IPL photofacial treatment

Photofacial treatment (or photorejuvenation) is a dynamic, non-ablative process, which generates intense pulsed light to safely reduce the melanin (dark pigment) in the skin, so that pigmented lesions fade and slowly disappear. Photofacial treatment reduces the deleterious appearance of a number of age-related conditions of the skin, including brown spots, age spots, freckles, broken capillaries, spider veins, and large pores as well as redness, flushing and rosacea.

IPL photofacial treatment

Treatment is suitable for all skin types and ages, no downtime is required and there is a low risk of side effects. It involves a cooling conducting gel being applied to the skin, after which a hand held treatment head delivers pulses of light through a filter selected according to the patients skin type. The pulsed light penetrates the tissue and is absorbed by either the blood when treating vascular lesions or the melanin when treating pigmented lesions damaging them. The body's natural processes then remove the injured tissue giving the skin a more even luminous, younger look. Most patients feel little or no pain, but for those who are extra sensitive a topical anaesthetic cream can be used.

                                  A patient undergoing IPL treatment

The treatment is generally administered as a series of between 3 – 5 treatments at 3 – 4 week intervals. Often the whole face is treated, not only the affected area, as this gives a more uniform and aesthetically pleasing result. A test patch is undertaken on the day of consultation and the course of treatments organised. Results are typically seen within a few weeks. The results are enhanced by a skin care regime and sun protection. Our aesthetic nurses are available to discuss this treatment with you in more detail.