Hi all. I'm a long-time lurker, first-time poster and I could do with a bit of advice, please, as I am really worried. I don't know where to post this, so I thought this might be the best forum.
Has anyone here had an IPL treatment and it has made their skin worse? If so, have you found any way of rejuvenating your skin to its former glory? I am sick with worry every time I look in the mirror and am finding it really difficult to sleep or concentrate on anything else. I look awful. :(
For those of you who aren't familiar with IPL, it's a treatment where a broad-spectrum light is passed over the skin from a kind of hand-held gun. It is supposed to bring up imperfections, such as age spots, to the surface of the skin so they dry up and fall off, leaving no scars. I am 47 and never had any cosmetic procedure before but decided to have an IPL treatment nearly a month ago.
Something seems to have gone wrong with this treatment for me. The beautician put it on the lowest setting for my skin. It must have been pretty low as the freckles turned darker, but no pigment peeled off from my skin within a fortnight. No problem with that. However, I have now found that I seem to be ageing quickly by developing more lines and every day I notice there is a new split/dent in my face which was not there before.
There is not a lot of literature on when IPL goes wrong but I did see some information that sometimes the light can melt the dermis and people lose fat in their face (hence my bumps, splits, etc). I have spoken to the beautician who says it is impossible for this to happen but I have seen some evidence of my skin being burned. She says if there was going to be a reaction it would happen in two weeks. However, other information and testimonials I have now read says that if the dermis is damaged, things will get progressively worse and IPL can be linked to rapid fat loss in the face.
I feel sick and can't believe what has happened to my skin after just one treatment which is touted as safe. I'd be grateful for any tips if anyone has had experience of adverse effects of this treatment, what they have done, and whether the results were any good.
Thanks everso much, in advance.