Everyone knows someone who is just a little too intense. Whether it’s about politics or whatever else they want to blather on about, they get too close when they’re talking to you. They get overly excited when pushing their viewpoint on you. Just too intense to be around very much.
But when it comes to your facial skin, you want intensity — you want intense pulsed light. Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is also known as an IPL photofacial and is great for transforming red, blotchy skin into a radiant complexion at Dr. Kronberg’s Houston practice.
What is IPL photofacial?
An IPL photofacial is a 30-minute procedure where intense pulses of light are used to penetrate deeply into the skin. This penetration causes collagen and blood vessels below the epidermis to constrict, reducing redness, age lines, and age spots.
When the light energy is directed downward onto the targeted areas, the IPL energy is absorbed by the blood vessels, and the heat causes the walls to collapse and close off, lessening redness. For age spots, the melanin in the darker spots absorbs the light energy, which causes melanin to break up. The darker spot becomes darker initially, and then it peels off. This fully removes the spot or else dramatically lessens its appearance.
Would a photofacial be right for me?
If you have blotchy, sun-damaged, discolored skin IPL can be a good option. Also, if you have large pores, freckles, or small wrinkles an IPL photofacial can help.
The procedure is best if you aren’t overly tanned. People with white, untanned skin that still has good elasticity are perfect for IPL photofacials. You need to know that IPL isn’t that effective on heavy facial lines or severe acne scarring. But for the right conditions, IPL photofacials improve skin texture, eliminate discoloration areas, reduce pore size, and can minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Also, if you have rosacea, a condition that causes blotchy redness on the face, a photofacial can help.
How an IPL photofacial is done
Before we begin, we give you a pair of protective goggles for your eyes. This protects them from the brilliant flashes of light. A cool gel is applied to the treatment area. This lubricates the area for the handpiece, and it keeps your skin cool. The handpiece delivers brief pulses of bright light to the skin across the treatment areas.
You’ll feel a warm sensation from the handpiece. During the pulses of light, you’ll feel something akin to a light “snap” from a small rubber band. Depending on the size of your treatment areas, your procedure can take from just a few minutes to an hour.
Do you want to get intense with your sun damage and exposed blood vessels? Give Dr. Kronberg a call at (713) 771-8941 and set up an appointment for an IPL photofacial.
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