Facials are a great way to treat skin conditions and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which in turn makes skin healthier and younger-looking. There are many types of facial treatments to address unique skin concerns. IPL facial benefits are used to treat sun damage, wrinkles, stretch marks, and age spots1.
IPL stands for intense pulsed light and is also known as photorejuvenation or photofacial. Med spas and doctor’s offices offer treatments to get rid of minor sun damage, brown patches, moles, freckles, and uneven pigmentation on the face, neck, and possibly chest2. An IPL facial treatment will improve the chances of a successful peel, microdermabrasion, or laser treatment because it helps prepare the skin for these procedures.
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There are different types of IPL photofacials depending on what concerns your skin. There is no surgery involved in receiving an IPL facial and you can get one without even making an appointment at a spa. An ipl device is a handheld device that uses light energy to rejuvenate the skin3.
Who should get an IPL facial (people with):
- Liver spots
- Age spots
- Sun damage
- Minor wrinkles around the eyes and mouth
- Freckles or age spots on the face, neck, chest, arms, and hands
- Sallow skin (dull-looking skin with no natural glow)
- Rosacea (irritation in facial veins causing redness in cheeks and nose)
- Acne Scars
- Spider veins
- Hyperpigmentation
- Hypopigmentation
An IPL facial is a non-invasive treatment that can be done quickly and won’t leave you feeling like you just went to the spa. The treatments usually last no more than 30 minutes, with minimal discomfort, and aren’t too expensive (it feels like being popped with a small rubber band). If you want to reduce wrinkles, age spots, and sun damage while avoiding peels and lasers, IPL facials are the perfect solution4.
An IPL facial benefits by producing collagen and elastin. This prepares the skin for an aesthetic procedure like a peel or microdermabrasion by opening up pores to make extraction easier. It also reduces signs of premature aging, sun damage, brown spots, redness, and fine lines around the mouth5.
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This type of light therapy is great for people with sensitive skin that cannot tolerate peels or lasers. Intense pulsed light therapy can be as simple as having a certain kind of device applied to your skin for a set amount of time. It’s also ideal for people who can’t afford to spend a lot of money on laser treatments6.
19 IPL Facial Benefits
1. Treats Sun Spots
UV radiation causes melanin to build up in the skin, producing dark spots on the surface of the skin. These are known as sun spots or age spots and can be treated with IPL facial benefits to make them less visible7.
2. Treats sun damage
Regular sun exposure causes the skin to age faster. Pigmentation and wrinkles are two of the most obvious signs of sun damage. An IPL facial benefits by reducing the appearance of dark spots on the surface of the skin, making it look younger after a few sessions8.
3. Treats brown patches
Melanin also builds up around moles, creating brown patches on the face. A series of ipl treatments will help reduce the appearance of these spots. Laser treatments and dermabrasion will make them less visible as well, but IPL facial benefits will help improve the overall condition of the skin before performing aesthetic procedures9.
4. Treatment for fine lines and wrinkles
An ipl photofacial can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth by stimulating collagen production. The signs of aging are less noticeable after just one treatment10.
5. Treats dark circles under the eyes
The thin skin around the eyes is especially sensitive to sun damage and wears out quickly over time, which often results in darkness developing underneath them. This area may be treated with a photofacial treatment to reduce the pigmentation and restore a youthful glow to the eyes11.
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6. Treats age spots
Sun damage causes melanin levels to increase, which leads to hyperpigmentation in areas that receive more sun exposure, such as the parts of the face often exposed during regular activities. An IPL facial benefits by reducing excess pigmentation and eventually eliminating dark patches13.
7. Evens skin tone
IPL photofacials enhance the production of collagen, which leads to smoother skin with an even tone. This reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage and uneven pigmentation14.
8. Treats skin discoloration
Hyperpigmentation may be treated with IPL facial benefits because light energy stimulates collagen production, which causes the skin to repair itself, restoring it to its healthier state. It’s an effective treatment for skin discoloration15.
9. Treats moles
Melanocytes are pigment-producing cells that produce the majority of melanin, which is responsible for giving moles their color. Excessive accumulation of these cells may cause them to become uneven in color or grow out of control, both of which can be treated with IPL skin treatments16.
10. Reduces acne scars
Acne scars may be a problem for patients with oily skin. Laser treatments and dermabrasion can effectively reduce the appearance of acne scars, but IPL facial benefits produce the same results by increasing collagen production in the face to smooth out scars and promote healthy-looking skin17.
11. Treatment for other skin conditions
If you have other skin conditions like spider veins, severe acne, large pores, or varicose veins the good news is you may experience the same kind of improvement with Photofacial treatments. The light energy stimulates collagen production, which speeds up the natural healing process, promotes healthy cell growth, and allows your skin to recover from other conditions faster17.
Potential side effects include:
Burning, stinging, redness, swelling, and itching are common side effects of IPL facial treatments. The sensation will fade after a few days as the skin begins to heal. Long-term side effects can also occur but are not permanent. It may take up to three months for the skin to begin recovering from the treatment.
IPL isn’t a good idea if you:
- Pregnant
- Are sensitive to light
- Take photosensitizing medications
- Use a retinoid cream
- Have keloid skin
- Have severe scarring
- Have recently tanned your skin using sunlight
The best results are achieved when IPL facial treatments are combined with other skin treatments like chemical peels, microdermabrasion, Botox injections, laser resurfacing (CO2), etc. When these procedures are used together in a cosmetic treatment package your facial can achieve a more youthful appearance. To get optimal results you should have a series of four to six IPL photofacials over the course of several weeks or months at most spas or doctor’s offices that use the Palomar Vectus laser.
Your skin cells will be more sensitive to sunlight after a facial treatment, so wearing a high-SPF sunscreen is important. You should also make sure you protect and care for your skin after each treatment by not tanning and wearing high-SPF sunscreen on a regular basis.
It is important to keep in mind that at-home treatments will produce less dramatic results than professional treatments performed by an aesthetician trained specifically in IPL photo facials. However, they offer convenience and more affordable prices if you don’t have the money to spend at spas or doctor’s offices.
IPL facial benefits can be used as both preventative measures against sun damage and as anti-aging agents to reduce fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth. They are also useful for those who do not want to spend money on Botox injections or surgical procedures.