DPL Skin Rejuvenation Light for redness and surface pigment.
DPL — Dynamic Pulsed Light — is a light-based skin treatment that delivers filtered, narrow-band pulses into the skin, where the energy is absorbed by pigment and by haemoglobin in small surface vessels. At MARA.H Chatswood it is used for diffuse facial redness and sun-induced surface pigment. Performed by the MARA.H clinical team, with settings selected after a skin assessment.
Chatswood · Tue – Sat 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
What it is: filtered narrow-band light delivered in pulses, absorbed by pigment and by haemoglobin in small surface vessels.
What it is used for: diffuse facial redness, sun-induced surface pigment, and uneven surface tone.
Appointment length: around 1 hour 10 minutes, including preparation and post-treatment care.
Number of sessions: set at consultation, based on what is present and how your skin responds.
Who performs it: the MARA.H clinical team, at our Chatswood clinic.
What to expect: visible redness for several hours, treated pigment darkening before it flakes away, and drier skin for about a week.
What DPL actually does
DPL stands for Dynamic Pulsed Light. It sits within the same family as IPL, but works across a narrower, filtered band of the light spectrum rather than the wide range a conventional IPL handpiece emits.
That light is absorbed by two things in particular: melanin, the pigment that forms sun spots and uneven tone, and haemoglobin, which sits in the small surface vessels behind diffuse facial redness. The absorbed energy becomes heat at those targets. Pigment breaks up and works its way to the surface; small vessels are affected where the energy reaches them.
Because the light covers an area rather than a point, DPL treats a whole cheek or a whole face in one pass — which is what makes it a reasonable option for concerns spread across the skin rather than concentrated in one spot. It is not a treatment for texture, indented scarring, or pigment sitting deep in the dermis.
The concerns DPL is used for
Light-based treatment is matched to what the light can actually reach. These are the concerns DPL is considered for at assessment.
Diffuse facial redness
Background redness across the cheeks and nose, and the fine surface vessels that go with it. Persistent redness has several possible causes, so it is assessed before it is treated.
Sun-induced surface pigment
Freckling and sun spots sitting in the upper layers of the skin, of the kind that accumulate through Australian sun exposure over years.
Uneven surface tone
Skin that reads as patchy or dull because pigment and redness are unevenly distributed rather than because of texture change.
What DPL is not for
Indented acne scarring, deep dermal pigment, and melasma are not what light-based DPL is built to reach. If that is the presentation, a different approach is discussed instead.
DPL or PICOSURE® PRO: how they differ
This is the comparison most people arrive with. The two work through different physics, which is why they suit different presentations rather than competing for the same one.
| Modality | How it works | Where it fits | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPL | Filtered narrow-band light across an area, absorbed by pigment and haemoglobin and converted to heat | Diffuse redness and surface vessels; sun-induced pigment in the upper layers; uneven surface tone | Does not reach pigment sitting deep in the dermis; does not change texture or indented scarring |
| PICOSURE® PRO | Picosecond laser, single wavelength in extremely short pulses, acting mechanically on pigment particles | Stubborn and deeper pigment, post-acne marks, melasma management under a controlled protocol | Not built for vascular redness; not an area treatment for background tone |
| How we choose | Assessment decides, not preference. The questions are what the concern is made of, how deep it sits, your skin type, and your recent sun exposure. Sometimes the answer is that neither is appropriate at the moment, and the barrier or the inflammation is dealt with first. | ||
Not sure which one your skin needs?
See Available TimesThe appointment, step by step
Most of a DPL appointment is not the light. The assessment and the settings are what determine how the skin responds.
Assessment
Skin type, what the concern is actually made of, recent sun exposure or tanning, and any medication or supplement that increases light sensitivity.
Cleanse & eye protection
Makeup and surface oils are removed, and protective eyewear goes on before any light is delivered. This is not optional at any point in the session.
Settings & test area
Parameters are set to your skin type rather than to a default. Where the assessment suggests it, a small test area is treated first and reviewed before the rest proceeds.
Treatment passes
Light is delivered across the treatment area in sections. Most people describe a warm snapping sensation with each pulse, and the skin reddens as the session goes on.
Cooling & instructions
The area is cooled and calmed, sun protection is applied before you leave, and your therapist gives you the aftercare that matches how your skin actually responded.
DPL Treatment Tiers.
DPL (Dynamic Pulsed Light) is calibrated by treatment area and skin concern. Skin rejuvenation addresses tone and texture in a single session; permanent hair reduction is priced by body zone, from small areas to full-body coverage.
