Skin rejuvenation is an umbrella term that applies to any treatment that makes the skin appear younger. Many treatment options are available and include both surgical and nonsurgical options.
Skin rejuvenation is most often associated with minimizing the natural signs of aging but it can also address skin damage that results from injury or trauma, as well as improve symptoms of some skin conditions such as rosacea.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) skin rejuvenation is a type of light therapy used to treat these skin concerns. Unlike other light therapies, particularly those done with lasers, IPL causes minimal damage to the skin and recovery takes just a few days. This method of skin rejuvenation is safe, with minimal downtime.
What Is IPL Skin Rejuvenation?
IPL skin rejuvenation is a skin care procedure that uses powerful bursts of light to improve the appearance of skin. The light waves used are filtered to exclude any harmful wavelengths (such as ultraviolet waves) and kept within the appropriate range to heat up and eliminate targeted cells.
Among these are pigment cells, which are responsible for moles and hyperpigmentation. IPL also targets a compound found in the blood called oxyhemoglobin to help treat those with rosacea. When the temperature of oxyhemoglobin is adequately raised, it destroys the dilated capillaries close to the skin’s surface that are responsible for the red appearance seen in rosacea patients.
Lastly, IPL stimulates collagen-producing skin cells called fibroblasts. Increased collagen production helps to reduce wrinkles and treat scar tissue. These fibroblasts also contribute to the production of hyaluronic acid, a substance that keeps the skin moisturized and contributes to a youthful appearance.
Number of treatments required
Although many patients report visible improvement after just one treatment, clinicians typically recommend 2–5 IPL sessions (spaced four weeks apart) for general skin rejuvenation. If treating severe skin damage or discoloration, as many as ten treatments may be needed.
Melasma treatment
IPL can also be used to treat melasma, a condition where dark patches appear on the face. While the exact cause of melasma is unknown, risk factors include sun exposure, pregnancy and genetics.
IPL treats melasma in the same way it treats other cases of skin discoloration: by targeting the responsible pigment cells. IPL is particularly effective at treating melasma because it can penetrate the skin and is therefore able to reduce discoloration not only on the skin’s surface but also at lower levels. IPL can also be combined with topical treatments to further minimize dark spots caused by melasma.
Further reading：DPL photon rejuvenation instrument freckle effect
