European Wellness Cosmedical

IPL Treatment in Newport Beach, CA | Intense Pulsed Light

Skin spots, redness, and sun damage can all ruin an otherwise perfect complexion. If you have these features but prefer smooth, clear skin, Britta Wetteskind, RN, can improve the tone and texture with intense pulsed light (IPL) photofacials at European Wellness Cosmedical in Newport Beach, California. For more information about IPL photofacials, call European Wellness Cosmedical, or book an appointment online today.

IPL Q&A

Intense Pulsed Light Versus Laser

While both lasers and IPLs use light to address several aesthetic concerns, such as Rosacea, wrinkles, hair removal, sun damage, birthmarks, spider veins, redness associated with Rosacea, or acne scars. The results from an individual treatment depend on many factors, including skin type. Lasers and IPL devices vary in how they produce their respective pulses of light and thus in their effectiveness at delivering specific wavelengths that selectively heat target tissue types to generate collagen and elastin within treated areas.

The major difference with IPL is that unlike lasers, which emit in an intense, focused beam, IPL emits light over a wider area – like how a floodlight works. This wide-angle emission means that instead of targeting a specific site or small area like a laser would, IPL treats larger areas of skin.

What is IPL Treatment?

Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a form of light that treats the spots, blemishes, and other imperfections on your skin. IPL isn’t quite the same as laser light, which you can also use to manage your skin. Instead, it’s a bright, scattered light that appears in flashes.

During a 20-minute IPL photofacial, Britta aims the light at specific areas of your skin that have sun damage, spots, and other features. The light passes through your upper layer of skin to reach the layers beneath the surface. It’s attracted to pigment, so the pigments in your spots and blemishes absorb the light and convert it to heat. The light then breaks the pigment apart and stimulates the production of collagen in the process.

Collagen is a fibrous protein in your skin that helps hold it together. You lose some collagen over time, making your skin weaker and less firm. With new collagen production from an IPL photofacial, your skin stays firmer for longer.

Which Features Can IPL Treat?

IPL can target and treat an extensive list of common skin features associated with sun exposure, aging, and certain skin conditions. After an IPL treatment from Britta, you’ll see a notable reduction of:

• Age spots
• Spider veins
• Acne scars
• Melasma
• San damage
• Rosacea
• Hyperpigmentation
• Scars
• Birthmarks
• Dark spots caused by hormonal changes
• Other spots and imperfections in the skin

You may also notice that your skin’s texture feels smoother as the treatment replenishes its collagen.

Which Parts of my Body Can I Treat with IPL?

You can treat nearly any part of your face or body with IPL, but most people choose to address areas that see a lot of sunlight. Britta might recommend IPL treatments for your:

• Face
• Neck
• Arms
• Hands
• Chest

For the most noticeable improvement possible, Britta typically recommends a series of several IPL treatments. Depending on the number of blemishes you have, you might need 3-5 sessions in total.

Painless, Quick, and Effective

IPL treatment is popular for its quick, easy, and virtually painless application. At your appointment, your provider will use the IPL wand to target problem areas in need of rejuvenation. Some patients report an occasional slight pinching sensation as the light pulses on their skin. Most patients find this sensation very tolerable, not at all painful.

The treatment is extremely convenient, taking only a few minutes at each visit. And thanks to the virtually pain-free application process, you can return to your regular activities right away! You may notice some redness and mild sensitivity in the treated areas, but it will fade quickly.

The first step in a pulsed light treatment is to thoroughly cleanse your skin of any makeup or product residue. Then, we will use a hand-held device that contains different types of pulses, each targeting a specific skin problem. The pulses are applied to your skin one at a time or in combination, depending on your needs. You may feel stinging or some mild discomfort during these treatments, but they won’t last long—typically no more than a couple of minutes per area you’re treating.

Are There Any Side Effects With IPL?

Although side effects are more likely to occur with laser treatments, there is a chance you could experience some pain after an IPL session. These effects are temporary, though, as long as you avoid getting your treatment right before going out in direct sunlight. The sun could intensify any redness or peeling that occurs. In addition, over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen can help manage pain after your treatment.

Most people recover within 24 hours of their IPL appointment. Rarely, you may notice a small scab on your skin in one of your treatment areas. This usually disappears within two weeks without further intervention. It’s also important to remember that if you have active acne at the time of treatment, it may take longer for blemishes to go away even after healing from immediate side effects has occurred.

How Often Do I Need an IPL Treatment?

Because IPL is a skin treatment, you’ll want to go in for treatments regularly—ideally, once every four weeks. Our staff will recommend a plan based on your skin type, condition, and goals. It’s important to stick with your plan to achieve desired results. Just remember that you won’t see changes overnight; usually, three or four treatments are required before seeing any marked differences in your skin.

Before IPL Sessions

What steps should you take before receiving an IPL treatment? Well, first, be sure you’re taking care of your skin in other ways. You should also check with your doctor to make sure you don’t have a medical condition that would prohibit you from using an IPL light. Next, book an appointment with your aesthetician. Let them know your concerns so they can best advise you on what products or treatments will help get rid of those areas on your face or body that bother you most.

What happens after my IPL treatment?

Following your IPL treatment, you might see the spots on your skin begin to darken. This is a normal part of the process, and it doesn’t mean your treatment didn’t work. Soon, the dark spots fade again and eventually flake right off of your skin. You’ll see the final result a month or more after your last IPL treatment.

The spots you treated with IPL won’t come back, but your skin might develop new spots over time as you age and get more sun exposure. You can get follow-up treatments at European Wellness Cosmedical as this happens.

How many IPL treatments does it take to see results?

To achieve the best results, most patients opt for multiple sessions of IPL treatment. Occasionally, some patients achieve their desired look with a single treatment.

IPL treatment for rosacea

IPL is a successful and popular treatment for rosacea because it targets the tiny blood vessels that contribute to redness in rosacea patients. Many rosacea patients struggle for years to reduce redness, spending hard-earned money on ineffective creams and topical ointments, all to no avail!

IPL and other popular light therapies have been shown to reduce redness by up to 70% in just one to three treatments!

IPL for sun damage

Sun damage, also known as photoaging, is an extremely common phenomenon that affects the face, hands, neck, and chest. Caused by overexposure to the ultraviolet rays in sunlight, sun damage manifests as uneven texture, brown spots, and other skin imperfections that contribute to the appearance of aging. IPL fades dark spots and balances the tone and texture of sun-damaged skin, leading to soft, supple skin that appears years younger after treatment. IPL has been proven to reduce the appearance of red and brown sun damage spots on the skin by 70%.

Are there any side effects with IPL?

After your IPL treatments, you may experience minor symptoms that are very similar to a mild sunburn. These can include redness, itching, peeling, and mild swelling. These side effects are generally very mild and fade quickly after treatment.

To find out if you’re a candidate for an IPL photofacial, book a consultation today by calling the office or requesting one online.