Freckles and other age spots are darker areas on the face where melanin has become concentrated. These can become more pronounced as we age. Getting rid of them surgically may cause injury scars, and home remedies such as the application of lemon juice simply don’t work. The best way to reduce the appearance of freckles is to simultaneously destroy some of the affected tissue and stimulate the growth of newer, healthier tissue.
Intense pulsed light therapy, or IPL, is an effective method for improving the appearance of dark spot freckles. A non-surgical means of skin rejuvenation, IPL therapy uses broad-spectrum light waves that carry heat to the lower dermal layers of the skin, renewing and refreshing them.
How IPL Therapy Works
The instrument used in IPL is a handheld device that produces a multitude of light beams. These beams are focused tightly, so only a small area of the skin is affected. Unlike laser resurfacing, IPL utilizes several different wavelengths of light, and the energy each wavelength carries is rather weak. However, collectively, this energy is strong enough to heat up the lower dermal layers and trigger the body’s natural process of healing. It also jumpstarts the controlled cauterization of capillaries and the shrinking of collagen stimulates new tissue growth. A typical IPL therapy session lasts only about 30 minutes. There’s no downtime afterward, meaning that the procedure can be performed during the client’s lunch break.
The Procedure
Before treatment begins, the skin is cleansed and treated with a soothing gel. A numbing agent is not required. The device tip is placed directly onto the skin’s surface, and the lamp is flashed for about three milliseconds. The client wears protective eye shades so that any reflected beams do not come into contact with the retinas.
The client will feel a slight stinging sensation each time the lamp is flashed. The beams consist of different frequencies, and these are carefully chosen by the dermatologist so that the energy targets and is absorbed by only the freckle tissue.
Several sessions may be required in order to achieve maximum results. These are spaced out so that healing can occur before the next session takes place.
The Ideal Candidate
Freckles usually aren’t that deep. In fact, they are often covered by only the thinnest layer of the epidermis. However, deeper scarring or age spots may require a different treatment. The ideal candidate will have only shallow freckling, and the darkened layers will exist above the subdermal tissue. A consultation with our dermatologist will reveal whether each individual’s freckles can be addressed with IPL therapy.
Interested in undergoing this treatment in the Bradenton or Sarasota areas of Florida? The Plastic Surgery Center can help! Contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment and see if IPL therapy is right for you.
