More than 3 million noninvasive skin-rejuvenation treatments are performed each year in the United States, making these treatments among the most popular options for women and men seeking to enjoy healthier, more beautiful skin.
Today, there are lots of options for skin rejuvenation, including one of the most popular: IPL or intense pulsed light.
Edward Stolar, MD, Todd Perkins, MD, and Adrianna Gonzales, MD, FAAD, are skilled in using IPL therapy to treat an array of cosmetic issues in patients at Metroderm DC: Medical, Laser, and Aesthetic Dermatology Center.
Here’s how you can decide if it’s a good choice for your goals.
The first step in choosing a cosmetic treatment is deciding which issues you want to treat, then matching the treatment to those goals. IPL is safe and effective for treating a wide array of cosmetic issues, in addition to improving the overall tone and texture of your skin.
IPL can be an ideal choice for issues like:
We can customize IPL treatment based on your needs and can even repeat it as needed to achieve your goals and maintain your results over time.
Once we determine IPL can treat your specific concerns, the next step is learning how the treatment works and what to expect during your session.
Many people think the “L” in IPL stands for laser, but it doesn’t — it stands for light. While lasers use a very focused, single wavelength of light energy to treat cosmetic issues, IPL treatment uses a wider spectrum of light to penetrate to the inner layer of skin without harming the upper layers.
Once light energy penetrates, it’s absorbed by the pigment cells inside your skin — the cells that give your skin its color. Light energy heats up these cells, breaking down pigments associated with freckles, age spots, and other lesions, while also gently firming skin and improving overall skin tone and texture.
During the weeks following your treatment, your body removes the treated cells, leaving beautiful results behind.
IPL treatment sessions are relatively quick, typically taking about a half hour per treatment area. During treatment, we move a handheld device over your skin. This device emits tiny bursts of intense pulsed light.
As the energy penetrates your skin, you may feel a mild snapping sensation like the sting of a rubber band against your skin. Most people tolerate this sensation without any issue, but if you’re very sensitive to discomfort, we can adjust your treatment to ensure you stay comfortable.
Afterward, your skin will appear slightly red and it might feel a little sore, similar to the way your skin looks and feels following a sunburn. These effects go away within a few hours.
There’s no downtime afterward, but you need to protect your skin from sun exposure and use sunscreen every day while your skin heals. We provide additional care instructions, too.
IPL is a safe, proven, effective therapy capable of treating an array of skin issues, but it’s not always the best choice for everyone.
To learn more about IPL and whether it’s the right choice for helping you achieve your goals, call 202-659-2223 or book an appointment online with our team at Metroderm DC: Medical, Laser, and Aesthetic Dermatology Center in Washington, DC, today.