DPL Skin Rejuvenation
Full-face DPL session addressing redness, broken capillaries, pigmentation, and overall skin tone. A single treatment delivers visible refinement; a course is recommended for sustained results.
Priced by Treatment Area
From quick touch-ups to full-body coverage — DPL permanent hair reduction is calibrated to the area being treated.
DPL permanent hair reduction requires a patch test and consultation before the first session. A course of 6–10 sessions is typically recommended for lasting reduction, varying by hair type, skin tone, and growth cycle. Prices reflect Fresha booking rates current at October 2026.
What DPL involves, stated plainly
What most people experience
Redness and mild swelling across the treated area, usually settling within several hours to two days. Most people describe a warm snapping sensation during treatment and a lingering warmth afterwards. Where pigment has been treated, the spots often darken first and then form fine flecks that lift away over several days to a week. Skin is commonly drier than usual during that period.
Less common risks you should know about
Blistering and crusting can occur. So can changes in skin colour — either darker than surrounding skin (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation). In deeper skin tones the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is higher, because more pigment in the skin means more of the energy is absorbed where it was not intended. That is why settings are matched to skin type and why a test area is sometimes treated first. Infection and scarring are uncommon but possible, particularly where crusting is picked at or treated skin is left unprotected from sun. Skilled hands lower these risks; they do not remove them.
Recovery and what it affects
Most people return to their usual activities the same day, but expect visible redness for at least several hours, and expect treated pigment to look darker before it lifts. Makeup waits 24 hours. Heat — saunas, hot showers, vigorous exercise — waits 72 hours. Sun protection is not optional during this period. The specific timings are set out in the aftercare section below.
Results and responses vary
How your skin responds depends on your skin type, the type and depth of what is being treated, your sun exposure history, and hormonal factors. Sun-related pigment and facial redness are conditions managed over time rather than settled once, and both can return with further sun exposure. The number of sessions that suits one person will not be the number that suits another.
When this isn’t suitable, or needs assessment first
Light-based treatment is not appropriate during pregnancy, over active infection, broken skin or inflamed skin, or while taking isotretinoin or medication that increases light sensitivity. Recent sun exposure or tanning, including fake tan, a history of keloid scarring, and tattoos or cosmetic tattooing within the treatment area all mean we assess before proceeding, and may recommend a different approach or a different time.
If something doesn’t seem right
Blistering, spreading redness, increasing pain, discharge, or anything that is getting worse rather than better should be looked at rather than waited out. Call the clinic on 0468 358 861. If it is severe or you are worried, contact your GP or call 000.
After your DPL treatment
On the day (0–24 hours)
The treated area will be red and warm. Leave it bare — no makeup over treated skin for the first 24 hours. Use only what your therapist has given you, and ask them when to resume washing your face if they have not already told you. A cool compress helps if the area feels hot; place it, do not press.
Days 2 to 7
Treated pigment usually darkens before it goes, and fine flecks work their way off over several days. Do not pick, scrub or peel anything away — let it lift on its own. Skin is often drier than usual, so use a hydrating mask daily for the first five days; hyaluronic acid and B5 help with the dryness.
Avoid throughout the recovery period
Saunas, steam rooms, hot showers, vigorous exercise, swimming pools and spas for 72 hours. Exfoliating acids, retinol, vitamin C, scrubs and cleansing brushes for 7 days. Extended time outdoors for the first week, including through car and office windows.
Sun protection
SPF50+ broad spectrum every morning for at least two weeks, reapplied every two hours when you are outdoors, with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to keep direct light off the treated skin. Treated skin takes on pigment more readily, and sun exposure in the first weeks is the most frequent reason light-based work is undone.
When you can resume
| Activity | When |
|---|---|
| Washing your face with lukewarm water | Your therapist will tell you on the day |
| Makeup over treated skin | After 24 hours |
| Hydrating sheet mask | Daily for the first 5 days |
| Vigorous exercise or heavy sweating | After 72 hours |
| Sauna, hot showers, steam | After 72 hours |
| Swimming pools and spas | After 72 hours |
| Acids, salicylic acid, retinol, vitamin C | After 7 days |
| Your next treatment of any kind | Your therapist will set the interval |
Call us if
Call the clinic on 0468 358 861 during opening hours, and do not wait for your next appointment to raise it. Outside hours, or if it is severe, contact your GP or call 000.
One more thing
Your therapist will give you instructions based on how your skin actually responded on the day. Those take priority over this page.
