Shereene IdrissBoard Certified Derm, Founder and Chief Nerd

Can lasers make hyperpigmentation and melamsa WORSE?

8 May 2026 · 0 min

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Dr. Shereene Idriss warns against using IPL for melasma. While it may look better for three months, the condition typically rebounds darker and harder to treat. IPL generates heat that triggers inflammation, making it counterproductive.

If your skin looks like this, or like this, or like that, you may have melasma. I'm a board-certified dermatologist, and the one treatment I would never recommend you get is IPL. IPL stands for intense pulsed light. It looks like a laser, but it is not technically a laser. It is an intense pulsed light that can trigger heat and an inflammatory response in your skin. Although you might think you're noticing benefits from 0 to 3 months post-treatment, your skin and your melasma might rebound worse, making it harder to treat in the long run.