Introduction:
Both the pleasures and stresses of life, along with the
simple passage of time, tend to cause our skin to appear older. And the
signs of photo-aging and sun damage are typically most visible on a person’s
face and body (e.g., one’s chest and hands). While numerous treatments from
simple creams to major surgeries exist to improve facial flaws, skin
specialists have always sought dramatic improvement with low risk and
minimal “down time”. Additionally, many conventional treatment options can
only address one condition at a time, while they entail a prolonged recovery
time and potential side effects. Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatments now
allow us to address multiple conditions associated with sun damage and aging
with minimal down time and risk.
What is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)?
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology is a light treatment breakthrough that can correct signs of photo-aging like sunspots, increased pigmentation, and redness; it also helps diminish excessive hair; IPL offers a safe, non-invasive solution that can be tailored to your individual condition and skin type, providing superior cosmetic results and outstanding satisfaction, through a process called photo-rejuvenation. The various wavelengths of light interact with blood vessels, melanin, hair follicles, and other structures in the skin to bring about the wanted results.
How is Photo-rejuvenation performed?
A topical numbing cream is applied to the area to be treated to minimize the discomfort of the procedure. A cold gel is applied to the area to be treated, and you will be given goggles to protect your eyes from the bright light. The smooth glass surface of the IPL hand piece is gently applied to your skin and pulses of light are applied. You may feel a sting, like the snapping of a rubber band. Treatment is administered in a series of 4-6 sessions that provide an excellent long-term result, minimal adverse effects and high satisfaction. Each treatment takes about 30 minutes.
Why are multiple treatments necessary?
Depending on the number of conditions that you are treating, and the severity of the individual problems, a series of 4 -6 treatment sessions may be recommended. By dividing the full program into several treatments, the procedure provides gradual improvement with very low risk; and, it preserves the wonderful minimal “down time” feature that people appreciate so much.
What conditions can Photo-rejuvenation treat?
Sun Damage and Photo-aging: Facial
imperfections can detract from your well being and appearance, no matter how
healthy and young you feel. IPL technology helps improve texture of the
skin by increasing collagen production, thus creating smoother looking
skin. After a series of treatments, you can see a significant reduction of
unwanted pigmentation as well, improving the skin tone. The same treatment
can be used effectively on the neck, chest, arms and hands.
Broken Veins and Capillaries : The face has an
extensive network of veins and tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Over
time aging, trauma, sun exposure, and certain lifestyle factors cause a
number of them to break appearing as red streaks or blotches on the face.
IPL therapy can eliminate these veins and capillaries and make the skin more
even toned.
Excessive Redness: Many people suffer from
broken capillaries and diffuse erythema that cause them to be self
conscious. For both women and men, IPL can successfully treat dilated blood
vessels and diffuse erythema without injuring the surrounding healthy skin.
Aftercare
After each treatment, one can anticipate few days to a week of redness, mild swelling, and mild peeling. Usually, this is subtle and make up can be used to hide the redness. Moisturizing and strict sun protection with a zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sun block is recommended for the week after treatment.
