How does IPL work?

“IPL” stands for “intense pulsed light.” A simple hand-held device is passed over the skin and pulses of light are sent into the deep layers of skin. It can target very specific problem areas to destroy skin damage. IPL can be used to treat:

• Spider veins

• Rosacea (redness in the cheeks)

• Uneven/unwanted pigment

• Age spots

• Sun damage

What is the procedure to get IPL?

You will be given eye shields to protect your eyes from the light, and a gel will be applied to the area where you will have the treatment. The handpiece is then moved across the skin to be treated – and that’s it! It typically only takes a few minutes, although more than one treatment will usually be needed. IPL can be used on the chest, hands, and face.

Most patients report there is no pain – at most there is a sensation on the skin much like a rubber-band snap. A cooling gel may be applied to the skin afterwards. After the treatment you’ll notice an immediate difference, and your skin will continue to improve over the next few weeks.

There are no bandages to wear after the procedure and no downtime. You may notice some redness and feel like you have a sunburn for a few days. You should avoid going out in the sun. There are also specific instructions you should follow in the weeks leading up to your procedure, such as avoiding the sun and tanning beds for about a month before – your doctor will go over all of the precautions you will need to take.

IPL is a very effective way to deal with skin blemishes. To discuss IPL and what it can do for you, contact Dr. Gary J. Price for a consultation. Call the office in New Haven or Fairfield County, CT, at (203) 453-6635 today!

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Similarly, you may know that you should wash your face and wear sunscreen if you want a clear complexion. But if you want movie star worthy skin, you may want to consider getting either light or laser. As two popular procedures, light and laser often get mistaken for each other, but they’re different.

Light

You know that you can go in your house and turn on the lights, and you also know that light is emitted from the sun, but did you know that light can also tighten skin, get rid of hyperpigmentation, and lighten scarring?

There are different sources of light; some that are harmful to the skin and others that are a bit more therapeutic. The goal of light triggered devices like Intense Pulse Light (IPL) is to direct small pulses of light energy into specific targets into the skin such as melanin, blood, water, or even acne bacteria. By emitting these small pulses of light, the skin is heated up which helps to give you a smoother, tighter, and more even looking complexion.

Laser

You may have dreamed of holding a laser beam like Darth Vader when you were a kid, but the lasers used to treat your skin are a little different. If you remember Vader’s lightsaber, however, you remember it as one continuous beam. Similarly, laser technology for your skin also emits one single ray of light to penetrate deep into the skin. Because laser technology is precise, it helps Dr. Gary J. Price target specific areas of the skin.

Schedule your consultation at our Guilford office to learn more about whether light or laser is better for your skin’s specific needs.

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