Intense Pulsed Light Therapy, also known as Intense Pulse Light Therapy, is a skin therapy where high intensity pulses of light are used to remove sun damaged skin or other skin problems. This treatment can be used on the face, neck, back, chest, hands, arms, feet and legs. This therapy can also help reduce excessive hair. This treatment also helps eliminate uneven skin tones. The intense pulsed light does these things by stimulating new collagen growth, which makes the skin smoother and healthier looking. Before having this procedure done, you should understand the risks and complications associated with it, such as:
Mild Discomfort
While the procedure is being performed, you may feel some stinging or burning on the skin. This is usually very minimal and most people tolerate this just fine. If there is major pain that you cannot tolerate, you should tell your doctor. There may be too much skin damage to proceed with the procedure.
Blistering
In some cases, blistering may occur after the treatment. The blisters form due to the high heat from the light therapy. The skin actually burns first and then the blisters form. This can be very painful. If this happens, consult your doctor for help in healing these blisters. Over the counter pain medications can be used to help relieve the pain.
Hyper-Pigmentation or Hypo-Pigmentation
Hypo-pigmentation is loss of skin color. Hyper-pigmentation is excess color in the skin. The intense pulsed light therapy uses high intensity light to treat these problems, but in some cases it may do the opposite. This is one of the major risks of this treatment. The lights may remove too much of the skins pigmentation, resulting in hyper-pigmentation. If this occurs, it can take up to 12 months or longer for the skin to regain its pigmentation. On the other hand, if the light does not remove enough pigmentation, the skin will be hypo-pigmented. It may not be as noticeable as hyper-pigmented skin, but it is still a problem.
Hair Loss
In some cases, hair loss can occur. Depending on the area treated, and if you are male or female, this may not be a problem.
Bruising
Bruising can appear on the area treated due to the procedure being performed. This may be more common on areas of the body that have sensitive skin such as the face, neck or feet. The bruising is usually minimal and will go away within a few days. If you are prone to bruising, then the use of ice packs may help prevent some bruising.
There can be risks and complications with Intense Pulsed Light Therapy. These risks are usually minimal compared to the benefits of the therapy. You should discuss any concerns and questions you may have with your doctor.
