IPL Aftercare · The First 48 Hours and Long-Term Protocol · DWL Islington
Reviewed By
Dr Vishal Patel
BDS Liverpool · MSc Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry Manchester · GDC 103127 · AACD Member · Invisalign Diamond II Provider · IFAAS (International Fellowship in Advanced Aesthetic Science) · Facial anatomy & cadaver course, Dr Ali Pirayesh, University of Amsterdam · Harley Academy foundation training in injectable aesthetics · IBSA-trained (Profhilo) · NeoStrata-trained (skin peels) · Lynton Lasers trained, incl. ONDA
Last Updated
September 16, 2026
IPL aftercare guide — what to do immediately after treatment, the 48-hour rules, and long-term skin care that protects your results.
IPL aftercare guide — what to do immediately after treatment, the 48-hour rules, and long-term skin care that protects your results. From Dental & Wellness London Islington.
- Mild redness and warmth for a few hours after treatment — normal, not a reaction to avoid
- Avoid heat, sun exposure, and active skincare for 24–48 hours after
- SPF50 essential for the following weeks
- Gentle cleansing, no exfoliation or retinoids for a few days
This page is part of our wider guide to IPL photofacial, which sets out every option we offer side by side.
Why IPL aftercare matters
IPL delivers light energy that's absorbed by target chromophores in the skin — melanin (for hair removal and pigmentation work) or haemoglobin (for vascular indications). That energy converts to heat at the target, which is what produces the clinical result. It also means your skin has just received a measurable thermal stimulus. Aftercare protects that stimulus from compounding into damage.
Every rule below has a mechanism. Skip them and you're not just being unhelpful — you're actively undoing the session you paid for, and in some cases creating a problem (hyperpigmentation, prolonged redness, blistering) that takes weeks to resolve.
This guide covers the immediate 24 hours, the 48-hour window, the 2-week protocol, and longer-term care that maintains results between sessions.
The first 24 hours
No heat. Skin has already received energy delivery; additional heat compounds the thermal load.
- No hot showers — lukewarm only
- No sauna, steam room, hot yoga, hot tub
- No hot drinks held close to the face (if face was treated)
- No vigorous exercise that significantly raises body temperature
- Air conditioning preferable in warm weather
No alcohol. Alcohol is a vasodilator and prolongs the post-treatment redness/warmth phase.
No makeup on treated facial skin for 24 hours. Mineral SPF is the exception — that goes on regardless.
Cool compresses if redness or warmth is uncomfortable. Damp cotton pad, 10-15 minutes at a time, not directly iced.
Mild redness, warmth, and a feeling of mild sunburn are all expected and normal during this window.
The 48-hour window
This is when the skin barrier is still recovering. Active skincare ingredients can irritate.
Avoid for at least 48 hours, ideally 5-7 days:
- Retinol / retinoids (tretinoin, adapalene, retinaldehyde, retinol)
- AHAs (glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid)
- BHAs (salicylic acid)
- Vitamin C serums (L-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside in high concentrations)
- Physical exfoliants and scrubs
- Enzyme masks
- Benzoyl peroxide
Use only:
- Gentle cleanser (no SLS, no fragrance)
- Bland moisturiser (ceramide-based recommended)
- SPF50 mineral (zinc oxide preferred)
This isn't the moment for active skincare. The recovering barrier needs simplicity, not stimulation.
The 2-week protocol (the one most patients underestimate)
Sun exposure is the single biggest risk factor for poor outcomes after IPL. Specifically, sun within 2 weeks post-treatment significantly increases the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) — exactly the pigmentation you may have been treating in the first place.
The rules:
- SPF50 mineral daily, reapply every 2 hours when outdoors
- Wide-brimmed hat when outside between 10am-4pm
- No tanning beds (ever, but especially not during this window)
- No deliberate sun exposure
- Avoid windows with significant direct sun exposure for prolonged periods
This applies even if it's cloudy. UV-A passes through clouds and triggers PIH risk regardless of visible sun.
For patients with darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick IV-VI) or melasma history, extend this to 4 weeks minimum and use SPF50 daily as a permanent habit.
