Health

What Does IPL Treatment Do for You?

Long-term exposure to the sun often leads to photoaging and this problem affects both men and women. Photoaging causes brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles, freckles, yellowish complexion, and rough skin texture. As we age, our skin ages and starts to show signs of sun damage as well. Fortunately, Intense Pulsed Light or IPL Treatment therapy can fix that problem, regardless of how old you are or what skin type you have. 

IPL therapy is one of the most popular treatment options for non-invasive skin rejuvenation today. It’s known to give patients more than satisfactory results! If you’re suffering from the effects of prolonged sun exposure, you might want to consider getting this kind of treatment. 

What is IPL Therapy?

As we have mentioned earlier, IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. This is an effective skin therapy treatment that uses light to treat hyperpigmentation (brown spots), wrinkles, fine lines, unwanted hair, large pores, and even minimizes redness. The result? More vibrant, and younger-looking skin!

There are so many dermatology clinics and spas that offer this kind of skin treatment. They promise to help you achieve better looking skin in no time. But before you decide to get this kind of treatment, it’s important that you understand exactly what it is and if there are any risks involved. 

How Does an IPL Treatment Work?

If you’re the type of person that loves the outdoors, if you spend a significant amount of your time out in the sun without sunscreen, then you might start noticing the signs of sun damage to your skin. Years of sun exposure without protection can lead to freckled patches and hyperpigmentation on your face, neck, shoulder and hands. The good news is that IPL photofacial therapy can reduce those imperfections. IPL therapy uses light wavelengths to heat the surface enough to trigger the skin to regenerate and produce collagen naturally. Regular IPL therapy leaves patients with smoother, healthier skin with less visible sun damage. 

What Benefits Can IPL Therapy Give Your Skin?

IPL therapy uses broadband light to minimize the appearance of freckles, age spots, rosacea, acne scars, and more. This type of treatment usually lasts for about 20-30 minutes. After cleaning and drying a patient’s face, the aesthetician then provides them with protective eye shields to use during the entire procedure. A handheld device delivers pulses of intense light over the target area, penetrating layers and layers of the skin. The entire IPL therapy experience is often described by patients as “fast, with minimal discomfort”. Often the discomfort they feel is similar to a pinching sensation on the skin. This treatment doesn’t use injections or incisions, and there is no downtime involved as well.

What Can Patients Expect After an IPL Therapy Session?

Right after an IPL treatment, the treated areas will turn a bit pink or red and swollen, but there’s no need to worry. These will all go away within 24 hours. Patients may observe discoloration and sunspots to be more noticeable or darker, and other blemishes might start to appear. But there’s no need to panic. This only means that the treatment is working. These blemishes and dark sports will eventually disappear as the skin starts healing from the inside out. 

Things to Do After Your IPL Therapy Treatment:

  • Always use sunscreen (at least SPF 30) every day
  • Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and warm water twice a day
  • Don’t forget to moisturize your skin
  • Do not pick at or scratch your skin—the blemishes that show up will naturally go away
  • Do not wear makeup for at least 12-24 hours after treatment
  • Do not engage in strenuous exercise for 48 hours
  • Hot baths, hot showers, or hot tubs are not allowed for at least 48 hours after treatment. Warm showers are alright. 

Experts recommend getting a facial with microdermabrasion 2-3 weeks after the last IPL session. This is so that any remaining dead skin cells will be removed. Microdermabrasion procedures are available in most dermatology clinics and spas.

How Long Do the Results of IPL Therapy Last?

Following your IPL treatment, you’ll notice sun damage and other skin problems start to surface as your skin starts its healing journey. Patients usually report seeing visible results after the first session. But it is generally recommended to get at least 3 to 6 IPL treatments 4 weeks apart for the best results. Patients can enjoy IPL results for years if they take good care of their skin and use sun protection as much as possible. Getting regular IPL treatments every 6 to 12 months will increase your skin’s collagen production.

The older we get, the more skin problems become visible. But IPL treatments can give our skin a fresh, new start. IPL therapy is not only recommended for older individuals, but young adults can also get a jumpstart on taking care of their skin with this kind of treatment. This technology can be availed by everyone—men and women who want to improve their appearance and have healthier skin. If you’re ready to give your skin in your face, neck, shoulders, and hands a reset, then maybe IPL therapy is the solution you’re looking for. 

Is IPL Therapy Worth It?

Patients that get the treatment report that they notice results after only one treatment. This alone is enough reason to say that IPL treatments are 100% worth investing in. 

IPL treatments can go from $300 to $600 per session, but there are places that offer them at a lower price as well. To get the best results, get at least five treatments, scheduled at least four weeks apart. 

It’s important to note that IPL is not a permanent fix. Even after you get the recommended amount of treatments, you’ll still need more in the future if the need arises. You’ll be able to see the difference in your skin’s texture and complexion afterwards. Make sure you schedule your IPL treatments in colder seasons because you’ll want to avoid being out in the sun after each session. 

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