Check this list before you book
The short version of the assessment. If any of these apply, raise it when you book rather than on the day.
Bring these up when you book
- ·Any sun exposure, tanning or fake tan in the past few weeks
- ·Anything you take that increases light sensitivity, prescribed or not
- ·Tattoos or cosmetic tattooing anywhere near the treatment area
- ·Cold sores, or any history of them around the treatment area
- ·Other treatments booked either side of this one
Assessed before we proceed
- ·Pregnancy
- ·Active infection, broken skin, or inflamed skin in the area
- ·Isotretinoin, currently or recently
- ·A history of keloid scarring
- ·Melasma, or pigment that has previously darkened after light or heat
None of these is an automatic no. They mean the decision is made at assessment, and the timing or the approach may change.
DPL Skin Rejuvenation FAQ
DPL stands for Dynamic Pulsed Light. It is a light-based skin treatment that uses a narrower band of filtered light than conventional IPL. The energy is absorbed by pigment in the skin and by haemoglobin in small surface vessels, which is why it is used for sun-induced surface pigment and for diffuse facial redness. At MARA.H Chatswood, DPL is performed by the MARA.H clinical team, with settings selected after a skin assessment.
They work through different physics and suit different problems. DPL delivers filtered light as heat across a whole treatment area, which is what allows it to address diffuse redness as well as surface pigment. PICOSURE® PRO is a picosecond laser delivering a single wavelength in extremely short pulses, which acts mechanically on pigment particles and reaches pigment sitting deeper in the skin. Redness and vascular concerns are not what a picosecond laser is built for, and deeper or stubborn pigment such as melasma is generally not what DPL is built for. Which one suits you is decided at assessment, and for some skin the answer is neither, at least not yet.
Most people describe a warm snapping sensation with each pulse, similar to a rubber band flicked against the skin. Afterwards the treated area is visibly red and can feel warm and tight for several hours. Where pigment has been treated, the spots often darken first, then form fine flecks that lift away over several days to a week. Skin is often drier than usual during that period.
That is set at consultation rather than in advance. It depends on how much pigment or redness is present, how deep it sits, your sun exposure history, and how your skin responds to the first treatment. Sun-related pigment and facial redness are conditions managed over time rather than settled in one visit, so ongoing maintenance is usually part of the plan.
It can be, but it needs assessment rather than assumption. Light-based treatment carries a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in deeper skin tones, because more pigment in the skin means more of the energy is absorbed where it was not intended. That is why settings are matched to your skin type, why a test area is sometimes treated first, and why recent sun exposure rules treatment out for the time being. If your skin is not a good candidate, we will tell you at assessment.
24 hours after treatment. Until then, leave the treated skin bare apart from what your therapist has given you to use. Your therapist may extend this depending on how your skin responded on the day, and that instruction takes priority over this page.
Both need to be dealt with before treatment rather than worked around. Recent sun exposure or tanning, including fake tan, leaves more pigment in the skin than usual and makes the same settings unsuitable. Medication and supplements that increase light sensitivity, including isotretinoin and some antibiotics, must be raised at consultation. Tell us about anything you are taking, including products bought without a prescription.
MARA.H Skin & Aesthetics is at Level 2, 12 Thomas Street, Chatswood NSW 2067, a short walk from Chatswood station on Sydney’s North Shore. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. You can see available times through Fresha or call 0468 358 861. Every DPL course begins with a skin assessment, and pricing is confirmed at that appointment once we know what your skin needs.
Still have a question we haven’t answered?
See Available TimesRelated Treatments at MARA.H
DPL covers surface pigment and diffuse redness. These three cover what sits outside that range — the sequence is decided at assessment.
DMK Enzyme Therapy
Where redness comes from a compromised barrier rather than surface vessels, light is the wrong tool. DMK addresses the barrier first.
Learn More → Deeper PigmentPICOSURE® PRO
Picosecond laser for pigment sitting deeper than light-based treatment reaches, including melasma managed under a controlled protocol.
Learn More →Start with a skin assessment.
MARA.H Skin & Aesthetics · Level 2, 12 Thomas Street, Chatswood NSW 2067 · +61 468 358 861 · Tue – Sat 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Three minutes’ walk from Chatswood station; paid parking at Westfield and Chatswood Interchange. Every DPL course begins with an assessment, and pricing is confirmed there.
This page provides general information only and does not constitute medical advice. All treatments require an individual consultation to assess suitability. Individual results may vary.