Hypopigmentation IPL Burns: Causes and Solution

IPL has become extremely popular because it is an extremely efficient treatment for hair removal and skin rejuvenation. IPL uses broad-spectrum light to treat pigmented skin areas and hair follicles, making it a noninvasive approach to a variety of skin issues.

But it has side effects. A possible side effect of IPL treatment is hypopigmentation, which occurs due to damage to the melanocytes. In truth, hypopigmentation IPL burns aren’t something you should be afraid of. Instead, let’s talk about the causes and solutions!

• Part 1: What is Hypopigmentation and How Does it Occur After IPL?
• Part 2: Does Hypopigmentation After IPL Goes Away?
• Part 3: How Long Does Hypopigmentation Last?
• Part 4: Treatment Options for Hypopigmentation After IPL
• Part 5: How to Prevent Hypopigmentation After IPL Treatments?

Part 1: What is Hypopigmentation and How Does it Occur After IPL?

The presence of light patches on the skin is called hypopigmentation. The cause of pale skin, especially in a person with a darker skin tone, is the fact that the body doesn’t produce quite as much melanin pigment as it normally would, so some parts of the skin can appear paler than it is naturally. IPL burns are one example.

There are two types of IPL treatments: It’s Hair removal and Skin rejuvenation. These are both light-based therapies in which intense pulsed light is used to remove hair or improve skin texture.

Here is how it is related to hypopigmentation:

• Our body has melanocytes that are responsible for producing melanin. It is a pigment that gives our eyes, hair, and skin dark or light colors
• In IPL therapy, the light energy released by an IPL device is absorbed by melanin pigment thus transferring it deep into the skin. It converts into heat, damages hair follicles, and improves skin appearance.
• Sometimes, when there is excessive absorption of light results in excessive heat production in the body which causes skin burns and damages the melanocytes. This leads to hypopigmentation.
• It mostly occurs in people with sensitive skin or those who have a darker skin tone as they high amount of melanin in them. High melanin means higher absorption of light which affects melanocytes. It can also be due to negligence of the clinician.

Part 2: Does Hypopigmentation After IPL Goes Away?

Yes, hypopigmentation can go away after an injury caused by an IPL treatment. Our body starts its healing process thus recovering the melanocytes damaged by the intense light energy. Once they recover completely, they start producing melanin pigment and the affected area regains its original color.

However, based on the individual circumstance, this may not happen in every case. Hypopigmentation can be:

• Temporary: In most of the patients who develop hypopigmentation after IPL, this can be resolved within a few weeks with proper aftercare. It is when the damage is not very severe and you are taking all the measures to speed up the recovery process
• Permanent: In 1-2% of cases, when the damage is very severe, our body’s natural healing process may not be enough to recover all the damaged melanocytes. As a result, hypopigmentation may persist for months to years

Persisting or long-term hypopigmentation is also common in those with darker skin tones. Moroever, if you are using harsh products on the skin or not following a proper aftercare routine, the skin may not heal completely thus causing the light patches to stay on the skin for a long.

Part 3: How Long Does Hypopigmentation Last?

As mentioned earlier, the duration of hypopigmentation depends upon the severity of damage and the extent of your aftercare.

Usually, the recovery process of our body is completed within a few weeks. The skin will start producing melanin soon after the damage and your skin color will go back to normal within some days

Those who have dark skin tone or have a higher severity of damage may have to wait for a year or two for the patches to go away

In very few cases when the melanocytes are damaged severely, hypopigmentation may become permanent.

Part 4: Treatment Options for Hypopigmentation After IPL

Hypopigmentation after IPL hair removal or skin rejuvenation can be quite distressing. Here are some professional and DIY treatment options to get rid of it:

Professional Treatment Options

• Topical Creams: You can use skin-lightening topical creams containing ingredients such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid, or retinoids. They work by stopping the production of melanin which lightens out the skin and, in fact, makes it even toned. It does take a few weeks to start showing any difference though.
• Laser Therapy: IPL-associated hypopigmentation can be treated with several laser therapies. Controlled UVB light alone or with psoralens is used in phototherapy which induces melanin production.  There is also an ablative laser that removes the top hypopigmented skin layer and stimulates melanocyte activity underneath.
• Microneedling: It is a minimally invasive procedure that uses tiny needles to create small injuries on the skin. This stimulates the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and melanin synthesis.

At-Home Remedies

Home remedies are slow to show results so you will have to use these consistently for a few months to treat hypopigmentation.

• Turmeric Paste: Turmeric has curcumin which stimulates the activity of melanocytes. Make a paste using five teaspoons of turmeric mixed with some mustard oil. Use this mixture twice daily
• Ginger: Ginger also can boost the production of melanin so it can also prove effective against light skin patches. All you need to do is to rub ginger directly on the affected area twice per day.
• Bakuchni Seeds: Bakuchni seeds can also fade away the hypopigmented patches by activating the melanocytes. To use this, mix powdered seeds with coconut oil and apply on the target area. It can cause redness and irritation so you need to be careful while using the mixture.

In addition to these home remedies, proper skin care can help in faster healing of the damaged cells and reduce hypopigmentation. Here are further details:

• Moisturize your skin regularly with a light moisturizer as IPL treatments strip away the moisture from the skin and make it sensitive thus slowing down the healing process.
• Protect your skin from the sun and wear sunscreen every time you go out
• Wear loose clothes to prevent the clothing fibers from touching the skin and irritating it further.
• Avoid applying any harsh skincare products as they will damage the skin and slow down the healing process.

Part 5: How to Prevent Hypopigmentation After IPL Treatments?

Prepare Your Skin Before the Treatment

In order to avoid hypopigmentation after IPL treatment, you can start preparing the skin prior to the treatment. Regularly moisturize your skin so that it is smooth enough to withstand the intense pulsed light.

Further, do not go for skin tanning before your treatment because it puts you at a higher risk of getting IPL burns. Also on the day of your IPL session, you need to avoid any harsh treatment such as exfoliation or any other treatments as that will make your skin easily prone to damage.

Gentle Cleansing

Gentle cleansing supports skin health to help the healing process and avoid hypopigmentation caused by IPL. For this, you must use a gentle cleanser to ensure that the product only removes impurities from the skin and does not damage the skin cells in any way.

Avoid Over Exfoliation

To make the session smooth exfoliating your skin is necessary before and after IPL. However, that does not mean that you need to exfoliate every day. Over-exfoliation damages the skin disrupts the protective skin barrier, and increases the risk of hypopigmentation during IPL treatment.

Choose the Clinic Carefully

Your treatment and its results mostly depend upon the place you are choosing. The chances of success increase if you select a well-established place. Thus, be careful before finalizing the clinic. To do this, ask for reviews of previous clients, check for online reviews, or book a consultation with the clinic and ask all your questions and choose it if you are comfortable.

Conclusion

IPL burns mostly occur when the device is used at the wrong energy level, or your skin tone is too dark or unsafe for the treatment. Damage to melanocytes and loss of melanin pigment from a certain spot of skin causes hypopigmented skin patches.

Mostly they can resolve on their own. If the condition does not subside after a few weeks, you can get it treated with microneedling, laser therapy, or topical creams. Adding Turmeric or ginger as a natural remedy is possible, though most importantly remember always to check on your skin regularly and see professionals about skin healing and the risks of hypopigmentation.