Can Intense Pulsed Light Treatment Really Lessen Sunspots and Other Visible Signs of Skin Aging?
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What Is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment? How It Works, Benefits, Risks, and Where to Get It

What Is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment? How It Works, Benefits, Risks, and Where to Get It
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Published on September 5, 2025
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Laser treatments get a lot of buzz for being a noninvasive way to erase blemishes and signs of aging. And while intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments (which are sometimes referred to as photo facials) are sometimes lumped into the laser category, they’re not laser treatments at all. The difference comes down to the light wavelength used (more on this later).

“IPL is a noninvasive cosmetic procedure that uses broad-spectrum light to improve various skin conditions and skin tone,” says Eric W. Anderson, MD, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with Impressions Face + Body in Chicago.

It’s often used to lessen the appearance of sunspots (also known as age spots), scars, wrinkles, and acne.

Here’s how IPL works, which skin issues it may help with, and what to expect before heading into your treatment.

What Is Intense Pulsed Light Treatment and How Does It Work?

IPL was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995. It was initially developed to treat leg telangiectasias (also known as “spider veins”). Since then, it’s become a safe, effective treatment for pigmentation disorders and vascular disorders (such as rosacea, a chronic skin condition causing redness), body hair removal, and photoaging (premature skin aging caused by sun exposure).

An IPL treatment typically takes place in a dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office or medical spa. “It takes about a half hour or less, depending on how much coverage you’re doing, so it’s a quick treatment and pain is very minimal,” Dr. Anderson says. The procedure may be performed by a physician or surgeon, but more often by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

Before the procedure begins, the provider applies a cool gel to the skin, which allows for better light absorption, and places a shield over the eyes to protect them from the light. Then, pulsed light from a flashlamp is directed onto the skin. The light particles are absorbed by the skin, producing heat that destroys target skin cells.

The flashlamp used in IPL emits light across a broad wavelength spectrum, unlike a laser, which only emits a single wavelength. The broad wavelength makes it better able to address a variety of skin concerns, as different skin issues respond to different wavelengths.

IPL treatment is sometimes less expensive than a laser treatment because equipment doesn’t cost as much, and IPL comes with a shorter recovery time.

You may experience skin redness and a slight tingling sensation similar to a mild sunburn for up to eight hours after receiving IPL. Mild swelling may also occur.

Some patients may also find dark, dry areas on the skin that start to shed posttreatment. “We liken this to the appearance of coffee grounds,” says Donna Hart, MD, a board-certified medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatologist with Westlake Dermatology in Cedar Park, Texas. Rest assured that shedding typically resolves in one week, she adds.

Other skin reactions typically clear up within two days — a shorter recovery time than most other laser resurfacing treatments, Anderson says.

The Potential Benefits of Intense Pulsed Light Treatment

IPL has been shown to help with several skin conditions and offers potential benefits. “In general, the benefits of IPL are very well studied and supported by hundreds of peer-reviewed papers,” Anderson says.

Here are the potential benefits that show the most promise, according to research.

May Improve Skin Discoloration

IPL may be especially effective for addressing skin discoloration, such as sunspots, spider veins, rosacea, broken capillaries, and skin redness. “It delivers energy to specific targets in the skin, and specific wavelength filters are used to treat redness, brown pigment, or a combination of both,” Dr. Hart says.

One small study involving 20 people found IPL is a safe, effective treatment for pigmented lesions (darkened spots on the skin caused by the pigment melanin).

Meanwhile, a past study reveals that one IPL session plus two months of applying daily moisturizer resulted in a significant reduction in intensity and size of sunspots, as reported by the study participants. They also reported improved skin radiance, roughness, and texture. The study was supported by L’Oreal, a cosmetics company.

Hart adds that most patients see a reduction in sunspots after just one session. “I often get 80 to 90 percent clearance of sunspots after just one session,” she says.

May Lessen Signs of Skin Aging

IPL may also have an antiaging effect. “Higher wavelengths can stimulate collagen production, reducing the appearance of fine lines and pores,” Hart says. (Collagen is a protein that provides structure, strength, and elasticity to the skin.)

In one clinical trial, 38 participants interested in improving wrinkles around the eyes received IPL treatment once a month for three months. At the six-month follow-up, more than 50 percent of participants were moderately to considerably satisfied with the treatment results.

May Help Tame Acne

“IPL can help reduce the redness and inflammation in acne or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from recent acne breakouts,” Hart says. It works by decreasing production of sebum (an oily substance secreted by the skin), reducing bacteria in the skin that leads to acne.

In one study, 31 people with mild to moderate acne were treated with IPL every three weeks. At the three-week posttreatment check-in, 87 percent of participants saw 75 percent of acne lesions cleared.

However, IPL may not be as effective for treating acne as other options. One meta-analysis of eight randomized controlled trials, for instance, found it wasn’t very effective overall, especially when compared to photodynamic therapy (a treatment that combines light with special medicines to destroy specific skin cells).

May Reduce the Size of Scars

The reasons why IPL works to reduce the size of scars are still being explored, but it’s thought to boost the formation of new blood vessels.

One study evaluated the effect of one, two, or three IPL sessions on treating raised scars that typically result from injury. The pigmentation of the scars did not change over the course of treatment, but thickness reduced by nearly 10 percent after one session, 15 percent after the second, and more than 20 percent after the third. The study was small, however, with 16 participants, so more research is needed to confirm.

