INTENSE PULSED LIGHT (IPL)

Intense Pulsed Light or IPL is an energy-based treatment that utilizes the power of light wavelengths to correct skin concerns from the inside out. With the Icon system from Cynosure, light wavelengths are customized to target specific cells in the sub-dermal layers of your skin based on the skin concerns you are facing.

Exposure to this powerful light energy breaks down irregular cells that are causing blemishes and other flaws in the appearance of your skin. After your treatment, your body will break down these unwanted cells and naturally shed or absorb them. The result is perfect skin, with an even tone and texture that you can be proud of every day.

IPL treatments are incredibly versatile. Although this treatment is non-invasive, the light energy is powerful enough to address many moderate appearance concerns, including some of the most stubborn or challenging skin imperfections like acne scarring and rosacea. The shortlist of skin concerns this treatment can improve include:

• Active acne
• Acne scars
• Post-inflammatory
• hyperpigmentation
• General scars
• Fine lines
• Age spots and dark spots
• Freckles and blemishes
• Rosacea
• Broken capillaries and spider veins
• Birthmarks
• Stretch marks
• Unwanted hair

IPL treatments can be used on virtually every area of the body. While many visible signs of aging occur mainly on the face, concerns such as dark spots and sun damage can develop on areas like the shoulders and the neck. The Icon system in particular can be used on the face, legs, chest, arms, back, and stomach. The versatility of this treatment makes it a favorite for patients who have varied appearance-related concerns.

The number of treatments you will need depends on the condition of your skin and the type of skin concern being treated. Those who have more challenging concerns, such as scarring, may need more treatment than those who are trying to reduce pigmentation issues like dark spots. That said, most people schedule two to four treatments spaced one month apart to achieve the best results.

No matter how many total treatments you will need, your appointments will always be scheduled at least four weeks apart to give your chance adequate time to recover between treatments. The natural cellular turnover cycle takes about 28 days to complete, which means it takes about four weeks for old skin cells to be replaced with new ones. Timing your appointments one month apart gives your skin time to regenerate between treatments.

Many people begin to notice the results of IPL treatments about a week after treatment. During the first week, your skin will be in recovery mode as the targeted skin cells are discarded by the body and new collagen is created in the sub-dermal layers of the skin. By the time a week has passed after your treatment, your skin will be on its way to healing and correcting appearance concerns.

Your results will continue to improve with each subsequent treatment. We will judge whether or not you need additional treatments based on the appearance of your skin. Once your ideal results have been achieved, you can expect to enjoy flawless skin for at least six months. By that time, it’s generally a good idea to schedule a maintenance appointment at least once or twice a year to maintain your desired results.

In general, your treatment appointments will take about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Although IPL treatments are well-tolerated, many patients like to use a topical numbing cream to ensure the treatment is comfortable. During your treatment, the intensity of the wavelengths used to treat your skin will be customized to your skin type, tone, and concerns. Overall, this treatment is simple and comfortable.

About one to two weeks before your treatment, it’s generally a good idea to avoid any activity that can darken the pigment of your skin, including unprotected sun exposure, sunbathing, tanning beds, and self-tanning products. You may also be instructed to temporarily stop using chemical exfoliants, including retinol.

There is no formal downtime associated with Intense Pulsed Light treatments. However, some patients like to take the day off after their treatment. We may advise you to use cold compresses to soothe the skin. The most important post-treatment instruction is to avoid any direct sunlight or other activities that may trigger melanin production. You may also be asked to avoid hot water, excessive sweating, steam, saunas, and hot tubs for a few days after your treatment.

Women and men who are interested in perfecting the overall appearance of their skin tend to make the best candidates for Icon Intense Pulsed Light treatments. The best candidates include those who have good skin elasticity, which means people who have severe signs of visible aging may not be ideal for this treatment.

IPL treatments are an excellent choice for those who have mild to moderate appearance concerns related to the tone and texture of their skin. Whether you have acne scars, dark spots, or rosacea, IPL treatments can help you achieve flawless, youthful, natural-looking results in only a few short treatments.