According to board-certified plastic surgeon Heather Furnas, MD, IPL should be delayed until the fall or winter. This is because the skin post-treatment can be prone to sun damage and hyperpigmentation. "Tanned skin can also increase the risk of inaccurate laser settings, which can lead to injury," Dr. Furnas said.
Dr. Gmyrek explained that when using IPL to target brown spots, "if the skin around the brown spot is tanned, the laser cannot tell which spot it is removing and will generate heat in the entire area, possibly leading to damaged and even burnt skin."