IPL treatment is effective for rejuvenating sun damaged skin in Brooklyn, NY
Most people love to sunbathe, whether it is a lazy day with friends at the beach or splashing in the pool with their kids. But, while your skin gets that bronzed glow, the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays are also damaging your skin and can cause unwanted signs of aging and hyperpigmentation (sun spots). At KHROM MEDSPA & WELLNESS in Brooklyn, NY, our team of professionals is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies to reduce skin damage from the sun. Intense pulsed light (IPL) photofacials are a popular treatment that we offer to rejuvenate sun damaged skin.
IPL: a therapeutic light treatment
IPL stands for intense pulsed light. While many cosmetic treatments available nowadays use lasers, which use one wavelength of light, IPL is not actually a laser therapy. Instead, it harnesses the power of energy from a broad spectrum of light rays, which are delivered to the treatment area in short pulses. This gentle treatment can be used for a broad range of skin conditions. It is often called a “photofacial,” but can be used to treat many areas of the body in addition to the face.
How IPL targets sun damage
For patients who have enjoyed ample time in the sun or who forget to wear sunscreen, dark spots can be a nuisance and cause people to be self-conscious about their skin. These brown spots, also called hyperpigmentation, usually form in areas of skin that are frequently exposed to the sun—the face, chest, arms, hands, and upper back—but can appear in other places on the skin as well.
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Knowing how these brown spots form in the first place is useful for understanding how IPL treatment reduces their appearance. When your skin is exposed to the sun’s UV rays, it produces extra melanin to protect itself. As more melanin is produced, it can clump together in the skin and cause age spots. In an IPL photofacial, the pulses of light from the IPL device are used to target these clumps of melanin, heating them up until they are damaged or destroyed. IPL therapy can also reduce the appearance of:
- Red capillaries
- Birthmarks
- Port wine stains
- Other brown or red discolorations on the skin
Many patients receiving IPL treatment also notice that their skin texture is smoother, and the appearance of fine lines is reduced. This is because the IPL therapy boosts your skin’s natural collagen production, making it more elastic, hydrated, and firm.
What to expect during IPL therapy
One of the first things patients want to know when they are learning about cosmetic treatments is what their recovery will be like. The good news with IPL treatments is that there is none! Your skin may be red after the procedure is complete, but you can use makeup to cover it up and return to your normal daily activities right afterwards. In fact, because the whole treatment time only takes about 30 to 45 minutes, you can schedule it during your lunch break or in the middle of a busy day. As the skin cells that have pigmentation are destroyed, they do tend to rise to the skin’s surface and cause flaking, but this process typically only lasts a few weeks. At this point, we typically recommend that you come in for your second treatment, usually about four weeks later. Several treatments are usually needed to achieve the best results.
After your treatment, we recommend that you always use a high-quality sunscreen to help protect your skin from further damage and maintain your great results. We are happy to consult with you about which skin care products will work best for your skin and optimally protect it.
Schedule a consultation with us today!
At KHROM MEDSPA & WELLNESS, we care about our patients and work with each person individually to learn about their cosmetic goals, evaluate their skin, and make recommendations for the ideal treatment or combination of therapies for their specific needs. If you are tired of trying to cover up sun spots on your skin, we encourage you to call us today at 718-521-2912 to schedule a consultation. With two convenient locations in Cobble Hill and Brooklyn, NY, we are nearby and ready to help you achieve the youthful, radiant skin you deserve!
Dr. Khrom completed rigorous training, including a dermatology residency and a prestigious fellowship in procedural dermatology, specializing in Mohs surgery and advanced laser techniques. Recently, she became a GAIN trainer for Galderma and has been recognized as an Elite Practitioner by Merz Aesthetics. Patients trust her sterling reputation, enhanced by her contributions to medical literature and national presentations.
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