Intense pulsed light therapy is a cosmetic treatment designed for improving the texture and colour of skin. Also known as photo-facial treatment or IPL, intense pulsed light therapy is often used to target and correct the effects of sun exposure on the chest, neck, face, hands as well as reducing the signs of scars, improving the appearance of spider veins and the removal of unwanted hair. It can also be used for treating health conditions that cause blotchy, brown, or red skin.
Below we highlight some of the key benefits of intense pulsed light therapy:
1. It is Effective
Studies have shown that intense pulsed light therapy is effective for treating scars, fine wrinkles, spider veins, discoloured skin, acne, etc. After undergoing this therapy, most patients have experienced a significant improvement in their condition.
2. It is Easy and Quick
Fitting in a facial treatment into your busy schedule can be challenging at times, fortunately, IPL light therapy is quick and easy. Each session requires about 15 to 30 minutes to be completed and once finished you can continue on with your daily routine.
3. No Downtime
Intense pulsed light therapy doesn’t require any downtime, so once your procedure is complete, you can get back to your daily activities immediately. This is a major benefit, as other cosmetic procedures can take days of weeks to recover.
4. It Causes Little to No Pain
Apart from a slight tingling sensation, most patients experience no pain with IPL light treatment. If you do have some discomfort, so can speak with your skin specialist about having a topical anesthetic prior to the procedure
5. It has Few to No Side Effects
Another great benefit of IPL therapy is that it doesn’t have any serious side effects. Some patients may experience some flaking, redness, and slight swelling for a short time after the procedure, but most do not experience any of these potential side effects after the therapy.
6. It is Non-Invasive
Intense pulsed light therapy utilizes short bursts of light energy that penetrate through your skin to treat conditions, there is no need for needles or surgical instruments.
7. It is Cost-Effective
Comparatively, IPL therapy is more affordable than many other skin treatments, making it a cost-effective way to enhance the texture and colour of your skin and provide a more youthful appearance.
8. It Can Be Used for Most Body Parts
Although intense pulsed light therapy is mostly used on a patient’s face, it is suitable for most parts of the body. From the chest to shoulders, neck, and hands, IPL treatment can be effective across different areas of your body.
9. It Can Be Used with Other Treatments
IPL therapy doesn’t necessarily need to be completed on its own, since IPL treatments penetrate the deeper layers of your skin they can be combined with other treatments that focus on the outer layer of skin such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and other facial treatments.
With so many benefits, you should consider adding intense pulsed light therapy to your cosmetic treatment plan. Speak to your skin specialists today to see about adding IPL to your treatment plan.