Turn Back the Clock Using IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)!
- Posted on: Aug 3 2017
By Debbie
When we think about getting older, the mind usually goes straight to wrinkles. Wrinkles and fine lines are two of the most obvious signs of aging skin. As we get older, we start to lose elastin, collagen and fatty tissues in our face. This, combined with repetitive movements like smiling and blinking, causes wrinkles to form. Although wrinkles might be one of the most recognizable signs of aging, they are by no means the only one. The skin takes quite a bit of damage over the course of our lives, and that shows up in the form of broken capillaries, sun spots, sun damage, heavy freckling, and rosacea. This is called “photo-aging”.
Most of these conditions are the results of daily wear and tear on the skin. Sun spots and heavy freckles are caused by UV radiation from the sun, which is sort of an unavoidable hazard here in Florida. Although using a fantastic sunscreen can help, you may still see sun spots develop. This skin damage can also result in new blood vessels forming closer to the skin when it heals. These tiny, visible red veins can become broken and very noticeable on the skin. On top of all this, rosacea, a form of adult acne, can strike at any time, resulting in tiny pimples and redness all over the face. These discolorations on the face can affect our confidence and make us appear older than we really are. The solution is to use a treatment that will noticeably reduce these discolorations until they vanish altogether. That’s Intense Pulsed Light (IPL).
IPL is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment where we used intense light energy to break down and remove unwanted discolorations in the skin. Although somewhat similar to a laser treatment, it is far gentler. Your skin is exposed to a very bright flash of light that has been passed through a color filter. Think of this like a camera flash turned up to 11. As the light energy enters the skin, the unwanted pigment and tiny blood vessels absorb it. The resulting heat destroys them in a process known as “target-specific photothermolysis”. Most people do not find this procedure painful. It feels a little bit like a rubber band snapping against the skin.
And here’s another really fantastic thing about IPL… it also helps with wrinkles. Although other laser treatments can give you much more noticeable results, the gentleness of IPL makes it a very popular choice for those with sensitive skin. The light energy penetrates the skin and stimulates the production of new collagen, drastically reducing fine lines and leaving the skin both smoother and tighter. Within just a half hour, you could be walking away with smoother skin with absolutely no downtime.
Post-IPL, you will see the dark spots on your skin get darker. Don’t worry though, that is what is supposed to happen. These dark spots then migrate to the top of your skin and flake off. During this time, try to avoid direct sun exposure, and definitely use a great sunscreen. Within one treatment, you should notice a major improvement, with the spots on your skin becoming lighter. It can take a series of treatments, done at four-week intervals, to achieve best results, and we recommend a yearly touch up to keep your skin clear.
IPL is one of the simplest and quickest cosmetic procedures we offer at Azul, and also one of the most effective. If you want to gently give your skin a boost, improving texture and smoothness while also eliminating any discolorations, Intense Pulsed Light is the treatment to try!
If you’re interested in booking an appointment for IPL, or want a free consultation with us, please call (239) 415-7576. If you’d like to learn more about our cosmetic procedures, including our other laser treatments (such as CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing or Fraxel Laser Skin Rejuvenation), please visit our website at www.azulbeauty.com. We hope that you’ve seen the light, and that light is IPL!
Posted in: Procedures