Can IPL treat my hands, neck or chest?

Often, yes. Sun spots on the backs of the hands and on the chest are common on the Costa del Sol. These areas heal more slowly than the face, so the settings are usually gentler and the doctor checks every spot first.

Is IPL the same as a laser?

No. A laser uses a single wavelength aimed at one target. IPL uses a broad band of light, filtered for each problem, so it can treat brown spots and redness in the same session. For some deeper or stubborn marks, a laser or another approach may suit better.

Can it be combined with other treatments?

Yes. IPL is often combined with home skincare prescribed by the doctor, peels or microneedling, usually in separate sessions. The order and spacing depend on your skin and are planned at the consultation.

Do I need a self-tan break before treatment?

Yes. Self-tan and bronzing products put colour on the skin that the light can pick up. Let it wear off completely before your session; the doctor will tell you how long to allow.

Journal Aesthetic medicine

IPL for sun spots: what it treats, sessions and risks

How IPL treatment fades sun spots, age spots and redness, which marks it should not treat, how many sessions you need and when to have it on the coast.

7 min readEducational content by RejuvelookUpdated in October 2026

In short

IPL (intense pulsed light) uses filtered flashes of light to fade sun spots and age spots and to reduce redness and broken capillaries. In studies, people needed about four sessions on average, on untanned skin. It is not a reliable treatment for melasma, which can darken, and any new or changing spot must be checked by a doctor first.

Key points

In a systematic review of 16 studies and 637 people, the average course was 4.3 sessions (range 3 to 7).
For sun spots (solar lentigines), clinical trials report success rates of 74.6% to 90% with IPL.
For facial redness, a meta-analysis of 219 patients found IPL worked about as well as a vascular laser.
Darker or tanned skin and higher energy settings are the main risk factors for blisters and pigment changes.
Melasma responds unpredictably, and a spot that is changing needs a diagnosis before any light treatment.

Sun spots are almost a given after years in the sun, and on the Costa del Sol they often appear earlier than people expect. IPL (intense pulsed light) is one of the most common ways to fade them. It works well for the right marks and the right skin. On the wrong mark, or on tanned skin, it can cause problems. Here is what the evidence says.

What IPL is and how it works

IPL is not a laser. A laser uses one wavelength of light. An IPL device produces a broad band of visible and near-infrared light in short flashes, and filters select the part of the spectrum suited to each problem.

The principle is simple. Brown pigment (melanin) and the red of blood vessels absorb that light and heat up. The surrounding skin absorbs much less. In sun spots, the treated pigment darkens and then flakes off over the following days. In small vessels, the heat closes them and the body clears them gradually.

Because it treats brown and red at the same time, IPL is often used for photorejuvenation, sometimes called an IPL photofacial: evening out skin that shows years of sun. In a systematic review of 16 studies with 637 participants, IPL improved lentigines, pigmentation, redness, broken capillaries and overall photoageing scores ^[1]. The same review found that nine of the studies were of low methodological quality, so the results are promising rather than definitive ^[1].

Which marks respond, and which do not

Usually respond well:

Sun spots and age spots (solar lentigines) on the face, hands, neck and chest. In a systematic review of clinical trials, success rates with IPL ranged from 74.6% to 90% ^[2].
Freckles and the blotchy, uneven brown tone of sun-damaged skin.
Diffuse facial redness and fine broken capillaries on the cheeks and nose. A meta-analysis of seven studies and 219 patients found IPL clearly improved facial redness, with results similar to a pulsed dye laser ^[3].

Need caution, or a different approach:

Melasma. These symmetrical brown patches on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip are linked to hormones as well as sun exposure, and behave differently from sun spots. Light treatments give variable results, recurrence is common and there is a risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation, meaning the area can end up darker ^[4]. Melasma is usually managed first with strict sun protection and supervised skincare. We explain this in our guide to melasma.
Moles and any changing spot. IPL must never be used on a mole or on a spot that has not been diagnosed. Treating a melanoma with light can change how it looks and delay its diagnosis. In a Swiss series of 12 people diagnosed with melanoma after laser treatment of pigmented lesions, the treatment had delayed the diagnosis, and several had advanced disease ^[5]. The authors recommend examining every pigmented lesion with a dermatoscope, and taking a biopsy when in doubt, before treatment ^[5].
Raised, rough or crusty spots. These may be seborrhoeic keratoses or sun-damage lesions called actinic keratoses, which have a different treatment.

