IPL in Portland

What is IPL?

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light and is sometimes called Photofacial or Photorejuvenation facial.

How does it work?

IPL uses pulses of focused light energy to treat various skin conditions such as: spider veins, cherry hemangiomas (red moles), overall redness and inflammation, age spots, pigmentation from sun damage, acne, scarring from acne, PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation), PIE (post inflammatory erythema), loss of skin elasticity (sagging skin), and unwanted hair.

What are the benefits?

IPL stimulates collagen and elastin production, which in turn tightens the skin and reduces redness, broken capillaries, and inflammation from acne or rosacea. IPL is also an effective treatment for scar reduction and can be used for permanent hair reduction.

Who are the best candidates?

The best candidates for IPL are those suffering from mild to moderate inflammatory conditions such as rosacea or acne and those who want a reduction in pigmentation from sun damage.

What to expect:

Before treatment:
Depending on the area being treated, either smooth metal shields or reflective stickers will be applied to the eyes to protect them from the light. Ultrasound gel will also be applied to the area being treated.

During treatment:
The skin may feel warm with a mild stinging sensation during the treatment. It is also normal to see flashes of light as the IPL pulses are applied to the skin.

After treatment:
After the treatment you may look lightly flushed and notice a darkening of treated capillaries and pigmentation spots for the first 24 hours post-treatment. Your skin will be heat sensitive for the first 24 hours, and photo sensitive for the following week. Results can be seen 1-6 months after your first treatment.

Treatment Scheduling:

Treatments are done in a series, and the length of the series depends on the severity of the skin condition being treated. Typically, you will receive one treatment every 2-4 weeks.