Avoid intentional sun exposure, tanning beds, and tanning before your IPL treatment.

Do not use self-tanner on the treatment area. Any self-tanner should be completely faded before your appointment.

IPL should not be performed over recently tanned or sunburned skin.

If you have had significant sun exposure or developed a tan before your appointment, please let us know. Your treatment may need to be postponed for your safety.

Before treatment, please disclose all:

• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter medications
• Supplements
• Recent or current antibiotics
• Medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight
• Current or previous isotretinoin/Accutane use
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• History of seizures or light-triggered seizures
• History of cold sores or herpes outbreaks
• Autoimmune conditions
• Problems with wound healing
• History of abnormal scarring or keloids
• Active skin conditions
• Recent cosmetic procedures
• Allergies
• Changes to your medical history

Do not discontinue a prescription medication without first speaking with the healthcare professional who prescribed it.

Before your appointment, avoid aggressive treatments or products that leave the skin irritated.

Depending on your skincare routine and your provider's instructions, this may include:

• Retinoids/retinol
• AHAs or BHAs
• Glycolic acid
• Salicylic acid
• Strong exfoliating products
• Scrubs
• Chemical peels
• Waxing
• Other laser or light treatments

If you use a prescription retinoid or other prescription skincare medication, ask your prescribing provider and IPL provider before making any changes.

Tell us if you have recently had:

• Botox or other neuromodulators
• Dermal filler
• Chemical peels
• Microneedling
• Laser resurfacing
• IPL
• Facial waxing
• Other energy-based treatments

We may recommend spacing treatments apart.

Please arrive with clean skin.

The treatment area should be free from:

• Makeup
• Sunscreen
• Lotion
• Oils
• Perfume
• Self-tanner
• Deodorant if treating that area
• Other topical products unless specifically instructed

Your skin will be evaluated before treatment to make sure it is appropriate to proceed.

Protective eyewear must be worn during IPL treatment.

Immediately following treatment, your skin may appear:

• Pink or red
• Warm
• Mildly swollen
• Sensitive or tender
• Similar to a mild sunburn

These reactions are generally temporary.

A cool compress may be used for comfort.

If IPL is being used to treat sunspots, freckles, or pigmentation, the treated pigment may initially become darker or more noticeable.

This is often an expected response.

Over the following several days, the pigment may develop a darker, speckled or “coffee-ground” appearance before gradually flaking or fading.

Do not pick, scratch, scrub, or peel these areas.

Allow the pigment to naturally come to the surface and shed.

When treating redness or visible vessels, the area may appear temporarily more red immediately after treatment.

Some vessels may look darker or more noticeable before gradually improving.

Temporary swelling can also occur, particularly around the cheeks and under-eye area.

Be gentle with your skin.

Avoid:

• Hot tubs
• Saunas
• Steam rooms
• Very hot showers
• Excessive heat
• Intense exercise if the skin remains hot or irritated
• Scrubs
• Exfoliating brushes
• Retinoids
• Strong acids
• Harsh skincare products

Use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer.

Avoid applying makeup while the skin is significantly red, hot, stinging, irritated, or broken.

Many clients can resume makeup after approximately 24 hours, provided the skin feels calm and intact.

Follow the specific instructions given by your provider.

Keep the skin hydrated with a gentle, non-irritating moisturizer.

Avoid heavily fragranced or aggressive products while your skin is recovering.

Your skin will be more vulnerable to sun-related pigmentation changes following IPL.

Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day and reapply as directed.

Additional protection such as:

• Hats
• Sunglasses
• Shade
• Protective clothing

is strongly encouraged.

Avoid intentional tanning and tanning beds throughout your IPL treatment series.

Please contact Sage & Silk Skin Studio if you experience:

• Blistering
• Significant swelling
• Severe or worsening pain
• Persistent burning
• Open or weeping skin
• Significant crusting
• Signs of infection
• Increasing redness rather than improvement
• Significant lightening or darkening of the skin
• A reaction that concerns you

Seek urgent medical attention for symptoms of a severe allergic reaction or other medical emergency.

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light.

Unlike a traditional laser, which generally uses a specific wavelength of light, IPL uses a range of wavelengths that can be filtered to target different concerns within the skin.

IPL is often used for photorejuvenation and treatment of pigmentation and vascular concerns.

Depending on the device and treatment settings, IPL may help improve the appearance of:

• Sunspots
• Age spots
• Freckles
• Uneven pigmentation
• Photodamage
• Facial redness
• Visible small blood vessels
• Rosacea-related redness in appropriately selected clients
• Uneven skin tone

A consultation is necessary to determine whether IPL is appropriate for your specific concern.

No.

IPL is a light-based treatment, but it is not technically a laser.

Lasers typically emit a specific wavelength of light, while IPL produces multiple wavelengths that are filtered according to the treatment goal.

Most clients describe IPL as a quick warm snap against the skin, similar to the sensation of a rubber band.

You may also feel warmth during treatment.

Cooling may be used to help protect the skin and improve comfort.

Treatment time depends on the size of the area and what is being treated.

A facial IPL treatment is typically relatively quick, but appointment length may vary depending on consultation, preparation, treatment area, and the specific IPL protocol being performed.

