You would never own a car and not change the oil. Preventative maintenance is important to the life and performance of your vehicle. Your skin also requires maintenance to enhance its performance and appearance. There are many components of a good preventative maintenance program for your skin. One that you may not have considered is IPL or Intense Pulsed Light. The technology behind IPL makes use of a broad spectrum of light for skin rejuvenation. By using different filters the broad spectrum of IPL can be narrowed to more specifically target fine wrinkles, large pores, brown spots, blemishes or pigmentations of the skin
By using IPL your physician directly and very specifically delivers the light beam to target the affected areas. The light emitted by the IPL is absorbed by the targeted pigment on your skin leading to breakdown of the bothersome spots and elimination through your lymphatic system. Mild crusting of the areas may occur, but then the spot fades out gradually seven to ten days after the IPL treatment.
IPL photo facial or skin rejuvenation requires a series of treatments. On average five to six IPL treatments are recommended three to four weeks apart. Once satisfactory results are obtained a semi annual maintenance program is recommended. During the IPL treatment and shortly afterward, you may experience a mild warm sensation (like a minor sunburn) but you should be able to resume your normal activities right away. Once the IPL treatment is complete, mild redness of the skin remains and it is recommended to use sunscreen and avoid direct sun exposure since your skin will be more sensitive than usual. You should avoid exfoliant creams, tanning, microdermabrasion and use of pools or Jacuzzis until the redness disappears.
Side effects of properly performed IPL are usually very minor and can include mild swelling, redness, tenderness or darkening of the treated spots. It is recommended to use lower energy settings during the first IPL treatment to observe how your skin will react. This will allow your physician to tailor your consecutive IPL treatments specifically to your needs.
It is very important for your medical doctor to perform a detailed medical history and physical examination of your skin to determine if the areas to be treated would be amenable to photo rejuvenation by IPL. This lets you maximize the benefits of the IPL treatment and, more importantly, minimize the risks and side effects.
Frank Soto León, MD is a cosmetic surgeon who is board certified through the American Board of Aesthetic Medicine. For more advice from Dr. Soto on body sculpting and other aesthetic treatments please visit www.omahaliposuction.com where you can read our blog and see before and after photos of actual patients.