Hart adds that acne scars are often better treated with an ablative laser (a technology that uses energy to remove the outer layer of skin and heat the underlying tissue) or a non-ablative laser (a less aggressive technology that uses energy to heat the underlying tissue without removing the outer layer of skin).

Removes Unwanted Body Hair

IPL is one of the original methods for laser hair removal, Anderson says. It works by targeting the melanin in the hair shaft and destroying it with heat, thereby inhibiting future hair growth.

While IPL isn’t quite as effective as other hair-removal lasers, it’s typically less expensive.

Who Should Not Try Intense Pulsed Light Treatment and Why

While IPL is generally safe, it should be avoided if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

You should also steer clear of IPL if you’re dealing with sunburn. “Sunburn is an injury to the skin, so adding additional heat to burned skin can lead to hyperpigmentation or even permanent damage such as scarring,” Hart says. Anderson suggests avoiding the sun for about a week before IPL treatment to limit these risks.
IPL has been shown to activate the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) in people with a history of infection. If you have herpes, your healthcare provider may recommend starting antiviral therapy a day before IPL treatment and up to two weeks after.

Hart says IPL is better for lighter skin types and does not recommend it for people with darker skin tones. That doesn’t mean people with darker skin can’t use IPL — it’s just more challenging to find the appropriate wavelength that treats the skin without changing its pigment.

 “Light therapy targets pigment, so if your skin is pigmented, it could lighten your skin,” Anderson says.
Negative side effects and irritation may also be more common in people with darker skin tones.

How Much Does Intense Pulsed Light Treatment Cost — and Who Does It?

IPL is an outpatient procedure and may be performed by a physician (such as a dermatologist or plastic surgeon), a physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.

There are some risks associated with IPL, including temporary or permanent hyperpigmentation (a condition where patches of skin appear darker than the surrounding skin) or hypopigmentation (a condition where areas of skin are lighter than the surrounding skin), erythema (a red skin rash often caused by infection or illness), crusting, blistering, and scarring.

To minimize these risks, Anderson recommends seeking treatment at a dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office instead of a medical spa. “It is important to see a qualified professional with solid experience with lasers and light-based devices to ensure a safe and effective treatment,” Hart adds. This is especially important for those with darker skin, who face a greater risk of pigment changes from IPL.

The average cost of IPL is about $400 to $600 per session, according to Hart. She says one to three sessions should be sufficient, though some research indicates three to six treatments every two to four weeks may be needed to fully clear specific lesions.

 Results should last about a year, Anderson says.

There are home IPL treatment devices as well. Many are marketed for hair removal and range in price from $150 to $400. Anderson doubts that these home devices are very effective — professional IPL machines are more powerful and leave room for customization. “We can dial in those energies stronger [in office], so you get better results,” he says. “And we’re able to more precisely tailor each session to a patient based on their needs and skin type.”

The Takeaway

  • Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a noninvasive cosmetic procedure that’s used to even out sunspots and skin discoloration, combat signs of skin aging, treat acne, reduce the size of scars, and remove body hair.
  • The outpatient procedure is typically performed in a doctor’s office or medical spa by a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. IPL is quick and most people recover within a few days.
  • IPL is not recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, dealing with a sunburn, or have a history of herpes simplex virus infections. People with darker skin should approach IPL with extreme caution.
  • The risks of IPL include temporary or permanent hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, erythema, crusting, blistering, and scarring. To minimize these risks, seek a qualified health professional.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for Aging Skin. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
  2. Gade A et al. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy. StatPearls. March 1, 2024.
  3. Dobroshi K. Using an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Module for the Treatment of Pigmented Lesions. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. April 2024.
  4. Li Y et al. Efficacy of a New Lightening Skin Care Routine on Facial Hyperpigmentation Versus 1 Intense Pulsed Laser (IPL) Therapy. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. April 2013.
  5. Barikbin B et al. The Efficacy of IPL in Periorbital Skin Rejuvenation: An Open-Label Study. Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences. December 1, 2019.
  6. Chang Q et al. IPL-PDT as an Effective Treatment for Mild-to-Moderate Acne Vulgaris: A Prospective, Single-Center, Self-Controlled Study. Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy. April 2024.
  7. Lu L et al. Efficacy of IPL Therapy for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. October 2020.
  8. Thanh LT et al. The Efficacy of Intense Pulsed Light in the Treatment of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars. Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences. May 6, 2023.
  9. Vaidya T et al. Laser Hair Removal. StatPearls. July 25, 2023.
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Jacquelyn Dosal

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist practicing at The Dermatology House in Park City, Utah. Her areas of expertise include acne, rosacea, integrative treatments of inflammatory skin diseases, as well as laser treatment of the skin and injectables.

Dr. Dosal writes cosmetic questions for the certifying exams for the American Board of Dermatology. She is also the deputy editor for the American Academy of Dermatology's podcast, Dialogues in Dermatology.

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Moira Lawler

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Moira Lawler is a journalist who has spent more than a decade covering a range of health and lifestyle topics, including women's health, nutrition, fitness, mental health, and travel. She received a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two young children, and a giant brown labradoodle.
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