Pigmentation & IPL
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is used for photo-facial rejuvenation. IPL can repair pigmented spots such as age spots or liver spots, freckles and sun damaged skin, as well as wrinkles, scarring, rosacea and other facial and body discoloration. Pigmentation problems such as pigmented birthmarks, pigmentation patches, and uneven pigmentation as a result of sun damage can be treated through IPL therapy. IPL is actually a technology which produces high intensity light during a very short period of time. This involves using specific lamps together with capacitors whose rapid discharge provides the high energy required. A PhotoDerm PL (pigmented lesions) is a machine that directs light pulses at age spots, freckles, flat pigmented birthmarks and other kinds of skin discoloration. It targets the melanin in the epidermis to bring about more even pigmentation in the skin. Melanin is a natural pigment in the body that produces hair, eye and skin color and this protects the body from ultraviolet (UV) light. Pigmentation disorders are caused by an overproduction or underproduction of melanin; a common form of pigmentation is hyper-pigmentation, when the body produces too much melanin, resulting in uneven skin tone. While intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is commonly thought to be a laser treatment, it is not the same as laser treatment. While laser treatments use a wavelength of light to treat skin pigmentation, IPL therapy uses multiple wavelengths. IPL therapy is not as powerful or precise as a laser. It still requires a professional to administer the treatment, however. While beauty salons often claim that IPL therapy is much safer than laser treatment this therapy still needs to be administered carefully. IPL therapy should be tailored to your individual condition and skin type. IPL therapy works particularly well in correcting pigmentation problems on lighter skin tones. It can over-lighten skin pigmentation on olive and dark skin tones. In these cases, it is recommended that a test patch is done first in order to test if this occurs. Each treatment session takes about twenty minutes. The person giving you the treatment will apply a cool gel onto the area being treated. You may also be given dark glasses to protect your eyes from the light. The glass surface of the IPL hand piece will be applied to your skin and pulses of light will be applied. This can sting like a rubber band is being snapped. Anesthetic can be applied if needed and the use of a cooling cream can help. Dermatologists will usually use a cooling cream to assist in the pain. Patients who undergo IPL treatment can experience slight irritation which can be similar to mild sunburn. Under certain circumstance blisters can occur, although this is uncommon. Expect treatment to last for four to six weeks of sessions. There should be minimal long-term adverse effects and you should see long-term results.
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