Worthing: 01903 820 010 | Brighton: 01273 686 869 | Hove: 01273 719 834

ConsultantDermatologists.com
IPL Skin & Facial Rejuvenation
How does Intense Pulsed Light Work?
Intense Pulsed Light is a light produced by a flash-lamp in the spectrum of 515-1200nm. The light penetrates deeply into the skin and selectively destroys melanin pigment that is responsible for the brown marks. It also produces Type I collagen synthesis that thickens the skin and helps improve fine lines and wrinkles. Stimulation of the blood supply also helps improve the feel and smoothness of the skin.
What are the side-effects of treatment?
Most patients experience some redness for up to 48 hours following treatment and swelling may also occur. The brown lentigines (sun-spots) will darken for 7-10-days before peeling off. Blistering and crusting of the skin may rarely develop. The risk of scarring is extremely small. It is very important that patients do not have Laser Therapy within 4-weeks of a holiday involving sun-exposure, as melanin pigment in the skin absorbs the laser light and causes a higher risk of side-effects. We are also more cautious with Laser Therapy in darker skinned individuals. We advise using sun-blocks before, during and after treatment for a minimum of 2-weeks. A factor SpF 30 is usually adequate. Typically, 2-4 sessions are required. Darker brown lentigines respond best to treatment compared to light brown ones.
How much does treatment cost?
We charge per session and advise 2-4 sessions at 3-4 weekly intervals for maximum improvement. The treatment can be combined with other treatments including Botox® for wrinkle reduction on the face or Restylane Vital® on the back of the hands.
This treatment is often combined with other treatments available such as Botox™, Restylane™ or Jan Marini™ chemical peels.
What happens during consultation and treatment?
During treatment, you will lie on the couch with black out goggles on if having facial treatments and non-black out goggles if having hands treated. An intense burst of light is shone on to the skin. No anaesthetic is used. The process can be mildly uncomfortable but is very quick. No recovery time is needed, but the skin may look slightly red. Facial and Hand Skin Rejuvenation treatments are given in courses of 4–6 with a 2-3 week gap between each treatment. To maintain results you will need to have top up treatments a few times a year. These will, of course, vary slightly depending on your skin.
Do different skin types affect the treatment process?
Darker Asian skin which occurs largely in regions of the world that has intense sunlight actually features a naturally high level of epidermal melanin and therefore treatment has to be modified to take this into account.
What pre-treatment precautions must I follow?
With any skin type, the patient must start the IPL treatment without any active suntan and be familiar with following a strict routine, for a minimum of two to for weeks, of using sunscreens and other skin care products recommended for them by their dermatologist.
If this advice is not followed and good skincare practice is not adopted prior to treatment, the outcome of the treatment will be comprised and often short-lived.