How IPL Works to Improve the Appearance of Your Skin

How IPL Works to Improve the Appearance of Your Skin

Having healthy, youthful-looking skin can do a lot for your self-confidence, but it’s not always an easy goal to achieve. Lifestyle habits like eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting the right balance of exercise and rest can help. But even a routine of the healthiest behaviors can’t prevent all types of damage. Acne scars, sun damage, age spots, wrinkles, and just plain dull skin can take a toll on how our skin looks. Combine that with chronic stress, hormonal fluctuations, and good old genetics, and it’s easy to see why we need to go the extra distance to help skin look its best, especially as we get older.

At Florida Cosmetic Center, we help women and men improve their skin’s appearance and texture with state-of-the-art intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments. IPL helps treat skin from the inside out using the power of intense energy to promote structural changes that support long-term skin health. Here’s how IPL works.

Light to the rescue

Dr. Sasha uses the state-of-the-art Cutera xeoⓇ IPL system to restore skin’s youthful appearance. The xeo system is designed to enable light energy to penetrate the deeper layers of skin where many types of damage occur. Unlike lasers that emit high-intensity streams of energy, IPL uses “flashes” of broad-spectrum energy that can be filtered, controlled, and adjusted depending on the issue that’s being treated, your skin type, and other factors.

During treatment, IPL energy is absorbed by darker pigments in your skin, including age spots and scar tissue. As the energy is absorbed, it works to gently heat damaged tissue, breaking it into tiny fragments that can then be absorbed and carried away by your body. IPL also helps constrict tiny blood vessels inside your skin, reducing redness and evening out your skin’s overall tone. In fact, IPL is so effective at reducing redness, it’s often used to treat rosacea.

And finally, IPL helps promote the natural production of collagen. Collagen is one of skin’s basic building blocks, and it’s what helps skin stay firm, elastic, and resilient. As we get older, our skin produces a lot less collagen. That means it’s more prone to age- and sun-related damage, including sagging, wrinkles, and lines.

IPL can be used to treat an array of issues, including:

  • areas of hyperpigmentation (dark spots), including freckles, age spots, and sun spots
  • fine lines and wrinkles
  • uneven skin texture and rough spots
  • superficial scars, including acne scars

IPL is often used on the face, but it can also be safely and effectively used on the hands, neck, and chest.

During and after IPL treatment

Before treatment begins, Dr. Sasha will evaluate your skin and map out your treatment. Since the xeo features a range of wavelengths, Dr. Sasha can create a treatment plan that’s very precise and tailored just for you. Next, he’ll apply a special gel to the treatment area to help your skin stay cool and protected. The gel also helps the handpiece glide smoothly over your skin for better energy absorption. Most treatments take about 20 minutes, but that can vary depending on the size of the treatment area.

IPL is considered a non-ablative treatment, which means it’s much gentler than other (ablative) treatments that destroy tissue. And that means you can expect a faster and more comfortable recovery after your treatment. In fact, once your treatment is complete, you can go right back to your regular routine. You might notice some redness for a few hours, kind of like a mild sunburn, especially if you have very sensitive skin. And you’ll also need to avoid prolonged sun exposure for at least a couple of weeks to allow your skin time to heal. Wearing sunscreen and a broad-brimmed hat can help protect your skin when you do need to go outside.

The results of IPL treatment can last for up to a year. Some patients can benefit from a series of treatments spaced several weeks apart. Dr. Sasha will help you decide on a treatment regimen that’s ideal for your needs and goals.

Is IPL right for you?

IPL is just one way Florida Cosmetic Center helps women and men look and feel their best at every age. To learn more about IPL and how it can help your skin look great, book an appointment online today.