Shay Mitchell, who gave birth to her daughter this past October, recently walked her Instagram followers through her first intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) treatment session. She sought out the treatment to help manage her melasma, a skin condition often associated with pregnancy.
In the IGTV post, Mitchell starts with a mirror selfie showing off her comfy outfit (and mask!). She announces that this is her first melasma treatment and offers some background information about melasma and IPL treatments. Then, after a quick shot of her face with numbing cream, Mitchell takes a moment to show the camera her “little melasma spot” just below her eye and points to a patch of melasma on her upper lip. “Especially for new moms,” she says. “We go out in the sun and this is what happens.”
Although Mitchell says she was too nervous to take video during the actual treatment, immediately after it she reports that her face is numb and that the IPL felt like “a million little elastic bands hitting all over.” She also points out a few red areas on her face that the treatment had targeted. Her facial treatment continues with a soothing collagen mask.
Then, Mitchell cuts to an update from a week after her first treatment. She seems happy with the results so far. Although she says it’s recommended to get another one or two treatments, after the first one she feels that “we’re on track to lightening these little guys up.”
Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation that frequently shows up during or after pregnancy. The condition is so frequently associated with pregnancy that it’s sometimes even called the mask of pregnancy, SELF explained previously. It usually causes patches of brown or grayish-brown skin on the cheeks, forehead, nose, upper lip, and chin. Those patches aren’t harmful or painful, and sometimes, they’ll fade away on their own. But some people may want to have them lightened or removed.
First off, as Mitchell points out, melasma is exacerbated by UV exposure, so wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 is usually a mainstay of melasma treatment and maintenance. Plus, recent research suggests that those with melasma may benefit from using a sunscreen containing iron oxides, which help block visible light from the sun and devices, like your phone or laptop.
From there, treatment usually involves topical medications, such as prescription hydroquinone, which can lighten skin, the American Academy of Dermatology explains. Tretinoin, a powerful retinoid that speeds up the cell turnover process, is another common choice, as are corticosteroid medications and azelaic acid.
But topical medications aren’t always enough, which is where treatments like the one Mitchell received come in. For more stubborn melasma, a dermatologist might recommend in-office procedures like microdermabrasion, chemical peels, or laser treatments. The specific treatment Mitchell got—IPL—is similar to laser treatments but involves the use of multiple light wavelengths to treat certain issues. It’s especially useful in managing hyperpigmentation, broken blood vessels sometimes seen in rosacea, and age spots.
The idea is that nonablative treatments like this stimulate the growth of new collagen by heating up the skin, SELF explained previously. However, for most skin conditions, multiple treatments are required for you to see noticeable results. Mitchell specifically mentions in her video that she’s hoping her melasma spots will look lighter after three sessions.
After treatment, it’s normal for the skin to be a little red, swollen, and sensitive for a few hours or a few days, Baylor College of Medicine explains. But generally you should be able to resume your normal activities without any downtime.
Related:
What You Should Know About Melasma, Those Random Dark Spots on Your Face
9 Dark Spot Treatments That Really Work, According to Dermatologists
Shay Mitchell Revealed She Had a Miscarriage in 2018: ‘We Are All on This Journey Together’