PHOTOREJUVENATION WITH IPL (INTENSE PULSED LIGHT)
IMPROVE YOUR SKIN’S TONE AND TEXTURE WITH POWERFUL LIGHT-BASED TREATMENTS
Uneven skin tone and texture are common problems that can develop for several reasons, including lifestyle factors, acne, pollution, scarring, and hormonal changes. Although we may wish for a smooth, even skin tone, blemishes or patches of color are a reality. Fortunately, so is photorejuvenation. At Cross Medical Group, serving Villanova and Philadelphia, photorejuvenation with IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a non-surgical option for restoring clearer skin with a more even tone. This treatment—often referred to as a photofacial—offers its own unique benefits, helping to transform blotchy or uneven skin to create a more radiant and flawless complexion.
PHOTOREJUVENATION BASICS
Photorejuvenation is a cosmetic treatment that that has many benefits for your skin. This treatment involves the use of light to address sun damage and signs of aging. By making controlled wounds in the skin, photorejuvenation treatments encourage natural healing processes that involve creating new collagen and elastin. This can enhance the skin’s overall appearance. One of the major advantages of light-based modalities is that they can target the pigment cells that are responsible for excessive or uneven pigmentation.
Ultraviolet radiation exposure tends to cause dark spots to develop in the skin as a protective reaction. Time spent in the sun can also cause lasting facial redness as blood vessels become more visible. Photorejuvenation treatments like IPL repair these issues and more. Vascular lesions and pigmented lesions can be treated at the same time. Light therapy helps to stimulate the body’s natural production of collagen. Intense pulsed light is a large category of treatments that includes various modalities.
HOW PHOTOREJUVENATION WITH IPL COMPARES TO LASER TREATMENTS
Laser resurfacing works in a similar way to this type of procedure, but IPL and other photorejuvenation procedures are not the same thing as laser treatments. Patients are often curious about the differences between laser treatments and IPL, and they may wonder if IPL is better than laser treatments. Although the two devices can accomplish similar effects and can address a variety of skin conditions, laser skin treatments have some major differences from photorejuvenation. Photofacials are often gentler options, but they may require more treatment sessions for comparable results in some cases. The recovery for laser treatments may also be longer compared to light therapy treatments. One of the major differences between laser treatments and photofacials is the light source that is used. A laser treatment uses one wavelength of light in a concentrated beam while photofacials give off pulses or flashes of several types of light, targeting various skin conditions.
HOW PHOTOREJUVENATION WITH IPL WORKS
The light energy given off by the IPL device passes through the surface of the skin and is absorbed by areas that are darker than the surrounding tissue. The heat generated causes the unwanted pigmented cells to break down, leading to a reduction in spots and the collapse and dissolution of visible veins.
IPL treatments target the middle layer of skin, called the dermis, without causing much harm to the surface. The resulting photorejuvenation produces a more even, glowing, and radiant complexion. The length of the treatment varies depending on the size of the targeted area.
CANDIDATES FOR IPL PHOTOFACIALS
These treatments are ideal for women and men who have pale or light-brown skin tones and obvious spots or redness. If you have a skin condition, are taking medications for other conditions, are pregnant, are sensitive to light, might have skin cancer, use retinoid creams, are very dark skinned, have keloid scars, severe scarring, a skin resurfacing disorder, or have recently tanned your skin or used tanning creams, then an option other than photorejuvenation may be best for you.
The photorejuvenation procedure is recommended for people who have various types of skin imperfections or problems such as acne, birthmarks, broken blood vessels, liver spots, age spots, dark spots from hormonal changes, unwanted hair, discolored skin, fine wrinkles, freckles, rosacea, and scars. Photorejuvenation is particularly effective for pigmentation and skin tone problems, but it also works well for reducing vascular lesions.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR PHOTOREJUVENATION
Prior to having this treatment, it’s important that you avoid tanning your skin in the sun or with artificial sources such as tanning beds or with tanning creams. You should also avoid certain skin treatments like chemical peels and waxing. Discontinue topical skin care products such as retinoids. Don’t wear perfume, makeup, or other things that can irritate the skin on the treatment area before and after the photorejuvenation procedure. Aspirin and other blood thinning medications or supplements should be avoided for one week if it is medically safe to do so. Additionally, you should avoid any medications that increase sun sensitivity.
WHAT RECOVERY IS LIKE AFTER PHOTOREJUVENATION WITH IPL
Patients will usually experience a mild sunburn-like sensation on their skin for the first four to eight hours after their photorejuvenation treatment. Apply ice packs or a cool washcloth to soothe your skin, which will possibly feel warm, swollen, or tingly and stinging. It may look red or pink at first. Red and sensitive treated skin should be kept out of sunlight for the first few days after a photorejuvenation session. As opposed to laser skin treatments, photorejuvenation usually won’t cause flaking or peeling.
Patients may also want to know what to avoid after photorejuvenation. Other than intense exercise, photorejuvenation patients will be able to resume their normal activities as soon as they’d like. Use a moisturizing lotion, don’t apply makeup if your skin feels sore, use a cleanser for sensitive skin when washing your face, and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect your skin from sun damage while you’re healing.
RESULTS FROM PHOTOREJUVENATION
You may be curious about how long it takes to see results from an IPL photofacial, or how many IPL treatments you will need for optimal results. The initial effects of a photorejuvenation treatment will start to be visible within days and will continue to improve in the following days and weeks as pigmented cells flake away or are absorbed and new collagen accumulates in the skin.
Results develop gradually after a photorejuvenation session, and while there can be improvement after a single treatment, multiple treatments may be required for patients to achieve the clear texture and tone they are seeking. Patients can often achieve optimal results after just one session.
OTHER OPTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES TO ENHANCE YOUR SKIN’S APPEARANCE
Photorejuvenation with IPL is ideal for many patients, but some would benefit more from a different approach. Cross Medical Group provides a variety of skin care treatments, including chemical peels, dermaplaning, laser skin resurfacing, Ultherapy®, and more. Peels and dermaplaning involve the removal of the damaged outer layer of skin as a way of reducing the appearance of skin imperfections. A consultation can help to determine whether photorejuvenation with IPL, laser skin resurfacing, or another option would be ideal for specific patients.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Contact Cross Medical Group for more advice about photorejuvenation in Philadelphia (215) 561-9100 or Main Line's Villanova (610) 688-9100. You can also send a message online to inquire about a consultation, or for more information.
