IPL Skin Rejuvenation
If you love the great outdoors, it can show on your skin over time. The sun causes many skin problems that tend to get worse with age. Uneven skin tone, redness, sunspots, freckles, and melasma – these are all common and frustrating skin concerns that can make you look older than you’d like.
A lifetime of sun exposure can really add up. Skin often starts showing its age around 30 years and beyond. This is the time when the damaging effects of long-term UV exposure become most obvious.
Sun-damaged skin is easy to spot, no pun intended. The sun can cause a buildup of dark pigment in certain areas of your skin by triggering too much melanin. Hyperpigmentation and dark spots can add years to your appearance. The sun also takes a toll by causing an uneven complexion. This can affect your entire face and chest, leaving you with a mottled appearance that can be difficult to correct at home. Finally, melasma and rosacea sufferers often find out too late that the sun can make symptoms worse.
What is IPL photorejuvenation?
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is an advanced facial rejuvenation treatment that is effective for improving skin tone and texture. It uses light to heal signs of sun damage on the skin. IPL is also excellent for clearing acne-prone skin.
IPL skin rejuvenation is perfect for the following:
- Freckles, sunspots, and other hyperpigmented areas
- Acne
- Sun damage and/or redness
- Broken capillaries
- Uneven skin color
- Stubborn melasma
- Rosacea
How does IPL work for sun damage?
IPL safely penetrates the deep layer of skin known as the dermis, without harming the skin surface. Pigment-producing cells found in this layer absorb the light energy, which is then converted to heat. It is the heat that destroys dark pigment in the skin. That is why IPL is great for promoting an even complexion while correcting sun damage, dark spots, melasma, post-acne marks, and other forms of discoloration.
Acne-prone skin can also benefit from IPL
Acne sufferers rejoice! IPL is a great option for fighting breakouts. The light destroys bacteria that live on your skin that contribute to acne.
Unfortunately, some people’s skin harbors more acne bacteria than others, no matter how good their hygiene. This can lead to pimples that seem to never go away. Once you get one blemish to disappear, another one always seems to pop up. It’s a never ending cycle. IPL can help break the cycle, giving you clearer skin by killing acne bacteria.
Why should you try IPL instead of something else?
If you have aged or sun damaged skin, IPL is a proven way to reduce many common skin problems that contribute to skin aging. Rather than wasting precious time and money buying one designer skincare cream after another only to be disappointed in the results, IPL can reliably improve your skin in just a few sessions.
If you have acne, IPL can help stop acne-causing bacteria from getting out of control. IPL is a great alternative when topical acne treatments have failed. Acne creams can be messy and drying. They can bleach your clothes and your sheets. Redness and irritation are common with OTC acne treatments, which causes patients to abandon treatment before their skin clears up. With IPL, you can simply come in for a few sessions and treat acne at the source without any of these hassles.
IPL is also well tolerated by many skin types. It is perfect for patients who do not wish to disturb sensitive skin with aggressive chemical peels. Unlike peels, there is no downtime with IPL.
Then there are lasers. Lasers treat many similar skin conditions. However, IPL is different than laser because it uses many different wavelengths, whereas laser only uses one wavelength to penetrate the skin. Our skincare specialists can help you decide which treatment option is best for the skin issue(s) you hope to treat.
What to expect during treatment
When you come in for each session, you will lie down on a comfortable treatment table in a relaxing and clean environment. Precautions will be taken to protect your eyes from the light during treatment. Safety always comes first at Specialist Skin Solutions!
Once you are relaxed, treatment will begin. Your face will be treated in sections to ensure that no areas are missed. IPL can feel a little uncomfortable, but it is tolerable. There may be a slight sting with each pulse while our dermal nurse works the device over your skin. Most patients agree that the minor discomfort is well worth the end results.
It takes about 30 minutes to treat the entire face.
What to expect after treatment
There is no downtime with IPL. When you leave, you can resume your normal daily activities. Your skin may look a little pink and slightly sensitive afterwards, but this normally subsides in hours to days. Mineral makeup may be used to cover up any remaining redness starting the next day. It is important to stay out of the sun as your skin may be more sensitive than usual after treatment.
Results and treatment recommendations
The results from IPL take time. IPL can be repeated every 4 to 6 weeks to maximize your results. 3 to 5 sessions are recommended for most patients. Our highly-trained skin experts will recommend a treatment plan after a full skin evaluation. Remember, each session builds on the last. IPL is a great investment for beautiful skin if you stick with it.
