IPL

Before Your Treatment

• Do not wear makeup on the day of treatment.
• No sun-tanning or artificial tans 4 weeks prior to treatment.
  • Includes sun exposure, spray tans, tanning lotions, tanning beds, etc.
• Some medications or supplements may increase the risk bruising. Consult with your physician.
• Avoid treatments that may irritate the skin for 1-2 weeks prior to treatment (waxing, peels, retinol, etc.)
• Avoid any aesthetic procedures (including injectables) 1-2 weeks prior to treatment.
• Notify INTERLOCKS with any changes to your health history or medications since your last appointment.
• History of herpes or cold sores may require an anti-viral prescription prior to treatment.
• Consult with your provider if you are on any type of photosensitizing medications, as it will increase your sensitivity to the IPL.
  • Includes but not limited to hydroquinone, antibiotics, tetracycline, doxycycline, isotretinoin/Accutane.

After Your Treatment

• Avoid sun exposure for 2-4 weeks and use a mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) to protect your skin and prevent further sun damage.
• Redness, swelling, and bruising are common and resolve with time.
• Treated pigment will darken (brown to black) within 24-72 hours, leaving a ‘coffee-ground’ appearance.
  • Do not pick, scrub, or exfoliate – let it flake off naturally.
  • Treated pigment will exfoliate off the face in approximately 1 week.
  • Treated pigment will exfoliate off the body in approximately 2-3 weeks.
• Some areas may leave a ‘bug bite look’ and usually resolves in 1-2 days.
• Avoid excessive heat – hot tubs, saunas, etc. for 1-2 days.
• Avoid retinol products for 1 week.
• Avoid skin irritants (examples below) a few days post-treatment.
  • Products containing tretinoin, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic/salicylic acids, astringents, etc.
• Notify INTERLOCKS of any concerns (blistering, excessive redness/swelling, etc.).

Contraindications

• Unprotected sun exposure, artificial/sunless tanners, and tanning beds used 2-4 weeks prior treatment
• Currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
• History of Melanoma
• Keloid or hypertrophic scarring
• History of cancer within the past 5 years
• Photosensitizing medications (antibiotics, hydroquinone, topical retinoids, etc.)
• Accutane/isotretinoin use within the past 6 months
• Tattoo/permanent makeup in the treatment area
• Light induced seizures
• Melasma