Dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and redness are among the most common skin concerns for people of all ages. An IPL PhotoFacial addresses a wide range of skin concerns for a smoother, more youthful appearance. 

What is an IPL PhotoFacial? 

An IPL PhotoFacial utilizes Intense Pulsed Light to target red blood vessels and brown pigmentation. It can be used on the face, neck, chest, and hands, areas that tend to experience sun damage and other environmental impacts. An IPL PhotoFacial is a non-invasive treatment with no significant downtime that works over a series of treatments to give you brighter, more even skin and turns back the hands of time.

What Can an IPL PhotoFacial Treat?

An IPL PhotoFacial is a multi-purpose treatment that can improve numerous skin issues. IPL treats conditions including:

• Dark spots
• Age spots
• Sun damage
• Freckles 
• Broken blood vessels
• Rosacea
• Spider veins
• Fine lines
• Dullness

At Krauss Dermatology, we find that a series of IPL PhotoFacial provides excellent results. These results can be maintained for a long time with yearly maintenance treatments to help skin look younger and brighter over time. People also appreciate that intense pulsed light treatments is a “nonablative” treatment that only damages the unwanted red and brown irregularities on the skin’s surface without causing significant overall damage to the epidermis leading to minimal recovery time. The procedure is also comfortable with only topical numbing recommended prior to each treatment.

How Does an IPL PhotoFacial Work?

While you may hear IPL referred to as a “laser” treatment, this method does not use a laser. A laser by definition uses a single wavelength that can generally be absorbed by and heat only a single type of target (such as pigmentation, hemoglobin in vessels, or water). IPL uses a broad band of wavelengths to target multiple targets of redness, texture and brown pigmentation issues. Unlike a single-wavelength laser, it emits pulses of multiple wavelengths of light, leading to more global rejuvenation. Pigment particles absorb certain wavelengths of this light, and redness absorbs another, causing improvement in multiple skin issues simultaneously. 

Is There Any Downtime With an IPL PhotoFacial?

One reason people love IPL PhotoFacials is the lack of downtime. You can return to your usual activities immediately after treatment. Your skin may look flushed or even flaky for a short time. You can use makeup or tinted sunscreen immediately.  You will often notice that pigmented areas darken temporarily before starting to fade or flake off. IPL PhotoFacials make your skin highly sun-sensitive, so avoid exposure and wear sun protection for at least one month before and after your procedure.

Am I a Good Candidate for an IPL PhotoFacial?

Most people with skin types 1-4 are good candidates for an IPL PhotoFacial. Treating darker skin types is less safe and effective, so it is best avoided. This noninvasive treatment fits into busy schedules and provides excellent results without downtime. Patients who tend to form keloid scars or are pregnant should not have IPL PhotoFacials.

Take the Next Step

If you have further questions about IPL PhotoFacials, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Krauss Dermatology. Call us at (781) 416-3500 or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to taking care of you.