IPL Treatment in St. Pete: Your Guide to Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

Botox and fillers have always been the most popular non-surgical procedures. After the start of the pandemic, interest in skin-improving procedures dramatically increased. These days, people want healthy-looking skin. They want to slow down aging and always have a youthful glow. Now, they can, and so can you! Intense pulsed light therapy is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment that helps rejuvenate skin and restore its appearance.

Many people enjoy regular IPL treatments because they cover many skin concerns. If you are interested in intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, keep reading to learn more about the procedure.

What Is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy?

Intense pulsed light therapy is a type of light therapy that can minimize or remove unwanted spots and hair. It can also help treat wrinkles.

You might get IPL therapy to minimize or remove:

• Freckles
• Age spots
• Sun damage
• Birthmarks
• Rosacea
• Varicose veins
• Broken blood vessels on the face

IPL therapy is also known as a Photofacial, but the treatment isn’t only for your facial area.

The different levels of intensity will depend on the targeted treatment area. For example, acne scars will require a different intensity level than sunspots.

You might be cautious about this treatment if you are wondering how light could change your skin for the better. Light is a form of kinetic energy that heats and illuminates objects.

We’ll go into depth about some of your treatment options:

Sun Damage

Too much sun exposure can cause dark spots on the skin. UV rays are responsible for breaking down collagen in the skin. This causes the skin to age faster.

Collagen is responsible for keeping skin elastic and firm. It is naturally produced and acts as the glue that keeps cells together.

Sun exposure and aging can lead to drops in collagen production. The lack of collagen results in sagging skin.

IPL treatment targets cells causing discoloration. It gets rid of cells causing the sun spots to enhance collagen production.

After the procedure, you’re left with an even skin tone and hidden fine lines.

Acne

If you struggle with acne and have tried everything to no avail, IPL might be right for you. This type of skin treatment targets the cause of the acne while reducing scarring.

Light pulses remove bacteria causing acne and can help with inflammation. IPL stimulates natural healing properties in the skin to help remove acne scars.

IPL treatment for acne is always done with caution. A professional will help you prepare for this type of skin treatment by asking you to stop acne-treating medications.

Rosacea

Rosacea and spider veins are common problems. IPL therapy can help treat the visible blood vessels on your face or other parts of the body. The result is a healthy skin appearance and a more even skin tone.

For rosacea, IPL will reduce inflammation and redness to improve your skin’s appearance over time. It can help with facial flushing by removing damaged blood vessels.

Premature Skin Aging

An IPL broad-spectrum light can help with premature skin aging. This is a common problem that people want a solution to.

To achieve rejuvenated skin, you can get two to three IPL treatments each year. Treated skin cells will start to resemble younger skin cells to deliver you a more youthful appearance.

After the procedure, your skin is more susceptible to UV rays. Before going outside, apply highly protective sunscreen.

Wrinkles

IPL treatment can help with wrinkles, but the treatment only has a moderate effect. The great thing about IPL therapy is that you can combine it with other treatments to combat deeper wrinkles.

IPL treatments can be enhanced with additional treatments, like injectables or Botox treatments, to replace lost skin volume and fill out the wrinkled area.

Body Hair

Waxing and shaving have to be done more often than IPL treatment to remove unwanted body hair. Although these are common hair removal methods, they can be annoying to complete regularly.

Waxing and shaving take time, can be painful, and might result in ingrown hairs.

IPL therapy removes body hair without pain. Light pulses from the IPL heat the follicles, damaging them to prevent further hair growth.

If you want a long-term solution to unwanted hair, IPL is a great option. Destroyed hair follicles won’t grow back. You are left without bumps and ingrown hairs and can appreciate your silky smooth skin.

IPL vs. Laser Treatment: The Differences

Light pulses are filtered and controlled to target specific discolorations and pigments. The adjustable intense pulsed light machine has advantages that laser treatments don’t have.

IPL treatment is commonly confused with laser treatment, but the two have important distinctions.

IPL is similar to laser treatment, but laser only focuses on one wavelength of light. IPL releases different wavelengths of light at your skin, such as photo flash.

IPL light is more scattered and not as focused as laser light. IPL penetrates the dermis (second layer of skin) without harming the epidermis (top layer of skin). This makes IPL less damaging than laser treatment.

Light passes through the skin to reach pigment cells that produce excessive melanin. Melanin is the chemical that regulates skin color.

Pigment cells in the skin absorb light energy and convert it into heat. Heat is the key to destroying unwanted pigmentation and clearing up spots on the skin. It can also destroy hair follicles to prevent hair from growing back.

IPL can be used anywhere on the body, but it works best on even areas of the skin.

If you get thick, raised keloid scars or have darker skin tones, it’s not as effective. It’s also more effective on darker hair than lighter hair.

Laser hair removal is the way to go if you want to remove lighter-colored hair. IPL is beneficial for sensitive skin and common skin concerns. Some people feel more comfortable using IPL on their skin over laser.

