Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a form of light therapy that addresses a variety of skin concerns. Unlike lasers, which emit a single wavelength of light, IPL emits multiple wavelengths that penetrate the skin to target melanin (a pigment molecule) and hemoglobin (a molecule that carries oxygen in the blood).
An IPL photofacial is a nonsurgical treatment that improves both skin color and texture. It can reverse some of the visible signs of sun damage (photoaging). The photofacial targets the pigment and vascular damage without affecting the surrounding tissue.
At Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic in Gilbert, Fountain Hills, Mesa, and Scottsdale, Arizona, our providers, Dr. Pankaj Chopra and Dr. Neha Maheshwari, offer IPL photofacials to people bothered by visible signs of aging.
Using the Lumecca platform by InMode, which delivers higher-intensity light than ordinary IPL therapies, we’re able to improve skin tone, texture, and your overall complexion by targeting pigment irregularities, vascular lesions, and other sun damage that causes premature aging, all with minimal downtime.
IPL photofacials are a noninvasive, in-office treatment that uses broad-spectrum light to treat a variety of skin problems, making them a popular aesthetic treatment option for many people.
Benefits include:
IPL works on a couple of levels:
First, it reduces the appearance of fine lines from sun damage, age spots, rosacea, and other redness, and broken capillaries. All this helps create a more even and youthful complexion.
Second, IPL stimulates production of the structural protein collagen beneath the skin’s surface, improving overall skin texture and tone, erasing fine lines, enhancing elasticity, and strengthening the skin’s structure.
IPL isn’t a “one-trick pony.” It can address multiple skin concerns at once, including freckles, rosacea, and acne scars. And it can also be used on various areas of the body to achieve comprehensive rejuvenation.
This noninvasive treatment only takes about 20-30 minutes and requires minimal downtime afterward, with most people returning to daily activities within 24-48 hours. Side effects, if any, are usually mild and temporary, such as slight redness, sensitivity, or swelling.
We can adjust the light wavelengths to match each patient’s unique needs and goals, though the best candidates are people with lighter skin tones who also have good contrast between the skin color and the color of the dark spots to be removed.
We recommend a series of 5-6 sessions spaced 4-8 weeks apart for optimal results, and it’s important to use sunscreen with an SPF 30+ afterward to protect your skin and prevent further damage.
You can get a photofacial at any time of the year, but if you’re looking to reveal your new self to the world at large – or at least at the pool or beach – it’s best to schedule your session in the lead-up to summer, as you’ll need several sessions spaced out to see the best results.
Even if you’re doing it during the colder months, you still need to apply sunscreen to exposed areas, as the sun can continue to damage them.
Want to learn more about IPL photofacials, or are you ready to have one yourself? Primary Care Walk-In Medical Clinic can help. Walk in, call us at any location, or book an appointment online.
