Client story: how a 19-year-old woman treated acne with IPL

Acne can strongly affect both appearance and wellbeing. This time, we share the experience of a 19-year-old client and her journey from acne towards clearer, smoother skin.

Her story shows that the right combination of treatments and products can produce good results. Every person’s skin is different, however, so a consultation with a specialist should always be the first step.

My acne journey before IPL

‘Before IPL, I had deep acne beneath the skin. It felt awful and was often uncomfortable because my face constantly hurt and itched. The worst areas were my cheeks, chin and jawline, and the acne spread to my neck. The pores on my nose looked very deep and noticeable. I was doing a lot of sport at the time, so I sweated almost every day.

My face was one of my insecurities, and I constantly covered it with heavy, poor-quality make-up. Some products were probably past their best and made the acne worse. I also kept squeezing the spots because I found them unpleasant to look at, which caused post-acne scars.

My skincare before IPL was minimal. I went to a beautician a few times for uncomfortable extractions, and my home routine was almost non-existent. For a long time, I thought treating acne required ten different products and a complicated routine that I could not be bothered to follow. Most things I tried were trendy products promoted on social media, and they did not work for me even with long-term use.’

Why did I decide to try IPL?

‘I had not heard of IPL before, and the decision to begin came unexpectedly. I had no particular expectations. Several things motivated me. First, Agve convinced me that it could help. Second, I wanted to leave home without a thick layer of make-up covering red areas. Third, I wanted relief from the itching and pain when I touched my face.’

What did IPL treatment feel like?

‘From the outside, it looked quite pleasant and calm. Once I lay in the chair, I realised it was not quite like that. IPL itself was not painful, but I found the flashes of light uncomfortable, especially close to the eyes on the forehead, nose and cheeks.

‘Fortunately, the treatment is relatively quick, and you can take breaks when needed. My mindset was that the fewer breaks I took, the sooner it would be finished. The nicest part came afterwards, when the specialist applied cream and sprayed thermal water. I wore protective glasses and kept my eyes closed, so the hardest part was opening them afterwards without my eyes watering.’

The first changes after IPL

‘Immediately afterwards, my face was red and covered in red marks from the IPL device, but they disappeared within a few hours. I was a little swollen the next day, but nothing severe. I noticed the first changes after about two weeks: the pores on my nose looked smaller and the post-acne marks on my chin were slightly less visible.’

Longer-term results – less acne and more even skin

‘I had three IPL sessions in total. After the second, I noticed that I no longer developed the active, deep acne lesions I had before. My pores also looked smaller. After the third session, my post-acne scars had almost disappeared.

I still get small spots occasionally, but they are not painful or itchy as before. The pores on my nose are minimal. I feel much better, if only because my face no longer itches or hurts.

I also wear very little make-up because I no longer feel that I have anything to hide. When I do wear it, I am happy that there are no bumps or red patches showing through the foundation. The finish is flawless.

My nose used to look rough and dry under make-up because the products settled into the pores. I once thought acne required about ten different creams, but now two or three products are enough for me.

I use La Roche-Posay Effaclar cleansing gel and Duo+M cream every day, and occasionally a simple facial exfoliant. La Roche-Posay was unfamiliar to me before, but both Agve and Kristel strongly recommended the brand, especially this cream, and it really helps me.’

What would I tell others considering IPL?

‘The treatment is unpleasant, and you may be swollen and blotchy afterwards, but in the longer term it helped my acne and especially my post-acne marks.

I recommend completing the course even if the first session is a little shocking because it feels uncomfortable. The phrase beauty is pain fit my experience well.

I would not recommend setting your expectations too high after the first session. Many people do not return because they did not see an immediate wow effect. Everyone’s results are individual, and they take time.’

My comment

Maria’s story is a genuine example of the fact that there is no universal solution for acne. IPL combined with an appropriate home routine worked very well for her, but every person’s skin is different.

We therefore recommend beginning with a consultation to find the best individual plan, whether that means IPL, another treatment or a specific skincare routine.