Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment
Beginning at birth, sun exposure over time causes our skin to change and age prematurely.
Examples of sun-induced skin changes include:
• Dark spots (“Age spots”), Freckles
• Wrinkles
• Yellowish-brown discoloration
• Broken blood vessels
• Leathery texture
• Skin cancer
Although a combination of treatments is usually required to attain maximum benefit, at DAI we encourage Intense Pulsed Light (IPL treatment).
What is IPL?
IPL systems deliver many different wavelengths of light in each pulse instead of just one wavelength of light as in lasers. This allows the procedure to target multiple skin conditions with each treatment. This treatment is considered non-ablative, which means that the top layer of the skin remains intact following the procedure. This allows IPL to be considered a “no down time” procedure. A series of treatments will result in a decrease in the redness and sun damaged appearance of the skin. Treatments can be performed on the face, neck, chest and hands. There is a high degree of patient satisfaction with this predictable and safe therapy.
How is IPL performed?
Topical anesthetic is applied to the treatment area prior to the procedure. The hand piece is glided over the skin allowing the light to penetrate. The light is absorbed either by blood when treating vascular lesions or melanin when treating pigmented lesions. As the light heats the targeted lesions it damages them and the body resorbs the injured tissue over time leaving it looking clearer, more uniform in color and more youthful.
How many treatments are required?
The number of treatments required depends on the severity of the condition being treated but typically 4-6 treatments are performed with each one done one month apart.
Conditions that can be treated with IPL:
• Broken blood vessels on the face
• Rosacea
• Flushing/redness
• Brown discoloration, “age spots”, freckles
• Sun damage
Who cannot have IPL?
IPL treatment should not be performed on patients that are pregnant or those who have active cold sores. Tanning should be avoided prior to treatment because this increases the risk of complications. The risk for side effects in patients that have darker skin types is higher and we advise other treatments for those patients. We also advise patients who have a history of keloid scarring to use other types of therapies.
