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 What Is IPL Treatment?

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, aka photofacial, is a way to improve the color and texture of your skin without surgery. It can undo some of the visible damage caused by sun exposure - called photoaging. You may notice it mostly on your face, neck, hands, or chest.IPL may help if you have red, brown, or splotchy skin because of a health condition.
 

• How IPL Treatment Works?

IPL uses light energy to target a certain color in your skin. When the skin is heated, your body pushes out the unwanted cells, and removes the unwanted skin conditions.  Unlike lasers, an IPL device sends out more than one wavelength of pulsating light. It can treat a range of skin conditions at the same time. IPL is a non-invasive treatment that aids in erasing skin damage without disrupting the skin’s surface, which means no downtime,
IPL helps with:- Collagen Remodeling-Fine Lines-Dull Skin-Pigmentation-Freckles-Age Spots-Melasma-Rosacea-Broken Capillaries-Scars  

Q: What Causes Age Spots, Sun Spots, Red Blotches and Broken Blood Vessels on the Face Neck and Décolletage?

A:Brown spots and broken blood vessels around the nose, chin, cheeks, neck, hands and Décolletage are classic signs of sun damage and aging of the skin. Brown spots, often called age spots are caused by pigment that is produced by the skin to protect the skin from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. New blood vessels grow into the skin in response to skin injury by the sun. This process of new blood vessel growth is called inflammation.The new blood vessels bring blood into the facial skin first to wash out damaged skin cell debris and later to bring in skin healing factors.

Q: How Do Photofacial or IPL - Non-surgical anti-aging Skin Care Treatments Work?A: Photofacial or IPL anti-aging skin care treatments use a bright flash of visible light, like the light of a camera flash to remove pigment and blood vessels non-surgically from the skin. This pulsed or flashed light is very different from a laser as it is a broad-spectrum that can affect multiple skin conditions at once.
 

A: One of the greatest benefits of IPL photo rejuvenation is that it can treat a wide range of skin problems. With IPL therapy, patients can undergo a single type of treatment for multiple skin conditions, rather than having to undergo several procedures, such as laser skin tightening and laser skin resurfacing. IPL photo rejuvenation is usually less expensive than laser treatment as well. Perhaps the greatest benefit of the procedure, however, is that it is associated with a smaller risk of burns and scarring than laser treatment.

Q: What Will My Skin Look Like Immediately After a Photofacial Skin Care Treatment? 

A: Unlike lasers, which can cause the skin to peel and possibly leave scars, the IPL Photofacial treatments are very gentle on the skin. The pigment in the brown spot or age spot will darken very slightly, and the treated blood vessel will also darken a bit. However the skin will be intact. The treated areas may also be slightly pink for a few hours.

Q: Does A Photofacial Skin Care Treatment Hurt?

A:There is minimal discomfort during a Photofacial skin care treatment. Anesthesia or numbing medicine is not required. When the Photofacial or IPL flash hits the skin you will feel a small snap or sting, but this is easily tolerated by all of my clients.

Q:How Many Photofacial Skin care treatments will I Need?

A:  Depending on the area being treated and the severity of the problem, multiple treatment sessions may be recommended. Depends on a skin condition but usually 4 Photofacial skin care treatments are required spaced 4 weeks apart for the best results. You may need 2-4 treatments 4-6 weeks apart.

Q: How Soon after My Photofacial Skin Care Treatment Will I See a Result?

A: Generally you will see the results of your Photofacial skin care treatment at 4-5 weeks. The brown spot will be lighter or gone and the red spot or blood vessel will be much smaller. Some patients with thin skin and very light pigment or small broken blood vessels will see complete removal after one treatment. However most people see definite improvement 5 weeks after the Photofacial IPL treatment and may require 3 more treatments for complete removal.

 Contraindications :

• Recent sunburn
• Unprotected sun exposure or solarium use 4 weeks prior to treatment
• Pregnancy
• History of seizures
• Severe dermatitis or eczema (within the treatment area)
• Active infections
• Roaccutane use in the last 6 months
• Herpes 1 or 2 (within the treatment area)
• Photo sensitising medications are best avoided

What to expect after IPL treatment:  

• After treatment of pigmented lesions the lesion will go darker sometimes almost black, then will fall off within 7 to 28 days (depending on the area of the body) or it will just gradually fade.
• After treatment of vascular lesions they will either disappear immediately or appear grey or purplish in color. Diffuse redness immediately appears a lot redder then gradually lightens within 2-3 weeks.

• Discontinue sun exposure 4 weeks prior to your treatment.
• Do not use fake tan 1-2 weeks prior to your treatment.
• Use an SPF 30 daily.
• If having IPL hair removal, do not wax, tweeze or pluck the hair for 4 weeks prior to your treatment.
• Shaving or depilatory creams are fine and you will need to shave the treatment site before your IPL session.
• If you have a history of herpes close to the area being treated, it is recommended that you take antiviral medication before the treatment. 

Post treatment

• A sunburn-like sensation is expected for about 2-5 hours after the treatment. If this is uncomfortable apply cold compresses to the treated area.
• Your skin may be temperature sensitive for the following 2 days, so do not use very hot water or your shower or bath (no hot tubs, pools, saunas).
• Please protect you skin from the sun - wide spectrum SPF30+.
• Do not exfoliate the skin for 1 week after the treatment.
• Your skin may be more sensitive to certain skin care.
• Do not pick blisters or skin crusting as this may lead to a scar.
• If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly.