Revitalize Your Skin with IPL Photofacial: The Solution to Sun Damage and Visible Veins

Photofacial, also known as Intense Pulsed Light therapy, is a non-invasive treatment option that aims to address sun-damaged skin. It utilizes light-based technology to effectively reduce pigmentation and minimize the appearance of small facial veins caused by sun exposure and other factors. This fast and straightforward procedure can be performed on the face, arms, and chest.

Visualize your skin before spending hours under the sun's rays. The Lumenis OptiLight is a comfortable and effective solution for treating sun damage and visible veins. By utilizing IPL Photofacial treatments, pigments in the skin are fragmented, allowing the body to exfoliate them more easily. Additionally, small capillaries are heated to coagulation and subsequently absorbed by the body's natural cleansing system.

Photofacial Is Ideal for:

• Sun damage: Wide areas of pigmentation on the face, chest, and arms.

• Sunspots: Individual pigmented lesions, also known as age spots or liver spots.

  • Results: The sunspots will darken after treatment and be naturally shed from the skin within 1-2 weeks.

• Rosacea: General inflammation of the cheeks and face.

  • Results: Skin tone will be more normal, with less pronounced redness within one week after treatment.

• Spider veins: Individual vessels, which can be red, blue, or purple in color.

  • Results: Vessels may disappear after treatment or they may appear darker and then fully or partially fade within 10-14 days.

How Does IPL Photofacial Work?

The device emits light pulses into the skin, which get absorbed by the pigment in sunspots and the blood in visible vessels. The absorbed light is then converted to heat, which dissolves the cells that produce the pigment and shrinks the vessels.

What Is the Procedure Like?

To begin the treatment, a cooling gel will be applied to the area being treated, and you will be given small protective eye goggles. The handpiece will be moved over your skin, and the light will be pulsed. With each pulse, a beam of light will penetrate the skin, and a flashing light, an audible tone, and a mild sensation on the skin will indicate when the handpiece is being pulsed.

Intense pulsed light is a powerful form of light that may startle first-time users with its bright flash, even with protective goggles. However, once you become accustomed to this sensation, you can relax knowing that the light is simply performing its function. The feeling during the treatment is akin to a slight snapping sensation but not painful. Each session typically lasts for 10 to 15 minutes, but multiple sessions may be required to fully eliminate sunspots, rosacea, and vessels. IPL Photofacial is an excellent option for rejuvenating the hands and restoring a more youthful appearance, as our hands tend to reveal signs of aging over time.

How Will I Look After Treatments?

Gradual improvement occurs through a series of treatments, with subtle changes in the skin's appearance. You can anticipate a more even-toned, smoother, and younger-looking complexion. Following the initial treatment, temporary darkening of pigmented regions may occur, indicating that the light was absorbed correctly in these problematic areas.

What Is the Healing Process?

After the treatment, you may experience a mild sunburn-like sensation, which can be accompanied by minor swelling if you are particularly sensitive. This typically lasts for 2-24 hours and can be eased with a washcloth dipped in cold water or ice packs. The primary post-treatment requirement is sun protection. Although IPL is a gentle procedure that does not require extensive after-care, it is necessary to shield the treated skin from sun exposure to avoid causing new sun damage.

Will IPL Photofacials Be All I Need to Make My Skin Look Its Best?

For some people, IPL is all that's needed to refresh skin tone and take care of redness or splotchy pigmentation. Others may need a combination of treatments.

See Examples Below:

Source: Palomar Medical
Photo Courtesy of Haneef Alibhai, MD and Akio Sato, MD
Treatment: IPL* Intense Pulsed Light
Patient results may vary

Keywords: Photofacial, Intense Pulsed Light therapy, sun-damaged skin, pigmentation, facial veins, Lumenis OptiLight, IPL Photofacial, sunspots, age spots, liver spots, rosacea, spider veins, skin rejuvenation, skin appearance, sun protection