Get Ready for Those Holiday Photos With a Rejuvenating Photofacial Treatment
Do you always volunteer to take pictures at festive gatherings, so you don’t have to be in them? If rosacea, spider veins, brown spots, or other common skin texture flaws make you camera-shy, it’s time for a fix. Thankfully, modern technology offers a safe, pain-free, and surgery-free one: Laser treatment – IPL.
Photorejuvenation treatments improve the appearance of skin by using a device with a special type of laser light called intense pulsed light (IPL). Board-certified dermatologist Michael Rains, M.D., FAAD of our team at Beacon Dermatology in Asheville, NC, breaks down everything you need to know about this easy and effective treatment.
What skin imperfections can a photorejuvenation treatment improve?
Photorejuvenation treatments can improve a number of flaws in your skin. If you have any of the following issues, consider a photorejuvenation treatment to help improve the condition of your skin.
- Broken blood vessels
- Redness of skin (rosacea)
- Sun spots (skin damaged by the sun)
- Liver spots (age-related dark spots)
- Large pores
- Uneven, rough skin texture
- Hyperpigmentation (dark spots from excess of melanin)
- Spider veins (small blue, purple or red veins that are visible on the skin’s surface)
- Freckles
- Fine lines
A photorejuvenation treatment can smooth rough patches of skin, even out tone, and diminish the appearance of spider veins. This treatment can stimulate an increase in collagen production. Collagen is the protein that gives your skin its smooth, supple structure.
How does IPL technology work?
Intense pulsed light therapy uses a special laser light that targets the layer of skin below the surface. Your provider uses a patented device called the Luvo Lucent to aim pulsed light at specific areas on your skin.
When the intense light hits your skin, it’s converted to heat. The heat destroys the material it’s targeting, which is eventually eliminated by your body. For example, the pulsed light disintegrates a substance called oxyhemoglobin in your blood vessels, which helps remove spider veins. It also destroys pigment, so it can remove freckles and dark spots on your skin.
What to expect during your photorejuvenation treatment
Your provider first cleans the targeted area. If needed, a topical numbing ointment can be applied to reduce any discomfort during the procedure.
Then your provider directs the laser light at the area being treated. You’ll feel pulses of energy, which may feel like a rubber band snapping against your skin. Then your provider will move the device to the next area and repeat the process.
If you feel any discomfort after the procedure, your provider can place cool compresses on the treated area. Then they’ll apply moisturizer and sunscreen to complete the treatment.
Who is a candidate for a photorejuvenation treatment?
If you have light, medium, or olive skin, IPL will work well. It’s not effective on dark skin, because it targets the excess melanin on lighter skin. You also may not be a candidate if you’re pregnant or are using certain medications.
Do I need more than one photorejuvenation treatment?
Everyone is unique. Multiple treatments may be recommended for optimal results depending on the severity and number of issues to resolve.