How your skin is assessed first

Before any session, a doctor looks at each mark you want treated, ideally with a dermatoscope. Most sun spots are easy to recognise. Anything that looks different from the rest, has changed recently or that you are unsure about is examined more closely, and referred to a dermatologist if it needs a biopsy.

The doctor also assesses your skin type and how much natural colour or tan you have, and asks about:

recent sun exposure, sunbeds and self-tan;
medicines that make the skin more sensitive to light, including some antibiotics and acne treatments;
a history of cold sores, keloid scars or pigment problems after injuries;
conditions such as lupus that can be triggered by light;
pregnancy.

A test patch is often done first, especially on darker skin or a new area.

How many sessions you need

IPL works gradually. In the systematic review above, people had an average of 4.3 sessions, with a range of 3 to 7 ^[1]. Sessions are spaced several weeks apart, so the skin can recover and the pigment can clear.

A few isolated sun spots may need fewer sessions. Widespread sun damage, redness and broken capillaries usually need more. Many people then have an occasional maintenance session, because the skin keeps producing new spots as long as it keeps getting sun.

Sun, tanning and timing on the Costa del Sol

This is where IPL on the coast differs from IPL in Manchester or Stockholm. Tanned skin has more melanin, and that pigment competes with the spot for the light. In a controlled trial testing different energy levels, darker skin pigmentation and higher energy were the main factors behind side effects such as blistering and pigment change ^[6].

In practice, this means:

The best season is autumn and winter. From roughly October to March, most people have less tan and spend less time in strong sun.
No active tan. If you are tanned, the session waits until the tan has faded.
No sunbathing or sunbeds in the weeks before and after a course, and no self-tan before sessions.
Daily sunscreen throughout, even in winter, and a hat when you are outdoors.

If you spend summers on the beach or on the golf course, plan your course for the cooler months and accept that summer is for protecting the result.

What to expect, realistically

Sun spots that are clearly lighter, and often gone, after a course.
A more even, brighter skin tone, with less redness.
Some spots that need another session, and a few that do not respond and need another approach.
New spots over the years, if the skin keeps getting sun.

IPL does not lift the skin or treat deep wrinkles. It can improve texture slightly, but if laxity or lines are the main concern, other treatments are a better fit. For uneven tone and fine texture, some people combine it with chemical peels.

Risks, and who it is not for

Redness and mild swelling are common and short-lived ^[3]. The temporary darkening of treated spots is part of how IPL works.

Less often, IPL can cause:

burns and blistering, which may crust and, rarely, scar;
hyperpigmentation, a darker patch that can last months;
hypopigmentation, a paler patch that can be slow to recover or occasionally permanent;
a flare of cold sores in people prone to them.

The risk is higher with darker skin, a tan and higher energy settings ^[6]. For darker skin types (Fitzpatrick IV to VI), a recent review advises avoiding IPL because of the risk of both darker and paler patches ^[7]. On olive or light brown skin, which many people in southern Spain have, the settings need extra care and a test patch.

IPL is not recommended during pregnancy, on tanned or recently sunburnt skin, on skin with an active infection or cold sore, with light-sensitising medicines, with lupus or another light-sensitive condition, or over any undiagnosed spot.

Sun protection afterwards, for good

IPL clears the pigment that is already there. It does not stop your skin from making more. The spots came from sun exposure, and without protection new ones will follow.

Daily sunscreen genuinely changes how the skin ages. In a randomised trial of 903 adults in sunny Australia, the group that applied broad-spectrum sunscreen every day showed no detectable increase in skin ageing over 4.5 years, and ageing was 24% lower than in the group that used it when they chose ^[8].

A high-protection, broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning, reapplied when you are outdoors, a hat and shade in the middle of the day are what keep your result. On the Costa del Sol, that habit matters all year round.

How we approach it at Rejuvelook

IPL is one of the facial treatments we offer at our clinic in Fuengirola, and it always starts with a medical consultation. The doctor examines every mark you want treated, explains which ones IPL can help and which ones need something else, and refers you to a dermatologist if a spot needs a closer look.

If IPL suits your skin, we plan the sessions around the season and your time in the sun, start with a test patch when it is sensible and review your skin between sessions. If it does not suit your skin, we will tell you and explain the alternatives. We see patients in English or Spanish.

What the evidence says

Each statement shows its level of evidence and the sources behind it.

