Why does my dermatologist have an IPL?
Medical Spas, cosmetic dermatologists, and plastic surgeons have found Intense Pulsed Light devices (IPLs) to be effective in treating a variety of cosmetic conditions, from acne, to pigment and age spots.
Skin Clinic MD: IPL
IPL technology improves the appearance of photo-aged skin, removes age spots (sun-induced freckles), most benign brown pigments, and redness caused by broken capillaries through a process called photorejuvenation for face and body. IPL treatments are ideal for active patients because the procedure requires no downtime and has a low risk of side effects.
IPL non-ablative treatments use broad spectrum light to treat the face, chest, neck and hands—and since IPL medical devices use a ‘pulse’ of light they deliver their energy into the dermis over a longer time than a laser, providing different treatments and usually resulting in less pain for the patient.
IPL devices have been embraced as a preferred treatment technology by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aesthetic physicians.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a non-laser flash lamp light source that emits broad spectrum, high-intensity visible and infrared (IR) light and is used to treat a wide variety of conditions including hair reduction, acne (Including PDT), Rosacea, dyschromias and telangiectasias, and age related treatment of facial lines and creases. Wavelengths are chosen by selecting a particular wavelength filter or attaching a specific treatment head or hand piece that is configured with the filter already attached.
The amount of visible improvement in treating fine lines and creases is less remarkable than an ablative laser; however, significant improvement can be seen in the treatment of dyschromias and erythema which results in overall patient satisfaction.
Visible, shorter wavelengths are used to target hemoglobin (blood) and melanin (pigment) with longer infrared wavelengths targeting water in the skin. Since these devices operate with a ‘pulsed’ light instead of a high-intensity focused beam like a laser does, they emit more scatter (feathering) and are considered to be less selective than a laser. With IPL, there are often more treatments needed to achieve optimal results than with a laser.
Intense Pulsed Light Devices (IPLs) are not perfect and don’t treat many cosmetic dermatological conditions but for a growing number of plastic surgeons, dermatologists and medical spas, they’re a important tool.
IPL Skin Treatments using Photorejuvenation often result in very high levels of patient satisfaction.
- IPL treatments are quick, gentle and non-invasive. There is no interruption of routine activities.
- IPL treatments to remove the age spots (sun-induced freckles) and broken capillaries, result in more even, luminous, younger looking skin.
- IPL patients can see dramatic results within a very short time.
IPL technology manufacturers include companies like Palomar, Cutera, Lumenis and Sciton.
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