What is an IPL Photofacial and why you would need one?
IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light. Intense Pulse Light is a high powered computer controlled flash gun. The best time to get an IPL Photofacial treatment is in the Fall or Winter months. The treatment is not recommended for dark/tanned skin.
What does an IPL treat?
When you have issues with brown pigment, the laser targets and destroys the hyperactive melanin in your skin, removing the brown spot. If your issue is rosacea or redness, the laser cauterizes those broken capillaries and redness and removes it.
This treatment is good for someone that has sun damage (brown sun spots) or Vascular lesions (broken capillaries). Not only does the laser target pigment but it also does many other things to the skin:
- Reduces Pore Size
- Smoothing and reducing the appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles
- Skin Tightening
- Overall texture of the skin
- Rosacea, Redness, Flushing
- Vascular Lesions
How many treatments will you need?
Well it varies from person to person depending on how much sun damage or pigment on the skin. Most of the time the laser and myself can fix the issues within 1-3 treatments. If you have more than 60% damage to the skin, you may need up to 5 treatments to correct the problem. After a series of treatments it’s good to do maintenance treatment throughout the year. ALWAYS wear your SPF or you’ll see us more often than you would like! Treatments are recommended every 4-6 weeks.
How long does an IPL Photofacial treatment take?
Depending on if you’re coming in for a full face or certain areas of the face depends on the time. It can range from 15min-30min. The laser feels like a rubber band snap followed by a warming sensation.
What to expect after treatment?
After treatment expect to have some redness (may feel like a sunburn) with some erythema what last up to an hour or up to 24-48 hours. If your treating pigmented spots, you can expect the pigmented areas to darken (sometimes even black depending on ethnicity, like coffee grinds) over the course of a few days as the pigment comes to surface then sloughs off. If your treating redness (rosacea/broken capillaries), you will see the redness subside a few days after treatment or sometimes the same day or next day. Within a week your looking significantly better but it takes a full month to see the result. With the IPL laser treatment you will have greater sun sensitivity for a couple of weeks so make sure your wearing your SPF when outdoors.
What are IPL side effects?
The side effects are minimal and temporary. You may experience some swelling, redness, bruising or blistering.
What at-home skincare is recommended after an IPL?
A good at-home skincare is recommended in order to promote healing and enhance your IPL results. Here are some must-have products we recommend:
- Moisturizer. SKIN BETTER TRIO provides heavy hydration without the weight. It helps your skin produce more hyaluronic acid and supports your skin’s barrier, leading to healthier skin with less fine lines and dryness.
- Antioxidant. SKINCEUTICALS PHLORETIN CF is daytime antioxidant that protects against the premature signs of aging, environmental damage and improves discoloration, fine lines and uneven skin tone.
- Suncreen. SUNBETTER TONE SMART SPF 68 SUNSCREEN COMPACT is 100% mineral SPF, water resistant, protection against UV, blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation. You also get the added benefit in that it acts as a primer and blurs imperfections!
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