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Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
  • What It Is and What It Treats
  • How IPL Works
  • Treatment

    • What It Is and What It Treats

    Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment (often called phototherapy) is a non-laser, non-ablative skin rejuvenation technology that delivers light energy (heat) to the skin's deeper layers (the dermis) while leaving its surface layer (epidemis) essentialy intact. It's used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, as well as other skin problems caused by sun damage, such as large pores, "spider" veins, and irregular pigmentations, including brown ("age") spots. IPL can also help improve rosacea and acne.

    How IPL Works

    A handpiece is placed on the area of the skin to be treated, and a broad spectrum of light is transmitted to the skin. The light from the handpiece then penetrates into the skin and is absorbed by melanin (the pigment in the skin that causes "age" spots) or tiny blood vessels (the cause of "spider" veins). The surface layers of the skin are left intact while the deeper layers are treated. The heat from the light source improves skin tone and texture and reduces unwanted pigmentation and blood vessels.

    Treatment

    IPL treatments may last between 20 and 30 minutes and involve little pain. (Many people say the pulses of light feel like a rubber band snapping lightly on the skin.) Because the treatment leaves the surface skin intact, there is no downtime, and you may return to work and normal activity immediately. After-treatment effects may include some redness and swelling, but these will gradually disappear. And brown spots may darken a bit before they lighten and fade away. Several treatment sessions, scheduled a few weeks apart, may be needed in order to see maximum results.

    Last modified: November 21, 2009
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