Laser Treatments

IPL Laser

What is IPL?

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed light, here at Artiste Cosmetic and Laser Clinic we use IPL for hair removal treatment as well as many skin concerns such as; skin rejuvenation, pigmentation, age spots and spider veins.

How does it work?

IPL uses different light wavelengths to target specific areas in the underlying tissue, in the treatment of pigmentation the IPL causes the pigment to break down and into smaller particles allowing it to surface and flake away as a part of the body’s natural healing process. When treating capillaries, the light energy will be targeting blood vessels which lay underneath the outer layer of skin. In hair removal the IPL targets the pigment and heats it up to a point that it damages the follicle and eventually the hair will stop growing.

What conditions does IPL treat?

• Sun damage
• Fine lines
• Age spots
• Pigmentation
• Hair Removal
• Facial Capillaries

What can I expect from the procedure?

The treatment area is re-assessed, wiped with a mild antiseptic lotion to remove all traces of oils, an ultrasound gel is then applied. Both the operator and the client will wear glasses to protect their eyes from the bright flashes of light, then treatment may commence. The flashlight lamp at the head of the hand piece is held against the client’s skin and the intense light is pulsed at the trigger of a button. The lamp is moved to cover the entire area, with a minimum of 2 seconds between each flash. Once the treatment is completed the gel will be wiped off and a cooling gel may be applied, plus sun block where appropriate.

How will I look after the treatment?

After the treatment, your skin may take on a sunburned appearance, followed by some swelling and peeling. It is recommended to stay away from direct sun exposure for four weeks before the treatment and four weeks after. This applies to tanning beds as well.

What is the down time like?

Unlike with most laser treatment, which often require a few days of recovery as a result of extreme redness, blistering and peeling, an IPL treatment requires no downtime, appearing in most cases as if one has just a slight sunburn or exercised on a cardio machine for an hour. You can book an appointment on your lunch break and go back to work right after.

For 48 hours after each IPL treatment: No sun exposure or UV exposure of sun beds, wear sun block with both UVA and UVB protection, no depilatory, AHA, glycolic or salicylic creams, no very hot baths or showers – tepid water only, no heat treatments e.g. sauna, no swimming in chlorinated pools or spa baths, no deodorant – if underarms treated, no perfumes, highly perfumed soaps or lotions, etc.

Will it be painful?

Even though intense pulse light therapy (IPL) is one of the milder treatments for skin problems, you will likely experience some discomfort during the treatment. The treatment stings and compares it to snapping rubber bands on your skin. There is a cooling tip connected to the IPL hand piece that helps to soothe and cool down the area being treated, whilst the treatment is being performed.

Are there any risks?

• skin redness, tenderness and swelling 48 hours to one-week post-treatment
• bruising (encouraged using aspirin, ibuprofen, or Aleve within one week of treatment)
• unwanted changes in pigmentation (white or dark patches), more likely to occur in dark-skinned or tanned individuals
• scabbing (common with brown spots, which are supposed to rise to the surface, crust over and eventually flake off)

How many treatments do I need and how often?

Depending on where the client is having treated, we would usually recommend a minimum of 4-6 treatments to achieve the best results. We suggest waiting 4 weeks in between each treatment, because skin cells turn over roughly about every 30 days, so we want to give the skin enough time to recover and return to its normal state before we treat it again.

Can IPL treatments be performed on all skin types?

No. Because of the risk of hyperpigmentation IPL is best treated on skin types I-III, we can treat skin type IV on a lower setting which requires more treatments to be performed.