Thanks to an abundance of innovation in the field of cosmetics and beauty industry, there are plenty of new skin treatments, and one of those is IPL facial treatment.
So what is IPL facial treatment? How does it work? And what do I need to know about the treatment?
In this article, you will find the answers to these questions and much more.
Table Of Contents
IPL Facial Treatment - What Is It?
As the name suggests, IPL is a facial treatment that primarily uses Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). It’s also known as photofacial. IPL Facial Treatment has a lot of potential uses. But for the most part, it’s a treatment used for reversing the visible damage of photoaging. How Long Does It Take To See Results From IPL Hair Removal? Read our article to find out.
Photoaging is also known as the damage caused by sun exposure. It’s mostly visible on the face but can also be seen on the chest, hands, and neck area.
IPL facial treatment may also be used to clear other issues such as blotchy, brown or red skin caused by certain health conditions.
How Long After IPL Can I Exfoliate? Click to find out.
How It Works
IPL facial treatment uses light energy and is targeted to an area. Typically, it’s targeted to an area of a different color compared to the rest of your skin. How Long Should You Wait Between IPL Treatments? Click here to find out.
When the light energy hits an area of your skin, that area then gets stimulated to create new skin cells. By doing so, the different colored skin cells are replaced with the new skin cells, which are generally the same color as your natural skin tone.
While the process may sound similar to laser treatment, the IPL facial treatment is different. IPL facial treatment uses more than a wavelength of light, and it’s pulsating. Because of that, several skin issues or conditions can be treated in a single treatment.
IPL facial treatment will help you look younger by making your skin tone more even. Furthermore, the intense light doesn’t hurt or damage other tissues. Thus, recovery is faster.
IPL facial treatment should only be performed by a board-certified dermatologist. However, in some cases, a physician assistant or nurse may be able to perform the treatment.
IPL facial treatment can be performed for:
* Acne
* Birthmarks
* Age spots
* Brown spots
* Rosacea redness
* Freckles
* Spider veins
Some Precautions You Should Follow
Although IPL facial treatment is mostly a safe procedure, there are some cases when you may need to consult your doctor before undergoing the treatment.
For example, if you are pregnant, you need to consult your doctor first. You should do the same if you have a skin condition and take regular medication for a health condition.
However, there are instances when IPL facial treatment might not be the best option for you.
For example, the treatment isn’t advisable if you are sensitive to light and have a skin resurfacing disorder.
Some skin products that you may have used may also disqualify you from undergoing IPL facial treatment. For example, the treatment is not advisable if you have recently used retinoid cream and tanning creams. Additionally, IPL facial treatment is not recommended if you have recently had tanning bed treatments.
Keep in mind that IPL facial treatment has minimal success in patients with keloid scar tissues, severe scarring, or a naturally very dark skin tone.
Post-Treatment Info
Typically, after IPL facial treatment, you may feel as if you have had a sunburn for the next four to six hours. If the feeling is too annoying, you can soothe your skin with a cool washcloth or ice packs. The treated area may look red for up to two days. Some of the brown spots may turn darker. However, don’t worry about this as these areas of skin will just peel off within a couple of weeks.
It’s advisable not to put any makeup on the treated area during the healing process. Use a moisturizer often. It soothes the irritation and it can help in the healing process.
You should stay indoors for a few days after the treatment. If the sun exposure can’t be avoided, avoid exposure of the treated area to the direct sunlight. Also, apply sunscreen with at least 30 SPF.
Click here to find out how to correct IPL damage.
Conclusion
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light, and it’s a treatment used for dealing with a number of skin-related issues. Unlike laser treatment, the IPL Facial Treatment makes use of different wavelengths. This potentially results in the treatment fixing multiple problems at once.
If you are interested in having an IPL Facial Treatment, make sure you consult a health professional first to avoid complications.
