Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

An alternative treatment to laser therapy, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is an effective treatment to reduce redness, hyper-pigmentation and fine lines and wrinkles caused by sun damage, smoking or aging.

What is IPL?

IPL is an advance on laser therapy that send intense beams of pulsed light to specifically targeted skin cells.

Laser therapy begins as an intense pulsed light, however in laser therapy,only one wavelength is directed into the skin at one time.

IPL allows dermatologists to send hundreds of wavelengths into the skin cells, targetting damaged areas more effectively. Intense pulsed light treatment causes the blood vessels to constrict below the skins' surface reducing redness and tightening the skin as well as stimulating collagen production to keep skin looking young.  As a vast number of wavelengths are administered in one treatment session, the IPL treatment can be customised to help improve a variety of conditions.

When is IPL recommended?

IPL treatment is the only proven dermatological treatment to improve redness of skin caused by rosacea or blushing problems. IPL is also recommended as a treatment for enlarged pores, hair removal, freckles, and prominent facial veins. Intense pulsed light dermatological treatment has proven effective in removing and preventing bacterial buil up that causes facial acne.

Benefits of IPL instead of conventional laser therapy

The main benefit of IPL dermatological treatment is there is no damage to the outer cells of skin, making it an invisible treatment with no recovery period. Laser therapy can leave skin red and slightly inflamed for a couple of days after the procedure - with IPL patients notice an immediate improvement in skin condition with no side effects. IPL improves the complexion of skin from the inside, leaving the outer skin cells undamaged and no skin is removed during the procedure.

A slightly more advanced method of intense pulsed light therapy is FotoFacial RF, which combines radio waves with the light wavelengths. The results of FotoFacial RF may last longer than those from IPL of conventional laser therapy. To learn more about this treatment and the different methods of laser skin resurfacing or rejuvenating, contact a dermatologist.