WHAT IS IPL SKIN THERAPY?
IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, is a light therapy technology that has been used for decades to treat hyperpigmentation (sunspots and age spots), spider veins, broken veins, freckles, and even rosacea. It’s no surprise that this treatment is a favorite of aestheticians and dermatologists, with visible results after one treatment and virtually no downtime.
Understanding Dark Spots
Dark spots, also known as hyperpigmentation, can be caused by a number of factors, including excessive sun exposure, acne scarring, physical trauma, and genetic skin conditions. Hyperpigmentation is essentially a reaction to skin injury and environmental aggressors. When the skin is damaged, the pigment, also known as melanin, production goes into overdrive. Your skin says, “Hey, some damage has occurred!”
Melanin’s primary function is to protect cellular DNA in the nucleus from UV radiation, which can be thought of as the body’s natural sunscreen. When free radicals attack the skin, melanin production is triggered, resulting in a pigment buildup.
The cells that produce melanin are known as melanocytes; they are dark, finger-like cells in the skin’s basal layer. More damage equals more melanin produced by melanocytes.
Melanin migrates to the middle layers of skin over time, becoming visible hyperpigmentation when it reaches the upper layers. In the mirror, these are the brown, dark, and discolored spots. The length of time it takes for these spots to form is determined by the severity of the trauma or hormonal fluctuation.
Consider this: when you go to the beach and get a tan, the extra pigment isn’t a cute glow; it’s your skin’s injury response to harmful UVB rays. Beyond what is visible on the surface, UVA rays cause damage deep within the skin that may not be visible today but may appear years later.
While all skin tones can be affected by hyperpigmentation, darker skin tones with more melanin are more prone to it.
How IPL Can Help
IPL is a type of light therapy that destroys overproducing melanocytes at the source. Melanocytes absorb IPL-generated heat, resulting in their destruction without affecting the surrounding tissue. Any present melanin is dispersed and moves to the surface, where it is sloughed off along with other dead skin cells. This gives you a smooth and even skin tone.
According to recent research, IPL can help reverse sun damage, acne scars, and redness, as well as help, prevent future signs of aging. Even stubborn melasma can be reduced with IPL. IPL improves the appearance of visible veins and rosacea by reducing the appearance of broken capillaries without disturbing the surrounding tissue, in addition to hyperpigmentation.
IPL is applied to specific areas such as the face, neck, chest, arms, shoulders, and legs. While some patients only necessitate one treatment, others may require up to three.
What an IPL Appointment is Like
After cleansing the skin, a conductive gel with a cooling effect is applied to the target area. The laser glides across the target area, emitting intense light. People often say the treatment feels like rubber bands snapping against the skin. It doesn’t hurt much and can take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on what part of the body is being treated.
You should be able to resume your normal activities immediately, with no need for downtime. Most people will experience some redness and sensitivity, as well as some minor swelling, but this usually only lasts a few hours. Darker, pigmented skin cells may appear as black flakes resembling coffee grounds in the days following treatment. Do not pick. This is a normal reaction; healthy, young-looking skin cells will reveal as a result of natural cellular turnover.
Where can you get IPL therapy in Kearney, NE?
If you are ready to schedule an IPL treatment in Kearney, NE, please contact Elite Health and Wellness. At Elite Health and Wellness, we provide cutting-edge skincare treatments such as IPL therapy. Allow our highly trained professionals to provide quality skincare treatments that will improve the look and feel of your skin.
