Now that winter is upon us, the days are shorter and we spend less time outside. Most people make themselves cozy inside their home with plenty of hot cocoa and a good book. But just because it’s winter it doesn’t mean that you can’t improve the way you look. In fact, winter is the perfect time for some of our treatments because they require staying out of the sun during the short recovery period. This means you won’t be missing any days laying next to the pool or family picnics in the park.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is one of those treatments that requires some time inside to allow the skin to recover. IPL uses broadband light to treat a variety of skin conditions, including: sun damage, redness, uneven pigmentation, vascular lesions and even unwanted hair. As you can see, IPL is a very versatile treatment that can fix multiple skin problems.
One reason why IPL is a perfect treatment for winter is because it does require some time inside; both before and after the procedure. It’s important to avoid as much sun exposure as possible before your IPL therapy session because it detects red and brown skin pigments. If your skin is tan, the light cannot distinguish between darker blemishes and the surrounding skin. The risk is that the patient might have unwanted lighter skin tones.
How does IPL work?
IPL uses very strong flashes of intense broad spectrum pulse of light. The device used is handheld and computer-controlled to ensure the proper intensity is used. The different ranges of light used targets different structures of the skin, allowing it to essentially destroy those parts, which are then safely reabsorbed into the body.
IPL therapy is considered very safe and has been used for many years without any adverse, long term side effects emerging in patients. Further, the technology has improved greatly, meaning that the light pulses are better controlled. The IPL instrument also uses a variety of filters to ensure that no harmful UV rays will damage the skin.
What kind of recovery should I expect?
One of the benefits of IPL therapy is that there is almost no downtime. Patients can often resume their normal daily activities almost immediately following treatment. Patients will notice a pinkish hue to the treated skin, and the brown spots might get darker before they lighten. Many patients describe the recovery time like having a mild sunburn.
The only restriction for patients following their IPL treatment is to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. Of course, being that it’s winter, it’s much easier to stay inside this time of year.
How many treatments are required?
For the average patient, 3-5 treatments are needed, spaced a month apart, to see the optimum results. After those initial treatments, it’s recommended that the patient receives “maintenance treatments” every 4-6 months.
Don’t wait until warmer weather returns
Call us today to schedule your IPL therapy treatment while the days are short and you’re spending most of your time indoors. If you start now, you can have smooth, even skin by the time summer rolls around, making you look your very best.
