I've been struggling with hyperpigmentation, and I am thinking about going for IPL treatment for this. But I was told by my aesthetician/facialist that I have a 'thin' skin and that I should not do any laser treatment on my face. And by doing laser, it will make my skin even thinner and that I should stick with a less aggressive treatment. Is this true?
Answer: IPL for Thin Skin Yes, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) laser treatments are very safe and effective for treating patients with thin skin. IPL is a gentle treatment that is non-ablative and much less aggressive than other laser treatments.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: IPL for Thin Skin Yes, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) laser treatments are very safe and effective for treating patients with thin skin. IPL is a gentle treatment that is non-ablative and much less aggressive than other laser treatments.
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CONTACT NOW August 8, 2014
Answer: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) vs. Laser Treatments Yes, IPL is safe for your skin. Intense pulsed light is not a laser treatment. It is an “intense light” treatment. Think of it as a super intense camera flash. IPL is a broadband light source which contains multiple wavelengths of light. These wavelengths are usually focused around a specific (wavelength) number that is effective in treating hyperpigmentation (brown colors), or dilated capillaries and flushing (red colors). Pigments absorb light energy. The intense light wave is absorbed by either the brown pigment, or the red blood; the light energy is then subsequently converted to heat energy, which damages the target cell or vessel. The brown spots and red vessels are subsequently damaged, and eliminated. Perhaps your thin skin might be a bit more sensitive than average, but an experienced aesthetician can certainly administer this type of treatment. The laser your aesthetician refers to, that would “make your skin even thinner”, is likely something similar to a broad-based CO2 laser. A laser is composed of only a single wavelength of light that is amplified in intensity. The laser injury that is produced is based upon water's affinity for that particular wavelength of light. So it is the water content of the skin that the laser is targeting. A broad-based laser would act more like a plane, progressively removing thin layers of the skin, which would subsequently make the skin thinner. This type of thinning is evident in patients who have undergone such treatments (in the past), often for lines and wrinkles around the mouth. They exhibit visibly thinner skin, which appears hypopigmented because the treatment has been performed aggressively/deep enough to remove a sufficient amount of the dermis that has included the majority of the pigmented cells. The latest laser technologies focus on fractionated lasers. A fractionated laser works differently than a broad-based laser. A Fractionated laser lays down tiny dots of laser injury, instead of one broad patch. These lasers are referred to as "fractionated" because they treat only a fraction of the skin surface. Each little spot of laser injury is surrounded by untreated skin. This makes the laser treatment safer and results in less downtime. But many fractionated laser treatments are performed as a series of treatments, accomplishing results over several treatment sessions, rather than in one single treatment. Think of a broad-based laser like a paint roller, and a fractionated laser like a spray can in terms of the type of coverage/injury they provide. The fractionated lasers may be more applicable to individuals who might not otherwise be able to tolerate or undergo a laser procedure. There are many fractionated lasers on the market now, and they can produce excellent results for photoaging and acne scarring, among other things. The type of treatment that is best for you would depend upon your skin type and quality, your treatment expectations, the amount of downtime you are willing to tolerate, and what you're willing to spend. It certainly seems that some IPL or fractionated laser treatment could be carefully utilized to improve the appearance of your skin. Best wishes.
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CONTACT NOW August 8, 2014
Answer: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) vs. Laser Treatments Yes, IPL is safe for your skin. Intense pulsed light is not a laser treatment. It is an “intense light” treatment. Think of it as a super intense camera flash. IPL is a broadband light source which contains multiple wavelengths of light. These wavelengths are usually focused around a specific (wavelength) number that is effective in treating hyperpigmentation (brown colors), or dilated capillaries and flushing (red colors). Pigments absorb light energy. The intense light wave is absorbed by either the brown pigment, or the red blood; the light energy is then subsequently converted to heat energy, which damages the target cell or vessel. The brown spots and red vessels are subsequently damaged, and eliminated. Perhaps your thin skin might be a bit more sensitive than average, but an experienced aesthetician can certainly administer this type of treatment. The laser your aesthetician refers to, that would “make your skin even thinner”, is likely something similar to a broad-based CO2 laser. A laser is composed of only a single wavelength of light that is amplified in intensity. The laser injury that is produced is based upon water's affinity for that particular wavelength of light. So it is the water content of the skin that the laser is targeting. A broad-based laser would act more like a plane, progressively removing thin layers of the skin, which would subsequently make the skin thinner. This type of thinning is evident in patients who have undergone such treatments (in the past), often for lines and wrinkles around the mouth. They exhibit visibly thinner skin, which appears hypopigmented because the treatment has been performed aggressively/deep enough to remove a sufficient amount of the dermis that has included the majority of the pigmented cells. The latest laser technologies focus on fractionated lasers. A fractionated laser works differently than a broad-based laser. A Fractionated laser lays down tiny dots of laser injury, instead of one broad patch. These lasers are referred to as "fractionated" because they treat only a fraction of the skin surface. Each little spot of laser injury is surrounded by untreated skin. This makes the laser treatment safer and results in less downtime. But many fractionated laser treatments are performed as a series of treatments, accomplishing results over several treatment sessions, rather than in one single treatment. Think of a broad-based laser like a paint roller, and a fractionated laser like a spray can in terms of the type of coverage/injury they provide. The fractionated lasers may be more applicable to individuals who might not otherwise be able to tolerate or undergo a laser procedure. There are many fractionated lasers on the market now, and they can produce excellent results for photoaging and acne scarring, among other things. The type of treatment that is best for you would depend upon your skin type and quality, your treatment expectations, the amount of downtime you are willing to tolerate, and what you're willing to spend. It certainly seems that some IPL or fractionated laser treatment could be carefully utilized to improve the appearance of your skin. Best wishes.
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