IPL for pigmentation: what it can fix and what it cannot

Pigmentation is the concern where wrong treatment choices cost people the most money, because different types of marks need completely different approaches. IPL is excellent for some of them and wrong for others. Here is the honest breakdown.

What IPL does

Intense pulsed light delivers broad-spectrum light into the skin, where it is absorbed by melanin in dark spots and by haemoglobin in visible vessels. The targeted pigment breaks up and either flakes away or is cleared by the body. We use the Lumenis Stellar M22, a medical-grade platform, which matters because IPL results depend heavily on the device and the settings chosen for your skin.

What responds well

Sun spots and age spots on the face, chest and hands respond well, often within two to four sessions. Facial redness, flushing and visible small vessels also respond well, which is why IPL is a mainstay for rosacea-related redness. Overall sun damage, where the skin looks mottled rather than marked, usually evens out nicely.

The honest caveat

Melasma, the hormonal pigmentation that often appears in pregnancy or with contraceptive use, is a different condition entirely, and IPL can make it worse. Heat can stimulate the overactive pigment cells that drive melasma, darkening the patches you paid to remove. If we suspect melasma at assessment, we will not put IPL on it. The same caution applies to darker skin types, where settings must be adjusted carefully or the treatment risks marking the skin it is meant to clear.

This is why we assess before we treat, every time. A ten minute look at your skin under proper light prevents an expensive mistake.

What to expect

Most people need two to four sessions spaced a month apart. Treated spots often darken briefly before they flake away, which is normal. Sun protection afterwards is not optional: new sun exposure recreates the damage you just cleared.

Start with a free consultation and we will tell you honestly which category your pigmentation falls into, and whether IPL, a chemical peel or medical-grade skincare is the right tool.