IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

Remove brown spots, reduce redness, stimulate collagen and elasticity, and reduce hair growth, all with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments.

IPL treatments remove browns spots and decrease redness but many people don't realize that it simultaneously stimulates collagen to improve the overall appearance of the skin. Increased collagen reduces the appearance of pore size and fine lines.

Another advantage of IPL treatments is that they can be done anywhere on the body, although they can't be performed on everybody. A limitation of IPL is that because it's so pigment-selective, the treatments can't be done on dark or tanned skin, or it may cause burns.

IPL devices are not lasers; they deliver a range of wavelengths. Certain light wavelengths are attracted to certain colors, heating them up preferentially. An example is how on a sunny day, a black street feels very hot to your feet compared to a white sidewalk. The IPL wavelengths of light target pigment color, heating dark brown spots more than the surrounding lighter tissue, which causes the darker pigment to flake off over the weeks following the treatment. 

IPL treatments and skin color

Since IPL treatments for brown spots target brown pigmentation, skin that naturally has a lot of pigment or tan will react like a brown spot, causing potential areas of lost pigment that can take years, potentially, to revert to its previous colors. This is why people who are deeply tanned or who almost never burn when they have sun exposure should seek other treatments. Even a tan that's barely visible can make the difference between a good result and potential complications.

If you know you’re going to tan or be in the sun, it’s best to wait 4-6 weeks after tanning to have an IPL procedure in order to make sure the tan is gone. With self-tanners, it's best to wait at least two weeks and try to remove any remaining tanner with rubbing alcohol before your IPL treatment. If you arrive for an IPL treatment with a tan we may have to reschedule it to a later date.

Get more information on the different types of IPL treatments below. 

If you'd like to learn more about if IPL is a good treatment option for you, give us a call at 727 571-1923, email us at  info@skinspirations.com, or request a consultations here.