Supported

Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen slows visible skin ageing.^[8]High-quality evidence

With caveats

IPL fades sun spots (solar lentigines) in most people treated, although many of the studies are small or of low methodological quality.^[2]^[1]Moderate evidence
IPL reduces facial redness and fine broken capillaries, with results similar to a vascular laser.^[3]Moderate evidence
Darker or tanned skin and higher energy settings increase the risk of blisters and pigment changes after IPL.^[6]^[7]Moderate evidence

Not enough support

In melasma, light treatments give variable results, recurrence is common and there is a risk of darker pigmentation, especially in darker skin.^[4]Low-quality evidence

When to see a doctor

Book a medical consultation, or go to A&E if it is severe or sudden, if you notice:

A spot that is new, growing, changing shape or colour, itching or bleeding: have it checked by a doctor before any cosmetic treatment.
Blisters, crusting, oozing or pain that gets worse in the days after a session: contact the clinic the same day.
Increasing redness, heat, pus or a fever after treatment, which can mean infection: contact the clinic straight away.
A large or deep burn, or severe pain that does not settle: go to A&E (urgencias) or call 112.
Pale or dark patches that are still there several weeks after a session: book a review rather than another session.

Frequently asked

Does IPL hurt?

Most people describe each flash as a quick snap, like a rubber band against the skin, with a brief feeling of heat. Cooling gel and the cooled head of the device help. A full face usually takes well under an hour.

What will my skin look like in the days after?

Redness usually settles within hours. Treated sun spots often turn darker for several days, sometimes like fine coffee grounds, and then flake away. That darkening is expected and should not be picked or scrubbed.

Can I wear make-up and go back to work?

Usually yes, the same day or the next. Use gentle products, avoid exfoliants and strong actives for a few days, and wear a high-protection sunscreen every morning.

Can I fly or go on holiday after a session?

Flying is fine. A beach or ski holiday straight afterwards is not a good idea, because strong sun on freshly treated skin raises the risk of pigment changes. Plan sessions for weeks when you will be mostly indoors or covered.

References

Sources checked against PubMed or Crossref. Cited as plain text, without links.

1.Sales AFS, Pandolfo IL, de Almeida Cruz M, Parisi JR, Garcia LA, Martignago CCS, et al. Intense Pulsed Light on skin rejuvenation: a systematic review. Arch Dermatol Res. 2022;314(9):823-838. doi: 10.1007/s00403-021-02283-2. PMID: 34609598.Verified on 19 October 2026
2.Mardani G, Nasiri MJ, Namazi N, Farshchian M, Abdollahimajd F. Treatment of Solar Lentigines: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(4):e70133. doi: 10.1111/jocd.70133. PMID: 40145274.Verified on 19 October 2026
3.Cai Y, Zhu Y, Xiang W, Song X. Efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light for the treatment of facial erythema: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ital J Dermatol Venerol. 2023;158(3):236-242. doi: 10.23736/S2784-8671.23.07499-6. PMID: 37166752.Verified on 19 October 2026
4.Campos V, Kalil C, Zagonel L. Lasers for Melasma. Dermatol Clin. 2026;44(3):453-462. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2026.02.004. PMID: 42303356.Verified on 19 October 2026
5.Zipser MC, Mangana J, Oberholzer PA, French LE, Dummer R. Melanoma after laser therapy of pigmented lesions--circumstances and outcome. Eur J Dermatol. 2010;20(3):334-8. doi: 10.1684/ejd.2010.0933. PMID: 20423817.Verified on 19 October 2026
6.Thaysen-Petersen D, Erlendsson AM, Nash JF, Beerwerth F, Philipsen PA, Wulf HC, et al. Side effects from intense pulsed light: Importance of skin pigmentation, fluence level and ultraviolet radiation-A randomized controlled trial. Lasers Surg Med. 2017;49(1):88-96. doi: 10.1002/lsm.22566. PMID: 27474536.Verified on 19 October 2026
7.Lee SS, Burgener MM, Sayyed AA, Catterall L, Koljonen JL, Ruffolo A, et al. Noninvasive Cosmetic Treatments for Fitzpatrick IV-VI: A Narrative Review of Safety and Efficacy Guidelines. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2026;14(3):e7541. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000007541. PMID: 41884758.Verified on 19 October 2026
8.Hughes MC, Williams GM, Baker P, Green AC. Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158(11):781-90. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-158-11-201306040-00002. PMID: 23732711.Verified on 19 October 2026

Educational content. It does not replace a medical consultation or provide a diagnosis. Tests and treatments are indicated only after medical consultation and in line with regulation.