Here’s What You Need to Know About IPL Photofacial

We all need a facial refresh from time to time. If your usual treatments, such as topical creams or exfoliating don’t seem to be giving you the results you want lately, then it might be time to switch to something more powerful, such as an IPL photofaction. 

An IPL treatment, which is also called photorejuvenation, can help heal your skin and get it looking like its natural self after damage. Skin damage can take many forms, such as the sun causing pigmentation of your skin. IPL treatments will help break down the damaged skin and replace it with the healthy and untouched skin below. This will give you the more youthful and undamaged look that will keep you looking your best. 

What do IPL Photofacials Do? 

IPL stands for intense pulsed light. During an IPL treatment, a technician will focus a strong, visible light at affected areas of your skin. The device that emits the light is custom-calibrated for the skin it is treating, and can also be used for a full-facial refresh or rejuvenation. As the light pulses into your skin, it generates heat within the pigmentation and the blood cells below the skin’s surface. 

This creates a small injury on the damaged skin. This will cause your skin to go into healing mode and send collagen to the affected location. The slight injury will not be long lasting, and will be completely superficial. However, the collagen and healing processes will apply to the damage that was already there, leaving your skin looking better and healthier than it did before. The burning will remove the damaged layer of skin, and the healing will replace it with fresh, new, unblemished skin cells. Collagen also makes your skin more elastic and firm so that you can gain a more youthful appearance. 

What Happens During an IPL Photofacial Treatment Session?

When you first come into the treatment room, you will be provided with protective eyewear. This will protect your eyes from the light during the procedure. The technician will then treat the targeted area with a soothing and lubricating gel that will help keep you comfortable and protect your skin during the treatment. Then, the technician will use a hand-held device to pulse the light into your skin. For small areas, this may take only a minute or two. However, some patients choose to do large areas at a time, which can take up to an hour. 

How Long Does it Take to See Results From IPL Photofacial Treatments? 

While you won’t see results immediately, it will not take long. As your skin heals, the more vibrant skin will start to show within days. However, you will need up to 6 treatments to see dramatic results that will make your face look as good as it ever has. For most patients, treatments are spaced out every three to four weeks. This allows for proper healing so that the process can start over again fresh. 

Do You Need Recovery Time for an IPL Photofacial? 

The injuries to your skin are superficial. There is no long-lasting scarring, and it will not have any effect on any other part of your body or anatomy. You won’t need to rest or recover. You may not even notice the injury at all when you first get your treatment. You can head back to work, school, or any other activity immediately after your treatment with no negative consequences. One of the reasons that photofacials are so popular is that they are so convenient and have little impact on the rest of your life. 

Photofacials and Acne

Even acne that has cleared up from your youth can still leave scarring. Acne scars can last for the rest of your life, and keep you feeling depressed and not confident in your looks. However, IPL photofacials can remove the scars and replace them with new, undamaged skin cells. As the outer layer sheds the scarring, it will be replaced with a whole new layer of skin. Some scarring also comes with chronic redness and inflammation, and photofacial treatments can rectify that as well. 

Prevent the Signs of Aging

One of the biggest concerns people have with their skin is how it looks as it ages. Luckily, IPL can actually get your skin cells to act more like they did in your youth. It fundamentally changes the genes in your dermal cells to make them more firm, elastic, and vibrant. While you can’t stop the march of time, you can definitely lessen the superficial effects of aging which will make you feel younger along with looking younger. 

IPL Can Eliminate Visible Capillaries and Veins

When your skin is hit with pulsed light, it gets absorbed into the melanin and the red blood cells. This can help to rectify any issues in your blood cells that cause your varicose and visible veins. The IPL will break down damaged capillaries and remove blockages that are causing your veins to protrude. This will give the skin on your face a more even look. It will also help with other blood cell-related issues such as rosacea. 

Sun-Damaged Skin

You might like to spend long days out in the heat and sun, but unfortunately, doing so can be very bad for your skin. UV radiation will damage the collagen in your skin, which will make it looser and more likely to wrinkle and sag. This will also cause your skin to lose its color over time. This is why you may notice your skin developing spots as you get older. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t spend your time outside. For one, make sure that you use sunscreen with a strong SPF level. Secondly, IPL photofacial treatments will break down the discolored and damaged cells in your skin. Your body will flush them away and replace them with new cells. This also renews your collagen which will fight wrinkles, lines, and sagging. Your skin will be stronger and more able to withstand the effects of the sun as a result. 

Are There Risks to IPL Photofacial Treatments? 

As with anything else in life, there are some very uncommon and mild risks associated with the treatment. In the vast majority of cases, the skin will repair itself right away and there will be no signs other than improved skin after a few hours. In rare cases, patients do have long-lasting effects, but these are usually connected to other health conditions. It is important to talk to a doctor about your medical history before starting a treatment regimen. 

Contact Bridgeport Laser & Wellness Today About IPL Photofacial

If this sounds like it might be a treatment for you, then contact us today for a consultation. We will examine your skin and your health history to determine if you are a good candidate for IPL photofacial treatments. This could be the first step on your journey to gaining more confidence in your looks and having healthier and more youthful looking skin.

Bridgeport Laser & Wellness Center Team

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The team at Bridgeport Laser & Wellness Center in Tualatin, OR, is led by Alina Wilson, Author, Founder and Active CEO, and Michelle Young, ND, LAc, Medical Director. They are joined by Natalia Glawe, LE, CMA,  Medical Aesthetics Specialist; Kathy Nesen, CAE, Medical Aesthetics Specialist, and Keisha Harrison, CMA, LE.  Specializing in “Thoughtful Aging,” the team emphasizes a holistic approach to aging, promoting youthful skin and wellness through extensively researched and tested treatments. At Bridgeport Laser & Wellness Center, they focus on enhancing natural beauty and fostering a positive outlook on aging, utilizing state-of-the-art technologies and treatments to provide personalized, results-oriented care.