An IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy is a cosmetic treatment process for spots, wrinkles, and unwanted hair. IPL treatments share some similarities with laser treatments. Although both are light therapies, IPL produces light of many different wavelengths, while a laser focuses one wavelength of light only. Since IPL releases light that is more scattered and less focused, it reaches the second layer of the skin without adversely affecting the top layer. This unique quality allows med spas, such as Pristine Med Spa, in Ridgecrest, CA, to offer an IPL photofacial.
What Does the IPL Photofacial Do?
When light from a handheld IPL device reaches the second layer of the skin, pigment-producing cells absorb the light energy and convert it into heat. The heat destroys the targeted pigment-producing cells, helping to clear up freckles, spots, or destroy unwanted hair follicles. The light energy can also help repair broken blood vessels. This allows us to use IPL photofacial to improve the appearance of the skin and reverse aging signs. Using this therapy, we can reduce or remove:
Age Spots
Age spots appear as flat gray, brown, and black spots on the skin. These spots are more likely to appear in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight. Also known as solar lentigines, senile lentigo, liver spots, or sun spots, age spots occur when the body produces too much melanin.
Although medical researchers are not sure what exactly causes them, several factors can increase your risk of developing age spots, including skin aging, prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and tanning bed and lights. Age spots are likely to appear on the:
- Face
- Shoulders
- Upper back
- Back of the hands
- Forearms
Sun Damage
When you spend too much time outdoors, your skin develops ways of protecting itself from the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to sunlight. It increases melanin production, the dark brown pigment that gives the skin a darker or sun-tanned appearance.
Sometimes the sun causes the skin to produce melanin unevenly, leading to the irregular coloring of the skin. Besides causing pigmentation, the sun can also contribute to permanent stretching of small blood vessels, leaving you with a mottled, reddish appearance.
Freckles
Freckles are small brown spots that appear on the skin in areas that see too much sun. Typically, they are harmless and occur when the body produces excess melanin. There are two types of freckles: ephelides and solar lentigines. Although these two types can look similar, they have some distinctive differences, such as their development.
Ephelides
These are more common. They are what comes to mind for most people when you mention freckles. Ephelides occur after sun exposure and sunburns. They can affect anyone who does not use any protection against UV rays. They appear on the face, back of the hands and upper body. Caucasians and Asians are more vulnerable to ephelides compared to people from other ethnic backgrounds.
Solar Lentigines
These are dark patches that appear on the skin of adults. They appear as freckles, aging spots, and sunspots. Caucasians and adults age 40 and above are more vulnerable to solar lentigines.
Varicose Veins
Also knowns as varicosities, varicose veins appear when veins become enlarged, dilated, and overfilled with blood. They often appear fuller than healthy veins with a red or purple-bluish color. They can also be painful. According to health reports, one in every four adults has varicose veins, with women being the most affected.
Although they can appear on the face and other parts of the body, they are most likely to appear on the lower legs. Varicose develops when one-way valves in the veins fail to prevent blood from flowing backward, leading to a buildup. Risk factors for spider veins on the face include genetics, sun exposure, and pregnancy.
Purpura
Also known as skin hemorrhages or blood spots, purpuras are purple-colored spots easily noticeable on the skin. They can also appear in the inside of the mouth. The spots occur when small blood vessels burst, causing a pool of blood to form under the skin. They can appear as dots or large patches on the skin.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a common skin condition that affects over 16 million Americans. Although medical professionals do not know the exact cause of the skin disease and have not found a cure yet, they have devised treatments such as IPL photofacials to help reduce its symptoms.
There are several types of rosacea. Typical symptoms include small, red, pus-filled bumps on the skin that appear during flare-ups. The condition appears on the cheeks, forehead, and nose skin and can easily be confused with excessive blushing.
Birthmarks
A birthmark is a colored patch that appears on or under the skin. While the majority of birthmarks are present at birth, some develop shortly after birth. Some birthmarks disappear with time, while others become bigger. Excess melanin or blood vessels that haven’t formed correctly can cause the formation of birthmarks. Some people prefer to have their birthmarks removed.
Unwanted Hair
As we have mentioned above, the light energy from the IPL can help destroy unwanted hair follicles. This comes in handy when you want to remove unwanted hair on your face, back, neck, underarms, legs, or bikini line.
Contact Us
Since the IPL device delivers scattered and less focused light energy to deeper layers of the skin, it is ideal for treating both surface and underlying skin conditions. Because the device works at a cellular level, we can also use it to repair broken blood capillaries, allowing us to manage other conditions, such as varicose veins and purpura. Contact Pristine Med Spa in Ridgecrest, CA, to enjoy these and more benefits of IPL photofacial.