Preparing for IPL

Before the IPL treatment, a specialist will examine your skin. You should let them know if you have skin conditions during the consultation. Eczema and inflammatory acne might affect healing after the procedure.

You might be told to avoid certain products, medications, and activities for two weeks before your procedure. Some of the most common things to avoid are:

• Waxing
• Collagen injections
• Direct sunlight
• Chemical peels
• Tanning beds
• Creams that contain vitamin A
• Drugs that increase your risk of bleeding

This list will be specific to your procedure and skin care needs.

What to Expect During the Procedure

On the day of the procedure, the skin specialist will clean the treatment area and rub a cool gel on your skin. They will apply light pulses from the IPL device to your specified area.

You’ll have to wear dark glasses to protect your eyes from the light-emitting device. A med spa will supply these for you.

The pulses might feel like a sting on your skin, but it shouldn’t be overly uncomfortable or painful. Most people have swelling or mild redness after the procedure that fades within a few days. You might also experience:

• Change in skin color
• Bruising
• Infection
• Blistering

It’s important to schedule IPL at a reputable med spa to mitigate the chances of these risks.

The treatment should take about 20 to 30 minutes depending on the area of the body getting the treatment.

To get ideal results, you might have to return for multiple visits. These treatments are spaced out about a month apart so that your skin can heal properly between treatments.

Three to six treatments are common. Hair removal can require up to 12 treatments because it is a tougher procedure.

The exact number of procedures you will need will also have to do with your skin. Someone with larger discolorations may require more treatments than someone with small discolorations.

Is IPL Treatment Good for Your Face?

If you are choosing an IPL treatment for your face, you’ve chosen a great option! If you’ve spent a lot of time in the sun and have unwanted sunspots, IPL treatment is good for your face.

You may have spent too much time in the sun to get a tan but were left with sun damage and too many freckles. If you want to beautify your skin and even out your facial skin tone, try IPL treatment.

An IPL Photofacial is the best facial for sun spot removal. The treatment is gentle enough for your face, but it can also be performed on the skin anywhere on your body.

IPL therapy is great for aesthetic results, but the therapy can also kill harmful bacteria. If you have acne, acne scars, or inflammation, killing bacteria on the face is especially important.

The more IPL facials you get, the better the results will be. These facials renew your skin from the outer layer to work deeper into the dermis.

After an IPL treatment, you’ll experience a radiant, youthful glow because the therapy works to remove discolorations. Younger skin can keep pigmentation even while hiding signs of damage better.

Aging skin loses some ability to recover from sun damage. IPL will make sure you’re not stuck with sun spots for the rest of your life.

Many patients pursue a Photofacial to brighten and rejuvenate skin, but these are some of the other benefits of IPL:

• Fast recovery
• Skin tone improvement
• Skin texture improvement
• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
• Giving skin that natural glow

Some people find success in reducing broken blood vessels in the face. However, it might be better to see a specialized vein doctor for this concern.

After the Procedure

After the procedure, you need to follow the instructions of your skin specialist. In most cases, you’ll be able to go back to regular activities the same day or the following day.

The treated area will be red and sensitive like a sunburn for a few hours. It will be sensitive for a couple of days so you might have to avoid using hot water until the skin heals.

The skin can be slightly swollen, a little dry, and somewhat tight. Moisturize the treated area gently. Avoid irritating products you might use in your regular skincare routine.

You can expect the results from your IPL treatment to last between 6-12 months. With proper maintenance and follow-ups, your results can last much longer.

Even if you see immediate results from one procedure, you won’t get rid of all of your trouble spots. Only time will tell how many treatments you’ll need to reach your preferred look.

The effectiveness of IPL depends on unique factors such as the overall health, skin type, and age of the patient. A treatment might work better for you than for your friend who is older and has a different skin tone.

Who Should Not Get IPL Therapy?

If you have a serious skin condition or are pregnant, IPL therapy might not be right for you. Those with skin cancer shouldn’t opt for this treatment either.

If your skin is highly sensitive to strong light, you might not see the beneficial effects of IPL therapy.

If you are cleared for IPL therapy, you can get a safe and effective treatment from a professional provider. IPL facials are safe for most types of skin.

Cost and Insurance

The cost of this skin treatment procedure depends on the type of condition you want to treat and the size of the area.

IPL can cost anywhere from $700 to $1,200 on average. The cost could be more if you need tests, follow-up visits, medicines, or anesthesia.

IPL is not covered by most insurance because it is considered a cosmetic procedure.

Is Intense Pulsed Light Therapy Right for You?

Intense pulsed light therapy can help with several common skin concerns. If you are dealing with rosacea, acne, sun damage, and premature aging, IPL therapy might be a solution.

With this complete guide, you can know what to expect from your treatment before and after.

It’s important to book with a reputable wellness and med spa company to get the results you want. At St. Pete Wellness and Medspa, we offer safe and effective IPL treatments.

Schedule an appointment at our state-of-the-art facility now.