To prepare for an IPL treatment, patients are asked to cease sun exposure and self-tanners for 2 – 4 weeks before their appointment. You might need to stop using certain medications and topical creams (like Retin-A) a few days before your procedure. You may also want to take ibuprofen or aspirin 5 – 7 days before your appointment to reduce inflammation, which can lower your chance of bruising. It's also important to make use of sun protection, like a hat and sunscreen.