What is IPL photo rejuvenation treatment?

IPL uses a range of wavelengths of light to target brown (and, to a lesser degree, red) discoloration.  This discoloration occurs over time and after many years of sun exposure.  Filters are used to cut off wavelengths of light that could be harmful (in darker skinned patients filters decrease the risk of damaging the normal pigment in the skin).

I recommend IPL for my fairer skinned patients who have brown discoloration, age spots, and freckles, particularly on the face, chest, and hands.  I also use retinoid creams to help even skin tone and pigmentation.  In some people I also use creams containing hydroquinone and kojic acid, to decrease the activity of the pigment cells and fade brown spots. 

IPL is best for fair complexions.  The light targets the pigmented spots.  Immediately after treatment the area is red and swollen, almost like a burn.  Over the next few days the redness fades but the brown gets darker- it can get very very dark.  Then the brown peels off.  At about 2 weeks after treatment the peeling should be complete.  There may be small untreated patches of skin that are still visible among the lighter, more even skin that was treated.  That is why most patients need multiple treatments. 

Also, each treatment may use a slightly higher energy depending on the previous outcome.  It is important to have a test spot performed before treating a large area of skin.  That way you can determine what energy level is best for you.  I treat conservatively with low energies until I know how the patient will react.  It is much better to have to come in for more treatments than to use a high energy setting and get a burn that may leave a permanent mark.

IPL/photofacial treatments are effective for treating a variety of skin concerns including sun damage, brown spots, hyperpigmentation, redness, rosacea, and broken capillaries on the face, neck, chest, and most other areas of the body.  IPL targets melanin (brown pigment), and hemoglobin(the red pigment in blood cells).  After a treatment, the melanin-containing lesions become somewhat grainy-appearing and darker in color until they flake off as the skin cells naturally turn over.  This process usually takes about a week on the face, but can take over 2 weeks on other areas of the body.  The red lesions such as rosacea and broken blood vessels slowly fade in intensity over 4-6 weeks after a treatment.  A series of treatments is usually necessary - ranging from 3-5 or more treatments at about monthly intervals.  Maintenance treatments may be necessary, especially if you have ongoing sun exposure. 

One very important caution with IPL is to be aware that it is not safe for darker-skinned individuals due to the rich melanin content of their skin.  They are at increased risk of burns and pigment alteration if they have IPL treatment.  Even light-skinned patients must practice sun avoidance and/or use adequate SPF protection to the treatment area to prevent developing any suntan on the skin.  IPL treatment done on suntanned skin can cause severe adverse reactions and burns.

IPL or Intense Pulsed Light is not actually a laser.  Lasers by definition are single wavelengths devises, like the red light that comes out of your laser pointer.  IPLs are more like a flashlight with full range of wavelengths of light. 

Most are basically Xenon lights with filters attached. IPLs have been around since the 1960s, and their use ranges from treating pigmented and vascular lesions to hair removal.  

The term "photorejuvenation" is a catch-all term that can cover just about any light based procedure that is used to make you look younger.

IPL Pros

• Very good at decreased brown pigment like sun spots
• Good for generalize redness like that of Rosacea
• Treatment are normally modest in price (about $300-$500 for a full face)
• Limited down time: brown spots turn darker until they break-up after about 10-14 days
• Can be used to activate Levulan for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT),  which is normally used as a treatment for pre-cancerous skin lesion and severe acne.

IPL Cons

• Some non-MD providers may not recognize certain skin condition (like melanoma) that should not be treated.  This can lead to delayed diagnosis and significantly decrease a patient's chances of surviving this type of skin cancer.
• Can lead to burning and scarring if done improperly
• Can leave footprinting (areas of light skin in the shape of the treatment handpiece next to areas of  darker non-treated skin) if done improperly.
• Is not as effective as other treatments (Pulsed Dye and Nd:YAG lasers) for treating small vessels
• There are much better procedures for improving collagen and fine lines (Laser Genesis, Active FX, Fraxel)

All in all, in experienced hands IPL can be a very good tool for patients with pigmented age spots and/or redness.

Chronic sun damage causes irregular brown and red discoloration of the skin. These " sun spots" and "broken capillaries" are in the surface of the skin and make the skin look old.

IPL reduces these discolorations and makes the skin tone more even and bright. It does this by heating up the structures that hold the color, damaging or destroying the blood vessel or the "sun spot".

The process is called Selective Photo - Thermo - Lysis.

• Selective because it targets the color we don't like - the chromophore;
• Photo because it uses light energy to heat up (Thermo) the color;
• So that the heat damages or destroys (Lysis) the structure holding the color or chromophore.

The result is a more even skin color - even without makeup.