What is IPL?

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, also known as photo facials, is a non-surgical way to improve the color and texture of your skin. It can reverse some of the visible damage caused by sun exposure, which is known as photoaging. It may be most noticeable on your face, neck, hands, or chest.

If you have red, brown, or splotchy skin as a result of a medical condition, IPL may be beneficial.

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Who shouldn't get IPL treatment?

Consult your aesthetician first if you:

• Are pregnant

• Have a skin condition

• Take medication for other conditions

IPL is not recommended if you:

• Are light sensitive

• Have recently tanned your skin through the use of sunlight, tanning beds, or tanning creams

• Make use of retinoid cream.

• Are extremely dark-skinned

• Suffer from a skin resurfacing disorder

• Have extensive scarring

• Have keloid scar tissue

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Is IPL effective?

The effectiveness of IPL depends on what you want the treatment to correct.

Light therapy can remove 50-75 percent of broken blood vessels in most people after one to three treatments. They may completely vanish. While treated veins do not reappear, new ones may appear later.

If you have rosacea and your face flushes, IPL can be a good alternative to laser therapy. You may achieve better results if you’re under 40 years old.

Your condition ranges from moderate to severe.

Sun damage: You may notice 70% less brown spots and redness caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Hair removal: If you have light skin and dark hair, you will benefit the most. If you have dark skin or blond hair, it may not work for you.

Acne: IPL may be beneficial if you have acne or the scarring that it causes. Six sessions may be required to see a difference. 

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Are there any risks or side effects to IPL?

IPL side effects are typically minor and transient. It’s possible that you’ll encounter:

• Redness

• Swelling

• Bruising

• Itching

• Peeling Scabbing

More serious IPL side effects, such as burning, blistering, or scarring, have been reported in some cases. When they occur, these side effects are more common in patients with darker skin.

Following pre-and post-operative instructions, as well as selecting a reputable practitioner, will greatly reduce your chances of experiencing negative side effects.

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What are the advantages of IPL treatment over traditional laser treatment?

One of the primary benefits of IPL is that a single treatment can treat a wide range of skin conditions rather than requiring multiple treatments (e.g., laser skin tightening, laser resurfacing, etc.).

IPL treatments are typically less expensive (averaging $200-500 per treatment) than most laser treatments ($1300-2100 for laser skin resurfacing treatments) and pose a lower risk of burns or permanent scarring.

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How soon will I see results?

Your skin will feel smoother and have a more even tone after your first treatment. These improvements will be visible after each treatment and will be gradual. For best results, five treatments are usually administered. Additional treatments will be beneficial to some patients.

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What to expect from IPL therapy?

When you arrive, a technician or dermatologist will apply gel to your clean skin. To protect your eyes, you’ll put on dark glasses. The handheld IPL device will be placed directly on your body. The session will most likely last 20 to 30 minutes. Large areas could take an hour or more to complete.

While most people tolerate the light pulses, the treatment may sting slightly. It might feel like someone is snapping a rubber band on you. Your aesthetician can provide you with numbing cream to apply 30-60 minutes before treatment begins.

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Are IPL treatments painful?

IPL treatments are delivered with the sensation of heat from the hand piece, which is operated by your technician. Patients can expect to feel a short, quick zap of energy to the treated area. The sensation is that of a light snap from a rubber band. IPL treatments cause very little discomfort and are usually tolerated very well.

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Is there post-treatment after-care instructions for IPL?

The recovery from IPL treatments is very short and quick, as there was minimal damage caused to the skin during the treatment. The following are precautionary recommendations following IPL treatments:

• No sun tanning outside or inside

• No hot baths or showers

• No wet or dry sauna use

• No swimming in chlorinated pools, hot tubs, and spas

• No perfumed lotions or soaps on the treated skin

• No AHA, glycolic, salicylic, or depilatory creams on the treated area

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What does IPL recovery look like?

After you finish, you may feel like you have sunburn feeling for 4-6 hours. You can feel better by using ice packs or a cool washcloth.

For a day or two, your skin may be red or bruised. Some of your brown spots may darken, but they should fade in a few weeks.

While you’re recuperating:

• If your skin is in pain, avoid wearing makeup.

• Apply a moisturizing lotion.

• Use sunscreen to protect yourself. Check for an SPF of at least 30 and a physical blocker such as zinc. Even if it’s not sunny outside, reapply it every 2 hours.