IPL In Bastrop, TX
IPL
IPL stands for “intense pulsed light.” During an IPL photofacial, a light-emitting device is precisely calibrated to target specific skin concerns or to deliver comprehensive full-face rejuvenation. When the pulses of light emitted by this device are absorbed by the melanin (pigment) and red blood cells in the skin, heat is generated.
As your skin attempts to repair itself, it will shed its dull, damaged outer layer and form supple, vibrant new skin. During this process, skin-firming proteins (like collagen and elastin) are produced in abundance, mitigating some of the effects of age-related collagen loss. The light emitted during IPL therapy also breaks down the dark pigment inside age spots and freckles, creating a more even skin coloration.
By adjusting the wavelengths of light emitted during IPL therapy, we can calibrate the treatment to react with specific skin conditions such as Rosacea, Acne, Age Spots and more. The adjustable nature of this procedure makes IPL treatment extremely versatile and easy to customize. This procedure can be used to treat a single issue or to address multiple problems simultaneously.
With so many options for skin resurfacing currently available, it can be difficult to select the best treatment to meet your needs. If you’re wondering how IPL rejuvenation compares to other treatments reviewing the unique benefits of IPL is a great place to start. You can arrange a consultation with us to discuss if IPL is the best option for you. Here are a few of the benefits our patients derive from IPL:
- Treats sun-damaged skin. When it comes to aging, the sun is your skin’s worst enemy: Most of the changes in skin conditions we associate with getting older are a direct result of exposure to UV radiation. Sunlight breaks down the collagen in our skin, making it weaker and more susceptible to wrinkling and sagging. Sun damage also causes dark “age spots” to form on highly exposed areas (like the hands and face) and gives the skin a lined, leathery, weathered look.
- IPL combats the effects of UV damage in two ways: First, it penetrates and draws out discolored cells that have formed deep in the dermis. By dissolving these cells, intense pulsed light gets rid of dark age spots and excessive freckling to restore an even, dewy complexion. After this stage of deep exfoliation is complete, the skin begins to generate a significant amount of new collagen, which replaces collagen stores that have been destroyed by the sun. As a result of this healing process, the skin becomes stronger and more supple. Wrinkles and fine lines disappear or may be lessened, and many patients also see some reduction in facial sagging.
- IPL can treat stubborn acne. Intense pulsed light can tackle the causes of acne and its lasting side effects, like scarring. This procedure also kills harmful bacteria and reduces redness and inflammation. Repeated IPL treatments encourage the skin to shed and renew its outer layer, a process that gradually eliminates scar tissue.
- IPL is an excellent way to treat visible veins and capillaries. Because intense pulsed light is absorbed very efficiently by red blood cells, IPL is one of the best treatments available for visible blood vessel abnormalities. Our patients use IPL to dissolve broken capillaries for a more even, youthful complexion. This procedure is also ideal for treating conditions that cause diffuse redness, like rosacea.
- Having regular IPL Treatments can prevent premature skin aging Intense pulsed light is unique in its ability to actually change the structure of skin cells, making them behave more like young cells. A 10-year study conducted by Stanford University in California demonstrated that having two to three IPL sessions per year for a decade can positively alter the genes of dermal cells. The genetic expression of aged skin cells treated regularly with IPL resembles that of young, healthy skin cells. As such, researchers think intense pulsed light can prevent (and not just treat) many of the superficial signs of aging. To make the most of the IPL age-fighting properties, it’s essential that you avoid sun exposure, especially in the weeks before and following IPL treatment. Our medical grade sunscreens can help with that.
- IPL can be performed on multiple areas of the body. Though IPL is most frequently used for facial rejuvenation, it can also renew the neck, upper chest, shoulders, hands, arms, and legs. If you have signs of sun damage on multiple parts of your body, treating them all with intense pulsed light may give you a more uniformly youthful look.