Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a cosmetic skin treatment that targets a wide variety of skin conditions in men and women. Many patients opt for this non-invasive treatment to restore the color and texture of their skin. Dundee Dermatology in West Dundee, IL, provides the most state-of-the-art IPL treatment in the Chicago area. We understand your desire to look flawless and can help you learn all you need to know about this kind of skin therapy.
What Is IPL Treatment?
IPL can treat many skin conditions, from fine lines and freckles to broken capillaries, redness, sun damage of your hands, neck, chest, and facial imperfections. IPL uses light energy to target certain pigmentations on your skin, usually red, brown, and splotchy spots that you often find yourself covering up out of insecurity.
How Does It Work?
During the treatment, your technician will use a device to deliver multiple wavelengths of light into your skin. An IPL laser can switch between colors, making it possible to target different colored areas of skin. The amount of light used is customized to your skin’s current condition and reduces the impact of therapy on the healthy skin surrounding the affected area.
The light heats your skin, making it possible for your body to break down and get rid of unwanted cells, patches, spots, and colors. Your body will remove the damaged tissue naturally.
How Effective Is This Treatment?
IPL works best on white or light brown skin. If your skin is very dark, you may not get the results you are looking for. It also depends on the kind of equipment. At Dundee Dermatology, we treat our candidates using the Lumenis M22, one of the most advanced and customizable devices currently available on the market.
How Is It Different from a Laser Treatment?
While IPL is very similar to laser treatment, there are a few key differences. The most significant difference is that while most laser treatments focus on using only one wavelength of light, an IPL device can give off several wavelengths of light that penetrate the second layer of your skin, leaving no damage to the epidermis.
IPL is so powerful that it is possible to treat a larger area in a shorter time than laser treatments can. A typical IPL appointment takes between two and four sessions that are spaced about a month apart. By waiting for a few weeks in between appointments, your skin will have time to heal, and your results will be optimal.
Who Is a Candidate for IPL?
Patients who have pale or light brown skin are the ideal candidates for IPL therapy. Additionally, IPL can reduce the appearance of:
- Acne
- Freckles
- Rosacea
- Stretch marks
- Birth marks
- Broken blood vessels
- Scars
- Age spots
- Dark spots
- Discoloration
- Spider veins
If you have light sensitivity, skin cancer, or severe scarring, IPL may not be the right option for you. Additionally, this treatment is not recommended if you have recently tanned your skin, use a retinoid cream, or have a skin resurfacing disorder.
Why Is IPL a Good Option?
1. Gentler Than Chemical Peels
Chemical peels treat your skin using acidic solutions, causing you to feel a stinging sensation upon application. Dermabrasions are an expensive surgical process that requires at least a week of downtime. IPL is a gentle treatment with minimal pain and little to no downtime.
2. Compatible With Other Skin Care Treatments
In many cases, patients who undergo skin care treatment have to wait a while before getting another one done. IPL is different in that you can combine it with a few other notable treatments. For example, you can combine IPL with laser skin resurfacing or Botox treatments.
3. Quicker Results and Minimal Downtime
Since the light delivered by an IPLs device is less focused than a regular laser, it causes less damage to your healthy skin. The light reaches your dermis without leaving any scarring or marks behind on the top layer of your skin. After an IPL, you will begin to see improvements after a week. By spacing each therapy three to four weeks within each other, you can enjoy results lasting for up to five months.
4. It Makes You Look Younger
IPL can help you appear younger than you are because it evens out your skin tone, boosts your body’s production of collagen, and gets rid of telltale aging signs, such as age spots and fine lines. You can enjoy the look and feel of youth without the need for any incisions or injections.
5. Works Anywhere on Your Body
In most cases, IPL works anywhere on your body, although you may not get ideal results on any uneven surfaces. Additionally, IPL may not work on areas of very dark skin or areas with very light hair. The most common treatment areas are your chest, neck, and hands.
Enhance You Skin Now!
Whether you’re looking to reduce signs of aging, remove unwanted scars, or lighten up patches of your skin, an IPL treatment is a gentle, non-invasive way to enjoy better skin. Patients in West Dundee, Elgin, South Elgin, Algonquin, Carpentersville, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, St Charles, and Geneva are already enjoying better complexions.
Please contact Dundee Dermatology in West Dundee, IL, to discuss our services and determine if IPL is the right choice for you. Give us a call today!