Is IPL Photofacial For You?

Did you know after the age of 25 you lose 10% of your collagen and this loss continues as you age? IPL Photofacial is the latest innovation in the world of medical science and technology. It is one of the many treatments that can help with aging, acne, collagen production, and more. Collagen is important because it helps make tissues strong, resilient, and able to withstand stretching. There are plenty of treatments that you can get to help with this including aesthetic services, skincare products, and injectable services like Botox or fillers but is IPL Phototherapy right for you?

IPL Phototherapy uses the sophisticated technology of xenon flash lamps, optical prisms, and light filters to instantly vaporize damaged cells placed deeper in the skin without harming the surrounding tissue or the top skin layer. An IPL Photofacial using Intense Pulse Light (IPL) therapy can help restore your skin’s youthful glow and even color, taking years off your face. While heating your skin, IPL encourages the production of more collagen. It stimulates the natural process by which your body repairs all kinds of damage. Once produced, the collagen goes to work on improving the effects of sun damage and the other factors that make your skin look more aged.

Much like microneedling, IPL Phototherapy can treat similar damaged skin conditions, but the results with a photofacial can show up faster and last longer. An IPL Photofacial can help with the following: flushing or sporadic redness of the face, neck, and chest, sun damage, freckling or irregular patches of color, large pores, coarse or rough skin appearance, or a dull texture, brown age spots, acne scars, injury-related scars, or post-surgical scars, spider veins, thread veins, birthmarks, or stretch marks.

While microneedling can be suitable for everyone, IPL Phototherapy is not. For this treatment, we go based on the Fitzpatrick scale which refers to a skin tone scale developed to classify skin coloring and response to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. A candidate with a Fitzpatrick skin type between 4-6 would not be a candidate for this treatment, that’s because IPL targets darker pigment. If you have tanned or dark skin, the wavelength can’t tell what skin is healthy and what is damaged. This indiscriminate absorption of light can lead to a burn. You also should not get this treatment if you’re pregnant or on antibiotics.

In the hands of an experienced physician, laser treatments can often provide quicker, more dramatic, and longer-lasting results than microneedling treatments. If you have a specific problem you would like to address, it may be the case that you are better suited for a laser treatment to meet your goals.

To schedule a consultation about whether IPL Photofacial might be right for you, click here to see a Total Med Solutions Aesthetician.