Can You Do Light Exercises After an IPL?

IPL, or intense pulsed light, is a laser-based skin therapy that uses multiple wavelengths of light to treat skin conditions. Although IPL is a fairly simple and noninvasive procedure, there are some effects that require a few days to recover from.

Exercising may irritate your skin, especially if it is done outdoors exposed to the sun. You can discuss exercise recommendations and possible limitations after your procedure with your IPL technician.

Laser-Based Skin Therapy

IPL is used to treat many skin conditions, including acne and rosacea. It can also help eliminate unwanted hair, skin redness, pigmentation, and discoloration, notes Johns Hopkins Medicine. IPL may also improve the firmness and texture of your skin and reduce fine lines and pore size.

The procedure is usually done as a series procedures, four weeks apart, according to Baylor Medicine. You can expect the treatment area to be cleansed and then covered with a cool gel. Once your eyes are covered with dark glasses, a hand device emitting the light pulses is passed over the area needing treatment.

Exercise After IPL Therapy

It’s best to avoid strenuous physical activity after laser therapy for 24 to 48 hours. Sweating during exercise may irritate your skin and delay healing. However, light exercise, such as walking or bicycling indoors, may be allowed and should not cause any harmful side effects.

Most important, avoid direct exposure to the sun in the days after treatment, according to Mayo Clinic. The sun’s UV rays can increase the risks of hyperpigmentation (dark spots) or hypopigmentation (light spots) following IPL treatment.

For this reason, exercising outdoors may not be advised. Protective clothing and a sunblock of at least SPF 30 or greater are ideal if you are walking outdoors. Swimming should be avoided for 48 hours, and the treated areas should not be soaked in water with chemicals or impurities.

IPL Post-Treatment Instructions

Complications from IPL are rare and generally mild. IPL may cause a sunburn-like sensation that usually resolves within a few hours to a day but may last up to 48 hours.

Help relieve the sensation and hasten recovery by applying ice packs, aloe vera gel, or whatever post-procedure products your provider recommends to the treatment area.

Treat Your Sensitive Skin

IPL treatment makes your skin sensitive, so you should not use any abrasive cosmetics for at least 48 hours. Use mild and gentle cleansers and use lotions that contain vitamins A, C, and E.

However, avoid using skin lotions that may be irritating, such as retinol and alpha hydroxy acids, until your skin is fully healed according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This may take 10 to 14 days at minimum but may be longer. Take warm-water showers for the first two days, and avoid tubs, saunas, and hot tubs.