Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment
IPL, or intense pulsed light, treats wrinkles, sun, dark spots, and unwanted hair. It has less focused light than a laser but will penetrate the second layer of skin, the dermis, without harming the top layer or epidermis.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) causes less skin damage than lasers because the pigment cells absorb the IPL energy, which is then converted into heat. This heat effectively destroys unwanted pigment, helping to clear skin problems. When used for hair removal, IPL targets and damages the hair follicle, preventing future hair growth.
Laser and IPL are similar treatments; however, lasers focus just one wavelength of light while IPL releases light of many different wavelengths – almost like a photo flash.
Minimizes:
IPL pulses may momentarily sting your skin, but your skin care specialist will use a numbing cream to help with your comfort levels. Depending on what part of your body is being treated with IPL, the treatment should only take 20 to 30 minutes. Three to six treatments are often necessary to get the desired results, and each treatment should be spaced about four weeks apart to let your skin heal. Hair removal may require six to twelve treatments.
There is little downtime with IPL treatments; however, you may have sensitive or red skin for a few hours. The skin may also swell in the treatment areas, and you may need to avoid using hot water until your skin heals.
Burns from IPL treatments performed under the direction of a licensed therapist are very rare.
IPL works best on lighter skin colors, but most people react differently to IPL, and most patients will need multiple treatments before they notice results.
Immediately after the treatment, the treated area can look red or pinkish. Red or pink coloring usually lasts about four hours, and the feeling resembles a mild sunburn.
Avoid using makeup or lotion on the treated area for 24 hours or until the swelling is gone. Moisturize the treated area at least twice daily and use sunscreen at SPF 30 or higher.
