For women and men with sun damage, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, and acne, IPL in Northern Virginia provides a safe, effective, and non-invasive solution.
It’s also an excellent option for anyone who wants to revitalize skin and show off a more even and radiant complexion.
Continue reading to learn the ins and outs of IPL, including treatment indications, how it works, and what to expect during and after your procedure.
What Is IPL?
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light and is sometimes referred to as a photofacial.
The non-invasive technology uses broadband light to diminish skin discoloration and improve overall tone and texture.
It can also be used for correction of a wide range of cosmetic and dermatologic concerns including pigmentary and vascular issues.
What Concerns Can IPL Address?
Unlike lasers that operate at a single wavelength, IPL employs scattered wavelengths of light that are attracted to melanin (pigment) and hemoglobin in blood vessels.
Once IPL energy is absorbed by either chromophore, it converts to heat and neutralizes the source of damage.
As such, IPL can effectively treat dark spots, sun spots, age spots, melasma, rosacea, broken blood vessels, unevenness, roughness, enlarged pores, and acne.
How Is IPL Performed?
At the beginning of an IPL treatment, patients will put on a pair of protective goggles. The treatment area is then cleansed and coated with a thin layer of ultrasound gel.
Finally, the provider uses a handheld device to deliver pulses of light, which may feel like a rubber band lightly snapping against skin.
What Can Patients Expect Post-Treatment? Is There Any Downtime?
One of the key benefits of IPL is that it doesn’t require any downtime. You are free to apply makeup and resume all normal activities immediately after.
Within three-to-seven days, dark spots and hyperpigmented patches may become noticeably darker, before crusting off.
Get Started with IPL
If you are interested in IPL, please call our office today to schedule a comprehensive consultation with one of our highly skilled and talented providers.
