While many things in life improve with age, your skin is unfortunately not one of them. Despite all your best efforts to take care of yourself with sensible steps like staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep, using high-quality skin care products, and protecting yourself from damaging UV rays, the aging process is unavoidable.
Heredity, lifestyle factors, and even your habitual facial expressions can contribute to signs of premature aging. As you get older, flaws like wrinkles become increasingly challenging to disguise with makeup, which may leave you searching for alternative solutions. Intense pulsed light therapy is one innovation that can create a smoother, younger-looking complexion without the need for surgery.
How Does IPL Work?
Intense pulsed light technology is a cutting-edge treatment for an array of skin imperfections resulting from the cumulative effects of aging, sun damage, and genetics. It works by heating skin cells with brief pulses of light tuned to a specific frequency. This light energy reacts with the collagen matrix deep beneath your skin, activating a process called neocollagenesis.
In response to IPL photorejuvenation, your skin’s underlying structure will begin remodeling itself. At the surface level, results of your IPL treatment will include:
- Fewer wrinkles and fine lines
- Improved skin tone and texture
- Minimized flaws such as discoloration, sunspots, freckles, rosacea, spider veins, and acne scars
- Smaller pores
- A smoother, brighter complexion
What You Can Expect During and After IPL Treatment
Depending on the size of your treatment area, each IPL session lasts approximately half an hour in our comfortable downtown San Francisco office. If you choose, you can resume your typical daily schedule after your IPL appointment.
While most people don’t find IPL painful, each laser pulse produces a mild snapping sensation. We’ll take every precaution to ensure your comfort during your IPL treatment, so please ask us if you are worried about your pain tolerance.
Typical IPL side effects include mild, short-term bruising, swelling, crusting, blistering, and a slightly darker complexion. These temporary effects are normal and should naturally resolve on their own. To accelerate your healing process, please avoid sun exposure as much as possible following your IPL session and always wear a broad-spectrum sunblock with an SPF of at least 30 before going outside. Further sun damage could reverse some of your IPL results.
Who Is a Good Candidate for IPL Treatments in San Francisco?
If you are searching for a gentle, non-surgical way to achieve more youthful skin with minimal downtime, IPL can help you turn back the clock, erasing years of sun damage. IPL isn’t only for your face – it can also refine and rejuvenate any area of your body where you desire a smoother, more even skin surface, including your neck, chest, hands, and arms.
At Dermatology Medical Group of San Francisco, our experienced dermatologists can customize your IPL treatment regimen, depending on your desired results and the concerns you wish to address. Laser skin resurfacing is ideal for anyone who wants to smooth wrinkles and scars, fade skin pigmentation issues, and improve your overall skin quality without surgery. During your private consultation, we’ll examine you and ask you questions about your specific concerns to determine your candidacy for IPL treatment. Contact us today to learn how we can help you enjoy a flawless complexion with non-invasive intense pulsed light.