IPL generally has minimal downtime.

You may experience temporary:

• Redness
• Warmth
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Darkening of treated pigment

When pigmentation is treated, brown spots may temporarily become much darker before gradually flaking or fading.

This can be a normal and desired response.

IPL energy targets pigment within the spot. The treated pigment may darken before gradually moving toward the surface and shedding.

Do not scrub or pick at the darkened pigment.

Let it naturally exfoliate away.

This varies by client and treatment area.

Many superficial spots begin changing and shedding over approximately one to two weeks, although deeper pigmentation can take longer to improve.

Results continue to develop after the skin appears healed.

This depends on:

• What is being treated
• Amount of sun damage
• Depth of pigmentation
• Degree of redness
• Skin type
• Lifestyle and sun exposure
• Individual response to treatment

Some clients notice improvement after one treatment, but a series of treatments is commonly recommended for optimal results.

Maintenance treatments may also be beneficial.

IPL treatments are commonly scheduled approximately 3–6 weeks apart, depending on the condition being treated, your skin's response, and the treatment protocol.

Your provider will recommend an individualized schedule.

Not necessarily.

Some superficial pigment may respond quickly, while other areas may require several treatments.

New sun damage can also develop over time, especially without consistent sun protection.

IPL can be used to reduce certain types of facial redness and visible superficial blood vessels.

Results depend on the underlying cause of the redness.

Not every type of redness is appropriate for IPL, so your provider will evaluate your skin before treatment.

IPL is sometimes used to reduce persistent redness and visible vessels associated with rosacea.

However, rosacea is a chronic skin condition and IPL does not cure it.

Some clients may require multiple treatments and periodic maintenance.

Melasma requires special consideration.

Heat and light-based treatments can sometimes trigger or worsen melasma in certain individuals.

If you have melasma or suspect you may have it, please tell your provider before treatment.

IPL may not be the best treatment option for every person with melasma.

IPL may help certain skin concerns associated with acne depending on the technology being used, but IPL photofacial treatment is not appropriate for every type of acne.

Active inflammatory acne, pigmentation left from acne, redness, and acne scarring are different concerns and may require different treatments.

A consultation can help determine the most appropriate option.

IPL may improve the appearance of certain small superficial vessels.

Some vessels respond quickly while others may require multiple treatments.

Larger, deeper, or more resistant vessels may require another type of vascular treatment.

IPL requires careful patient selection because the light is attracted to pigment.

Skin containing more melanin can absorb more of the IPL energy, which can increase the risk of:

• Burns
• Blistering
• Hyperpigmentation
• Hypopigmentation

Your Fitzpatrick skin type, recent sun exposure, ethnicity, treatment goals, and device capabilities must be considered before treatment.

Not every client is an appropriate candidate for every IPL setting or device.

IPL should generally not be performed on recently tanned skin.

A tan means there is increased pigment within the skin, which can absorb IPL energy and increase the risk of burns and unwanted pigmentation changes.

Always disclose recent sun exposure, tanning-bed use, or self-tanner before treatment.

No.

Self-tanner should be completely faded from the treatment area before IPL.

Please let your provider know if you have recently used tanning products.

Sun exposure should be minimized after IPL.

Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day, along with hats and other physical sun protection whenever possible.

Protecting your skin from UV exposure is essential for both your results and your safety.

If your skin remains hot, flushed, swollen, or sensitive, avoid strenuous exercise and excessive heat until it has calmed.

Sweating and heat can temporarily increase redness and discomfort.

Yes, but be gentle.

Use:

• Cool or lukewarm water
• A gentle cleanser
• Clean hands
• A soft towel to gently pat the skin dry

Avoid hot water and aggressive scrubbing.

Do not restart potentially irritating products while your skin remains red, sensitive, peeling, or irritated.

Your provider can advise you when it is appropriate to restart products such as:

• Retinol/retinoids
• Glycolic acid
• Salicylic acid
• AHAs/BHAs
• Exfoliating treatments

If the product is a prescription medication, follow the instructions of the prescribing healthcare provider.

Sometimes.

IPL may be incorporated into a broader skincare plan that includes treatments such as:

• HydraFacial
• Dermaplaning
• Microneedling
• Chemical peels
• Other laser treatments
• Injectables

However, treatments may need to be performed in a particular order or spaced apart.

Your provider will determine an appropriate treatment schedule based on your skin and treatment goals.

You may begin noticing changes as treated pigment darkens and sheds.

Redness and vascular concerns may gradually improve over the following weeks.

Collagen-related skin improvements can also develop gradually.

Results are progressive rather than immediate.

IPL can significantly improve existing pigmentation and redness, but it cannot prevent future sun damage, aging, hormonal changes, or the development of new vessels or pigmentation.

Daily sun protection and appropriate skincare can help maintain your results.

Some clients choose periodic maintenance treatments.

Possible side effects include:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Temporary darkening of pigment
• Crusting
• Blistering or burns
• Hyperpigmentation
• Hypopigmentation
• Infection
• Scarring
• Temporary worsening of redness
• Eye injury if proper protection is not used

Proper patient selection, appropriate treatment settings, protective eyewear, and following pre- and post-care instructions help reduce these risks.