There are multiple options available to patients with blemishes and sun-damaged skin of the face, neck or chest. One of these is intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment. Introduced in the mid-1990s, IPL is now used to treat a variety of skin problems that occur from sun damage or aging. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons more than 620,000 patients received IPL treatments in 2014. For patients seeking a solution to spider veins, red spots, brown spots or sun damage, an IPL facial may be the answer.
How Does Intense Pulsed Light Treatment Work?
IPL is not a laser treatment. While lasers produce a single wavelength of light, IPL produces pulses of light over a range of wavelengths. IPL settings can be adjusted to account for different skin types, which allows your noninvasive specialist to selectively target problem areas on your skin.
What to Expect From Intense Pulsed Light Treatment
An IPL facial can reduce the appearance of redness, irregular pigmentation, pores and fine wrinkles. IPL treatments work best on patients with fair complexions. During an IPL treatment, a board-certified plastic surgeon or physician assistant will pass a small hand-held device over the area of your body being treated (face, neck, chest, hands). The IPL treatment will cause a slight pinching or stinging sensation. Patients receiving IPL treatments often compare this to a rubber band being snapped against the skin. A cooling gel is applied prior to treatment to minimize pain and discomfort.
The length of a treatment session will depend on the area being treated, although most sessions last less than an hour. Multiple treatments spaced out every 3-6 weeks are often required to effectively treat the problem area. Many patients then return yearly for maintenance since we are chronically exposed to sun and the aging process never ends.
Following an IPL treatment session, brown spots will appear darker and your skin may be red. You may also experience minor swelling. Redness and swelling generally fade within 24-48 hours. Patients can return to work or their daily routine right after a treatment session.
If you have sun-damaged skin or minor blemishes on your face, but don’t want to spend the time or money on a more invasive cosmetic procedure, an IPL facial might be right for you. To learn more, contact us today.
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