If you are looking to improve the color and texture of your skin without surgery, look no further than Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy. It can undo some of the visible damage caused by sun exposure that you may notice mostly on your face, neck, hands, or chest. IPL also can help if you have red, brown, or splotchy skin because of a health condition, such as Rosacea.  

What is IPL?  

Also known as a photofacial, IPL is a proven treatment that can help reverse the signs of sun damage lying deep within the skin. IPL improves skin texture, tone, and color by using a specific wavelength of broad-spectrum light to gently and precisely treat deep under the skin’s surface. This light therapy treatment is often used to minimize or remove sun damage, age spots, freckles, birthmarks, varicose veins, Rosacea, and more. 

How does IPL work?  

IPL is similar to a laser treatment but differs in a few key ways. The light from IPL is less focused and more scattered than from a laser, which means it can penetrate down to the second layer of the skin without damaging the top layer.  During the treatment, a handheld device is passed over your skin, sending pulses of broad-spectrum light into the deep layers of the skin. The range of light waves in an IPL treatment targets melanin and hemoglobin in the skin, erasing these hyperpigmentation spots, blemishes, and blotches.  

IPL light waves also gently heat the deeper layers of skin. This stimulates collagen production, which reduces the appearance of fine lines, scars, and wrinkles. Unlike lasers, IPL produces more than one wavelength of pulsating light. As a result, IPL can treat a range of skin conditions at the same time.  

What are the benefits of IPL? 

IPL is perfect for clearing up sun spots and freckles. The light energy is absorbed by pigment cells in your skin and then converted into heat. That heat destroys the unwanted pigment, diminishing the sun damage and freckles and the result is lighter and less noticeable pigmentation. 

Another benefit of IPL therapy is that it can be used in combination with other facial skin procedures, such as chemical peels, that target the surface layer of skin, while IPL reaches the deeper layers of skin. One of our favorite pairings with IPL is Laser Genesis. This powerful treatment pairing offers many benefits including correcting dark spots and hyperpigmentation to restore skin’s overall texture and tone.  

Who should receive IPL treatments?   

Because IPL treatments work by sending light through the skin to target pigment, it is not an appropriate treatment for all skin types. People of color or those with deeply tanned skin are generally not considered candidates for IPL, however, at Timeless we offer other treatments that can safely achieve the same results.  

With IPL, you’ll see optimal results after about four to six treatments, spaced three to six weeks apart. Recovery is fast, and you can resume your daily activities immediately following your treatment. Pigmented spots will typically darken and flake off, but they won’t be noticeable. Best of all? Regular IPL treatments increase collagen production, which gives your skin an even tone and healthy appearance. 

Schedule a consultation to learn how IPL can help you address sun-damaged skin and return to your radiant, Timeless beauty.