What 'normal' looks like in the first 48 hours
Normal and expected:
- Mild redness for 12-48 hours
- Slight warmth at treated area for 24 hours
- For pigmentation work: target spots may appear darker, more defined for 5-10 days before flaking off — this is called 'coffee-grounding' and is the pigment coming to the surface
- For vascular work: temporary blanching of small vessels
- Mild swelling around treated area for 24-48 hours
Call the clinic if:
- Blistering of any size
- Open weeping skin
- Severe pain not responding to cool compresses and time
- Persistent redness lasting more than 5 days
- Significant swelling lasting more than 72 hours
- Any sign of infection (yellow discharge, increasing redness, fever)
We respond to clinical calls during business hours. For urgent concerns outside those hours, NHS 111 is the appropriate next step.
Restarting actives
Day 5-7: vitamin C serums can typically restart, low concentration first.
Day 7-10: AHAs can restart, slowly and at lower concentration than pre-IPL routine. Build back up over a week.
Day 10-14: retinoids restart, alternate nights first, full nightly use thereafter.
For patients who use retinoids long-term, we typically recommend pausing 5-7 days before the next IPL session as well as the post-treatment window.
Sun-holiday timing
A common question — when can I go on a sun holiday?
Minimum 4 weeks after your last IPL session, longer if your treatment was for pigmentation or you have any tendency toward PIH.
Once on holiday: SPF50 daily, reapply every 2 hours, hat, shade between 10am-4pm. Holiday tanning will undo months of pigmentation work.
Maintenance
Most IPL protocols recommend maintenance every 6-12 months once the initial course is complete. This depends on indication:
- Photofacial / pigmentation — maintenance every 6-12 months
- Vascular (rosacea) — maintenance every 6-12 months; rosacea is managed not cured
- Hair removal — maintenance every 6-18 months after the initial course delivers permanent reduction (note: 'permanent reduction', not 'permanent removal' — that's the regulatory term per ASA guidance)
Maintenance sessions are typically single sessions rather than full courses.
Honest scope
IPL is a treatment, not a magic bullet. Aftercare matters as much as the session itself. Patients who follow aftercare diligently get visibly better results than those who don't — we see this consistently. Patients who skip SPF, restart actives early, or sun-expose deliberately within the post-treatment window get poorer outcomes and sometimes adverse reactions.
We say this at consultation and again post-treatment. The clinic does the technical work; the patient does the daily protective work between sessions.
Our happy patients,
in their own words
Transparent pricing
Prices are set out below. Your written plan confirms the fee before any treatment begins.
Questions
people ask
If your question isn't answered here, call reception on 020 8127 4567 or email reception.
Can I shower after IPL?
Lukewarm shower yes — no hot showers for 24 hours. Heat compounds the thermal load already delivered. After 24 hours, normal showering resumes but avoid scrubbing or exfoliating the treated area for 5-7 days.
When can I go to the gym after IPL?
24 hours minimum, longer if post-treatment redness is still present. Vigorous exercise raises core body temperature and prolongs the recovery phase. Light walking is fine immediately.
What SPF should I use after IPL?
SPF50 mineral daily for at least 2 weeks, reapplied every 2 hours when outdoors. For darker skin tones or melasma history, extend to 4 weeks and use SPF50 daily as a permanent habit.
Is mild redness after IPL normal?
Yes — mild redness for 12-48 hours is expected and normal, along with slight warmth and mild swelling. For pigmentation work, target spots may darken for 5-10 days before flaking off. Persistent redness beyond 5 days warrants a call to the clinic.
When can I wear makeup again after IPL?
24 hours minimum for facial IPL. Use mineral makeup ideally, with gentle application and no scrubbing on removal. Mineral SPF can go on immediately and is the only exception.
When can I restart retinol after IPL?
Day 10-14 minimum, alternate nights first. For patients who use retinoids long-term, we recommend pausing 5-7 days before the next IPL session as well as the post-treatment window.
When can I sun-expose after IPL?
Avoid direct sun for 2 weeks minimum, ideally 4 weeks, including sun holidays. Sun exposure within the post-treatment window is the single biggest cause of poor IPL outcomes.
When should I call the clinic after IPL?
Call us for blistering of any size, open weeping skin, severe pain not responding to cool compresses, redness lasting more than 5 days, significant swelling beyond 72 hours, or any sign of infection.
