I wanted to give an update. I went to my dermatologist at the beginning of October, the 6th specifically, and they put me on a regimine of retinol and moisturizing scar Serica topical. I started the regimine that night, with retinol once a day and the scar moisturizer twice a day (or more). I’ve also been rubbing fresh ginger on it as I have read that might help. I took these pictures on November 30th. I’m still trying to stay hopeful. I have a follow up appointment in January.
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So this is what they look like roughly 4 1/2 months after the laser burns.
As a whole, how long did it take for yours to clear up?
Thanks for this update! In the earlier image, it seemed that your skin was more tan. Is that an effect of the lighting, or are you more pale in the uninjured areas?
Obviously being more pale will reduce the visibility of the damage as it heals.
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I definitely think I was tan in the first picture! I definitely have been staying out of the sun completely since all of this went down period and now that winter’s hit I don’t plan on going out in the sun. I’m hoping that means little blend? That’s what the burn nurse keeps telling me that it will blend. Is that usually what happens?
Yes, over time the tone will continue to even out. You might discuss red light therapy with them.
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Hello!
Everyone’s post have been sooo helpful as I too have been burned by an aesthetician (IPL tx for cherry hemangiomas).
This happened mid November 2020. I’m 2 months out and hate the hypopigmentation. I did a spot fraction laser tx to see if that helps.
In the mean time I’ve never been more upset with myself for a skin treatment. So many regrets.
She had me try hydroquinone /retin-A to lighten the surrounding skin. I did this for a a few weeks. Until a dermatologist told me to stop and said it will only make it worse.
Any advice for hypopigmentstion is welcome! 
I am so glad I found this forum. I am 4.5 weeks from IPL superficial burns to my arms. I went to the same place that I have been for 6 years who also did my laser hair removal without any complications. I agreed to a session for my face and again, no complications. I decided to allow them to remove sun spots from my arms and ended up getting burned. I have never been so scared and horrified in my life. This sight gives me hope that my arms will be normal again. My dermatologist said everything will be ok. He gave me steroids to take and a topical steroid to use to reduce inflammation.
You have given me hope. I received superficial burns on my arms from IPL and now I have hypo. It’s only been 4.5 weeks and I do see improvement. My dermatologist said it will be fine. I am going to see a plastic surgeon to see if he has any suggestions to speed it up.
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Oh it’s so nice to see someone here)
I also wanna go to a laser hair removal (even chose a clinic) procedure)
Any tips and advice?)
Please go to a dermatologist to make sure it is done correctly.
I wanted to post updated pic. From February 2nd. I’m trying to take monthly updated pictures. The burns occured July 2nd. I think it’s fading. The retinol daily irritated my skin so I’m doing it every other day.
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Hi everyone,
I am going through the exact same thing however I was burned during laser tattoo removal. I have spent countless hours researching as mine happened almost 2 years ago and I am still battling with hypopigmentation.
I have been to a dermatologist who has used a woods lamp and said my melanin is still in tact (so not depigmented) but my colour has still not returned fully.
I have been using UVB for only very few minutes each day trying to regain pigment that way, as well as a cream for vitiligo.
After I gain a bit more pigment I am going to follow dermatologist instructions who said to use a 10% AHA for retexturing. I am so sad by all of this, it’s been horrific.
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About how long does it take for it to even out? They did roughly 5 or 6 red light therapy sessions on me when it first occured and I had the blisters. When they fell off that’s when I had the discoloration. This all happened at the beginning of July.
It does look better! It’s hard to generalize on timeline. Some people have gotten significant improvement in 6 months, where it took closer to a year for others. It seems that most people don’t see ongoing improvement after a certain point, often 12-18 months later.
Again, there are too many variables to generalize.
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Low-level radiation can reactivate the melanocytes. The best way to tell is to look at how your other scars appear.
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What do you mean by checking my other scars? I had a burn on my leg from a motorbike that hyperpigmented than evened out completely. It definitely didn’t take as long as this one is taking though. I can see a slight change in the colour from the NB UVB but nothing drastic yet… honestly it’s the emotional toll that is the hardest when someone causes damage to your skin and there’s nothing you can do but wait and see.
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Yours is improving massively! That must feel like such a relief. Hopefully I can see drastic change soon.
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Other scars (not just burns) are a good indication of the range of improvement you might expect. The skin in that area will probably always be smoother looking and more reflective, but the color will probably even out more over time.
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laser hair removal was successful))
I am more than happy with the result)