IPL FotoFacial AT DERMACARE MEDICAL AESTHETICS

Many of us dream of smooth, blemish-free skin, but this is not always easy to obtain. The sun causes you to develop a variety of brown spots, and the aging process can be challenging to your complexion, as well. Procedures like IPL (intense pulsed light) can be helpful when this happens. At Dermacare Medical Aesthetics, anyone seeking glowing, blemish-free skin can benefit from the IPL treatment.

 

 

Candidates for IPL

The best candidates for IPL treatments are often those women and men with light or medium untanned skin who want to reduce the severity of their discoloration and photoaging. The treatment can help diminish various imperfections, especially those caused by UV exposure.

IPL is ideal for any part of your face, neck, and décolleté with redness or brown spots on the skin. This includes light (low contrast) brown spots, broken blood vessels, liver spots, and even freckles. While these imperfections were previously difficult to address with other treatments, they respond well to IPL. The procedure might also be a good option if you have fine lines, large pores, and shallow acne scars.

This treatment is often not recommended to those with darker skin, as the procedure can cause the pigment to change. If you are taking Accutane or other similar drugs, you should also wait for at least a few months post-treatment to schedule an IPL treatment. For the most part, a consultation with our IPL professionals is recommended to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for the treatment.

 

 

How IPL Works

The IPL treatment is a non-invasive approach to skin rejuvenation that uses intense pulses of light distributed over 400 nm and 1200 nm. The skin receives this light and then converts it into heat. A controlled injury is delivered to the treatment area, ultimately triggering your immune system to act. Not only does this trigger a new production of collagen, but a skin resurfacing process also takes place.

The procedure offers the advantage of improving skin tone and surface imperfections that are associated with aging and photodamage. This includes a reduction in fine lines, melasma, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and even rosacea.

When the pulse of light is delivered, patients will experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation. One to three treatments are usually enough to see results. Additional sessions may be recommended, especially for excessively sun-damaged skin.

IPL Recovery

Immediately after treatment, brown spots will darken and your skin may appear slightly red. The treated area may be mildly swollen, with the overall recovery symptoms resembling a sunburn. This typically lasts a few hours, possibly a day or longer. Make-up can be applied to cover the redness.

Within a week or two after the treatment, you may notice that the darkened areas might start flaking off. This is normal, as it’s the body’s way of eliminating the unhealthy tissue to reveal what is underneath. It’s important to keep your skin moisturized to increase your comfort levels, and whatever you do, do not pick on potential scabs and peeling areas. Trying to remove them before they are ready to fall off on their own can lead to redness.

New brown spots and diffused redness may appear with new sun damage. However, they can be treated. Remember to always apply broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors to minimize additional sun damage and the appearance of new spots and diffuse redness.

IPL Results

The results of an IPL treatment can last six months to a year, provided you follow a proper skincare routine. New spots can always form over time, but you can delay this happening by using sunblock when stepping outside.

Keep in mind that the final results can depend on the intensity of the imperfections, along with factors like skin type and condition. Light skin tones often hold the best results, as there is greater contrast between the natural skin tone and the imperfections. Pre-existing skin conditions could also require complementary therapies to provide the best results.

The effects often become better the more thorough you are with the treatments. The number of treatments often depends on the severity of the imperfections. One session is enough for superficial pigmentation issues, but for deeper skin problems, we recommend multiple treatments. These procedures should be spread three to four months apart to give the skin enough time to recover.

The longevity of the results can also be affected by the condition you are treating with IPL. For instance, rosacea is chronic and cannot be “cured” with any laser or light source. Still, its appearance can be improved with IPL. Maintenance is often recommended to ensure the results remain, and these maintenance treatments should be scheduled once every year.

Contact Dermacare Medical Aesthetics for IPL Sessions

To learn more about IPL at Dermacare Medical Aesthetics, please call or text us at any of our four locations:

Rancho Bernardo (858) 943-2443 | Carlsbad (760) 472-5088 | San Juan Capistrano (949)658-2080 | Encinitas (760) 487-2520

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1. How Soon Can You Go Tanning After an IPL Treatment?

Your skin can be sensitive after an IPL treatment, so sun exposure should be avoided to prevent unwanted side effects. Stay away from the sun for at least one week before the procedure and several weeks after you get the treatment done. Wearing sunblock is very important at this stage.

2. Can I Get an IPL Treatment If I Have a Tattoo?

While IPL treatments are not specifically designed for tattoo removal, the intense pulsed light can still break down the ink. For this reason, it’s recommended to avoid the procedure in areas where you have a tattoo. A consultation with our providers can give you more insight into the matter.

3. Will the IPL Treatment Work If I Have Darker Skin?

While modern IPL devices come with filters and settings that make the procedure safe for those with darker skin tones, the results may still vary. There should be some contrast between the skin and the pigmented areas for the best effect. It is recommended to get a patch test before the procedure, but an experienced provider could help reduce some of the imperfections.

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