Lumecca is intense pulsed light (IPL) by InMode, performed at Vessel by a licensed RN. Careful preparation keeps your skin safe for treatment, and gentle care afterward lets the light do its work.
Keep this guide close in the weeks around your appointment, and reach out anytime with questions.
I — Pre-care
Before Your Treatment
Sun protection is the most important part of preparing for Lumecca. Begin at least two weeks ahead, ideally four to six.
6 months before
Isotretinoin
- Treatment cannot be performed if you have used isotretinoin (Accutane) within the last 6 months.
2 to 6 weeks before
Protect your skin
- Sun: Avoid all direct sun exposure, tanning beds, and self-tanning products for at least 2 weeks, ideally 4 to 6 weeks. Any tan increases the risk of serious side effects.
- SPF: Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher to the treatment area daily, even indoors and on cloudy days.
- Other treatments: Avoid chemical peels, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and laser treatments for at least 2 weeks.
- Hair removal: Do not wax, pluck, or use depilatory creams on the area for at least 2 weeks. The hair follicle must be intact.
1 week before
Pause active skincare
- Exfoliants: Stop all exfoliating products for at least 5 to 7 days, including Retin-A, retinol, glycolic acid (AHA), salicylic acid (BHA), and benzoyl peroxide.
- Vitamin C and astringents: Stop vitamin C serums and harsh astringents 5 to 7 days before treatment.
The night before
Shave if needed
- Shave the treatment area the night before or the morning of your appointment.
Day of treatment
Arrive with clean skin
- The treatment area should be completely free of makeup, lotions, perfumes, and topical products.
Please Tell Us Before Your Appointment
Let us know if any of the following apply, so your provider can confirm Lumecca is right for you:
- All prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and supplements you currently take
- Any medication or supplement that increases light sensitivity or thins the blood (such as ibuprofen, fish oil, or certain antibiotics). Please check with your primary medical provider for clearance, and never stop a medication without your prescribing doctor's approval.
- Isotretinoin (Accutane) within the last 6 months
- A history of cold sores. You may be advised to see your medical provider for a preventive antiviral.
II — Post-care
After Your Treatment
In the days after Lumecca, sun spots rise to the surface and flake away. Protect your skin and let it clear on its own.
Right after
What you may notice
- A sunburn-like sensation, mild redness, and swelling that usually resolve within a few hours and up to 72 hours. Minor bruising may occur, especially if blood vessels were treated, and fades within 3 to 5 days.
- Cooling: Apply a cool compress or a wrapped ice pack as needed.
First 24 to 48 hours
Gentle care
- Heat: Avoid hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, and strenuous exercise that causes heavy sweating for at least 24 to 48 hours.
- Cleansing: Use only a mild, non-abrasive cleanser with lukewarm water, and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Moisturize: Keep the area hydrated with a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer.
- Makeup: You may apply makeup (mineral makeup is preferred) 24 hours after treatment, as long as there is no open skin or blistering.
Days 1 to 14
Let pigment clear
- Peppering: Sun spots will darken and look like tiny coffee grounds. This is normal and a sign the treatment is working.
- Hands off: Do not pick, scratch, or scrub. Let darkened spots flake off naturally over 7 to 14 days on the face, or up to 21 days on the body. Picking can cause scarring, infection, and loss of results.
- Actives: Do not resume harsh exfoliants, retinoids, or AHAs and BHAs until skin is fully healed and all spots have flaked off, typically 7 to 10 days.
2 weeks and beyond
Protect your results
- Sun: Avoid direct sun and wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher daily for at least two weeks after treatment, and indefinitely to maintain your results.
Your Treatment Series
Your seriesA series of treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart is often recommended for optimal long-term results.
Maintaining resultsDaily broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher is the best way to protect your clearer, more even skin.
IV — At a Glance
Quick Do & Don't
Do
- Wear broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher daily, indoors and out
- Use a cool compress or wrapped ice pack as needed
- Cleanse gently with lukewarm water and moisturize
- Let darkened spots flake off on their own
Don't
- No tanning or sun exposure for at least 2 weeks before and after
- No picking, scratching, or scrubbing
- No hot tubs, saunas, or heavy sweating for 24 to 48 hours
- No retinoids or acids until spots have fully flaked off
Questions About Your Care?
We are here for you before and after every treatment. Reach out anytime, or learn more about Lumecca at Vessel.