Photo facial is a generic term for a skin treatment that uses some kind of light-based technology. Photo facials (sometimes called photofacials) have a number of different uses, but are mostly used for treating brown spots, rosacea, broken capillaries, and skin rejuvenation by boosting collagen.  As the new collagen forms, it softens the appearance of aging skin. Fine lines and wrinkles are decreased and the redness associated with rosacea can be dramatically reduced.  Photo facial treatments restore a more youthful appearance and improve skin texture without any downtime – allowing you to return to work or leisure activities immediately.

There are two types of technology used for photo facials: LED (light-emitting diode) and IPL (intense pulsed light).  They are completely different, so it’s important to understand the difference so you get the treatment, and the results, you want.

LED Photo Facial

An LED photo facial uses narrow spectrum light to boost collagen, which creates plumper, younger-looking skin.  It can also be used to kill the bacteria that cause acne, help treat psoriasis, and certain types of eczema.  This type of photo facial is very gentle and painless.  They are generally described as cooling and relaxing and carry no risk of burning or damaging the skin.

LED photo facials can be incorporated in to a single comprehensive facial session, however, a series of treatments may be necessary to get the desired results from an LED photo facial.  Most people begin with a series of six treatments, then schedule one treatment every 4-6 weeks to maintain the results.

The benefits of an LED photo facial for increasing collagen has been medically proven and is  a less invasive, and less costly, option than more invasive, surgical, procedures for facial rejuvenation.

IPL Photo Facial

IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light photo facial uses high intensity pulses of light that penetrate the skin to stimulate and boost the production of elastin and collagen.  There are several different machines that emit different wavelengths of IPL to penetrate different distances into the skin.

IPL is a non-invasive, and relatively painless, treatment.  The procedure itself is often described as feeling like a rubber band being snapped on the skin. While it is more intense than an LED photo facial, it is less invasive than laser resurfacing, chemical peels, and dermabrasion, and there is almost no downtime with IPL.  Furthermore, because IPL treatments are non-invasive, there are no blisters, burns or long recovery period after your treatment is complete.

An IPL photo facial can treat a variety of skin conditions such as brown spots, broken capillaries, spider veins, and facial redness and is ideal for skin rejuvenation.  The number of IPL photo facials you need will vary depending on the condition you’re treating, the results you want, and how your skin responds. IPL photo facials work best in conjunction with a regular skin care routine that you develop with your professional esthetician.

Read more about ILP therapy and how it works.

Other Uses for Photo Facial Technology

Photo facials are not only effective for rejuvenating and reconditioning the skin, they can be used to treat a number of skin conditions, including:

• Broken Capillaries
• Sun and Smoke Damage
• Veins
• Mild Acne Scars
• Enlarged Pores
• Dull Complexions
• Uneven Pigmentation
• Pigmented Freckles and Age spots
• Red Flushing skin
• Rosacea & Redness
• Liver Spots
• Fine lines & Wrinkles

Related articles

• Photo Facials – Your Questions Answered (healthyskinsolutions.com)
• Skin Rejuvenation (healthyskinsolutions.com)
• Intense Pulsed Light Treatments – Are They for You? (healthyskinsolutions.com)
• Microdermabrasion (healthyskinsolutions.com)
• Delaying the Signs of Aging (healthyskinsolutions.com)
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)