Intense Pulsed Light

What is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL™) PhotoFacial?

Photorejuvenation is the latest in modern dermatology, allowing patients to transform red, blotchy, discoloured skin into a radiant complexion.

Intense pulses of light are used to penetrate deep into the skin targeting the dermis, causing collagen and blood vessels below the epidermis to constrict, reducing redness and age lines. The procedure simultaneously removes damaged and photoaged skin while stimulating collagen growth. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL™) PhotoFacial can improve the colour, consistency, and texture of the skin all at once.

How does Intense Pulsed Light (IPL™) PhotoFacial work?

PhotoFacial elos™ (electro-optical synergy) combines the synergy of bipolar radio-frequency and light energies to treat superficial and benign vascular and pigmented lesions like rosacea, spider veins, red and brown spots, as well as skin imperfections caused by sun damage. It treats fine wrinkles and improves skin texture irregularities, laxity and smoothness.

The PhotoFacial device sends two types of energy to your skin, Intense Pulsed Visible Light and RadioFrequency energy that act synergistically to enhance the skin. Energy is given up to brown spots, blood vessels, and redness to gradually and gently reduce or eliminate these blemishes. The RadioFrequency energy also produces significant amounts of collagen, elastin and ground substances in the dermis, resulting in a noticeable and significant smoothing of fine to moderate wrinkles and textural irregularities of the skin.

Who is a good candidate for Intense Pulsed Light (IPL™) PhotoFacial?

Anyone who has sun damaged skin or rosacea, irregularly pigmented skin or other skin conditions that could be expected to be improved with this treatment. People with white, untanned skin are the best candidates for Intense Pulsed Light (IPL™) PhotoFacial. People with tanned or naturally dark skin can experience changes in skin pigmentation so are not typically recommended PhotoFacial. Additionally, people who are taking the medication Accutane® should not have PhotoFacial until at least six months after they stop using the drug. Pregnant women should postpone treatment until after they give birth. People with active cold sores should also delay treatment. If you are taking aspirin or blood thinners, you may experience some bruising.  If you are tanned or have recently been exposed to the sun in the area you are having treated, you may be more susceptible to potential side effects, such as blisters, and/or your treatment may need to be reduced in intensity or postponed until the tan fades. In addition, patients with pacemakers or internal defibrillators should not have this procedure.

What is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL™) PhotoFacial recovery period?

Immediately after your treatment, your face will appear slightly red or flushed, this is completely normal. Results become increasingly noticeable throughout the day. The redness will fade, and you will see improvements develop. Although uncommon, swelling can occur.

Peeling may occur especially if there are a lot of brown spots or sun freckles on your face. Typically these spots become darker in the week following treatment and look almost like “pepper dots” on your skin, which disappear over a two week period.

What results can I expect from Intense Pulsed Light (IPL™) PhotoFacial?

(IPL™) can be used to rejuvenate the appearance of your skin and address a wide variety of skin conditions, including:

• Uneven skin tone
• Freckles
• Brown or red spots
• Broken blood vessels Spider veins
• Birthmarks
• Sunspots
• Fine wrinkles
• Eliminate bacteria that lead to acne

What is the Recommended Treatment Protocol for Intense Pulsed Light (IPL™) PhotoFacial?

Photorejuvination is designed to be a gentle, no “down time” procedure and therefore is performed through a series of treatments that build on each other. Five treatments are typical to achieve maximal improvement.  There is no limit to the number of treatments that a person may have, as there is no associated damage to the skin. Treatments at the Naturopathic Nardella Clinic in Calgary are usually performed every 3-4 weeks.