deep wrinkles or significant laxity (for this, use RF or ultrasound-based devices)
Deep acne scarring (RF microneedling or laser resurfacing are better)
Melasma — IPL can worsen melasma in many cases (see below)
Hormonal pigmentation

How IPL works

When IPL light is absorbed by melanin, it heats and fragments the melanin in spots and pigmented lesions. Within 1–2 weeks, the darkened fragments migrate to the surface and flake off (this is expected — spots often look darker and "pepper-fleck" before clearing).

When absorbed by oxyhemoglobin in vessels, IPL heats the vessel wall until it collapses. The vessel is then reabsorbed by the body over 2–4 weeks.

The Melasma problem

Melasma (hormonally driven, diffuse brown patches — often symmetric on forehead, cheeks, upper lip) looks like sun damage but is fundamentally different. IPL and most broad-spectrum light devices can worsen melasma by stimulating melanocytes rather than clearing them.

Always have a provider assess your pigmentation before IPL. If a provider agrees to treat you for "sun spots" without asking about your history of melasma, hormonal triggers, and the distribution of your pigmentation — find a different provider. Misidentifying melasma as solar lentigines and treating with IPL is a common, preventable error.

Melasma is better treated with topicals (tretinoin, tranexamic acid, hydroquinone), chemical peels, or low-fluence Q-switched laser protocols.

Skin tone safety

IPL has the highest risk profile for darker skin tones among common med spa treatments. Because IPL is absorbed by melanin, and darker skin contains more epidermal melanin, there is a higher risk of:
Burns and blistering if settings aren't appropriately adjusted
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) — dark spots developing after treatment
Hypopigmentation — permanent lightening of treated areas

IPL on Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI requires specialized protocols and should only be performed by providers experienced with darker skin tones. Devices with longer pulse durations and specific filter settings can reduce but not eliminate this risk.

For patients with darker skin, Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) is generally safer for vascular work, and fractional non-ablative lasers or RF microneedling are safer for texture and rejuvenation.

How it compares to laser

| Factor | IPL | Nd:YAG Laser | Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | Broad-spectrum light | Single wavelength (1064 nm) | Single wavelength (595 nm) |
| Best for | Pigment + vessels combined | Vessels, darker skin safety | Redness, rosacea, vessels |
| Skin tone safety | Lower (I–III best) | High | Moderate (I–III) |
| Pigment treatment | Good | Limited | Limited |
| Vascular treatment | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Sessions | 3–5 | 3–5 | 2–4 |
| Downtime | 24–48 hours | Minimal | 1–3 days (purpura possible) |

BBL (BroadBand Light)

BBL, made by Sciton, is a high-powered, filtered IPL device with more precise wavelength control and cooling than standard IPL systems. Studies on BBL have shown it to be effective for photodamage, and some research suggests regular BBL treatments may have anti-aging effects beyond traditional IPL.

When providers advertise "BBL" specifically, they mean the Sciton device — not generic IPL. BBL has better controls and more clinical evidence than commodity IPL devices. The distinction matters.

What a treatment session is like

Before: Arrive with clean skin; no retinoids, acids, or self-tanner for at least 1 week. Avoid sun exposure for 2–4 weeks before (tanned skin increases risk).

During: A cold gel is applied; the handpiece is placed on the skin and delivers pulses of light. Most patients describe a snapping sensation — like a rubber band. Some discomfort is normal.

After:
Redness and mild swelling for 4–24 hours (like a mild sunburn)
Pigmented spots will darken in 24–48 hours — this is expected, not a sign of damage
Spots "pepper-fleck" and flake off over 7–14 days
Avoid sun for 4+ weeks post-treatment

How many sessions?

Most protocols involve 3–5 sessions spaced 3–4 weeks apart for optimal results. Maintenance sessions every 6–12 months help preserve results. Annual full-series treatments are sometimes recommended for cumulative photodamage.

Cost

| Treatment | Per session | Typical course (3–5 sessions) |
|---|---|---|
| IPL (face) | $200–$500 | $600–$2,500 |
| BBL (face) | $400–$900 | $1,200–$4,500 |
| IPL (face + neck) | $350–$700 | $1,050–$3,500 |
| IPL (hands) | $150–$300 | $450–$1,500 |
| IPL (chest/décolletage) | $200–$500 | $600–$2,500 |

Questions to ask your provider

Can you assess whether my pigmentation is solar lentigines or melasma before recommending IPL?
What device do you use, and does it have appropriate settings for my skin tone?
Have you treated patients with my skin tone before? What results and complications have you seen?
What pre- and post-treatment care do you recommend?
Is IPL the right tool for my specific concerns, or is there a laser that would be more effective?

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