Intense pulse light (IPL)

Your Questions Answered

What happens during the treatment?

The area will be cleansed with a gentle wash to remove all make up and the face will then be washed with an exfoliant wash. While delivering the pulsed light energy to the skin, the skin is kept cool either with the use of a cooling gel or by chilling the light tip in the machine for skin cooling. You will wear goggles during treatment, as pulsed light energy is delivered to the skin.

The strength of the IPL treatment will depend on your skin type and the amount of skin damage you have and will be increased gradually as your skin adapts to the IPL.

What will I notice after treatment?

A mild burning sensation following IPL may last for up to one hour. A cold compress or cold air cooler may be used after treatment if desired. Following IPL treatments there may be a minor degree of redness and puffiness to the skin, with some tingling discomfort that usually disappears in 1-2 hours. Patients vary with their sensation to this discomfort. Some areas may discolour. Brown/ reddish areas of discolouration may turn darker for up to two weeks before they disappear. The skin that has been treated should be handled gently for a few days.

Will I need to have any pre-treatment?

You will be advised to use sunscreens and some patients will use Tretinoin and/or lightening creams before and after treatment. The area to be treated should be free of hair. You should be aware that the hair in the area to be treated may be temporarily or permanently removed.

If you have a history of cold sores or fever blisters in the treated area, an oral anti herpes medicine will be prescribed.

How many treatments will I need?

IPL therapy may require between 3-5 treatments to achieve the maximum skin rejuvenation in each area, ideally three to six weeks apart. It is recommended that you have a maintenance IPL session every 3-6 months after completion of the initial 3-5 treatments to maintain the rejuvenation.

How will I feel during treatment?

Some patients feel discomfort during treatment. Patients report the treatment feels like a rubber band snap. This discomfort may range from mild to moderate and does not last long. If you feel you have a low pain tolerance, a topical anaesthetic cream can be applied for 20 minutes before the treatment is carried out.

What skin types are best for IPL?

Fair skinned and light brown skin. The skin should not be significantly tanned at the time of treatment. Allow your tan to fade before treatment, as the pigment of the tan will absorb some of the pulsed light or laser energy and may cause a skin reaction. If you are using artificial tanning creams, allow these to fade prior to beginning treatment. Use sunscreens following IPL and daily during a course of treatments.

What is the down time?

There is no down time for this treatment. You can return to regular activities immediately.