Intense Pulsed Light Treatments – Are They for You?

Intense pulsed light treatments, also referred to as IPL, are based on high-intensity pulses of light that penetrate the skin using a broad-spectrum light that filters out unwanted wavelengths as a means of treating a wide variety of skin conditions.

IPL is a non-invasive, and relatively painless, treatment.  Compared to other procedures like laser skin resurfacing or chemical peels, intense pulsed light treatments require very little down time to recover.  In addition, IPL treatments are ‘non-abaltive’ – meaning they affect the middle (dermal) layer of the skin without causing much damage to the top layer of the skin, so there are no blisters or burns.  The treatment works by stimulating the dermal layer of the skin to produce more collagen.

Intense pulsed light treatments are ideal for a wide range of conditions – read our article on IPL for more information on what intense pulsed light is good for.  But, you still need to consider if you are a good candidate for IPL – is this a good option for you?

Is IPL a good treatment option for you?

Intense pulsed light treatments may not be for you if:

• You develop scars easily, such as keloid scars (keloid scars are scars that grow well beyond the normal boundaries of the original scar where the skin was injured).

• You are susceptible to hyperpigmentation (develop dark patches on the skin).

• IPL may not be ideal for your if you develop hypopigmentation (light or white patches on the skin), or if you do not react well to burns (who does – but some people have more adverse reactions than others).

• IPL is not a good option for those with diabetes, since diabetes affects your body’s ability to heal.

Given that, if you do not have any of those concerns, intense pulsed light treatments can provide excellent results – leaving you with healthy skin and a vibrant complexion.  Your skincare professional will conduct a thorough evaluation and discuss your goals, then develop an IPL treatment plan for you.  You will be instructed on how to prepare for the treatments and what to do after the treatments to protect your skin. Depending on what you are treating with IPL, it can take 3-6 treatments to see significant results and treatments are usually spaced out every 3-4 weeks.

Beautiful Results - IPL used to treat freckles and brown spots

Related articles

• Photo Facial – For Clearer, Brighter, More Radiant Skin (healthyskinsolutions.com)
• Photo Facials – Your Questions Answered (healthyskinsolutions.com)
• Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL) (healthyskinsolutions.com)