Can IPL Treatments make brown spots worse?

Hyperpigmentation will get slightly darker post-treatment which is a good sign that the settings have been correct to lift the pigment (this is similar to tattoo removal). This is because the IPL breaks the pigment up and lifts it to the surface of the skin, where it gently flakes off. As long as a thorough consultation is done and medical history is recorded there is no risk of making dark spots worse long term. We definitely would not recommend this treatment to anyone with Melasma. If Melasma is present we recommend Obagi Medical Skincare to achieve the same results in a similar time scale.