
Courtesy of Courthouse Clinic, Brentwood. Skin blemishes before and after IPL treatment.
From the age of about 40 the skin is less able to regenerate from sun exposure and age spots start to appear. Generally these age spots pose no health risk, however they can be unsightly and create a patchy, less youthful appearance.
Pigmentation lesions such as age spots or freckles can be successfully lightened or removed with IPL. These type of lesions are all non-invasive, suitable for both the face and body and will result in a more even skin tone.
Most people are suitable for treatment except for very dark skinned or tanned individuals. Dark moles should not be treated nor would we advise IPL for melasma, this would be better suited to fractional laser.
Treatment is mildly uncomfortable and a warm, tingling sensation not unlike sunburn is experienced afterwards.
The treated area may feel warm and sensitive for the first few days post treatment. With Intense Pulsed Light treatments the lesions will darken and may appear more obvious before they fade and 'flake' away.
The length of each treatment will depend on the type and size of lesion present, but a typical session will take 10 to 30 minutes.
The number of treatments will depend on the type and size of the pigmented lesion but typically 1 to 3 sessions are required at 4 to 6 week intervals.
Most people experience little more than slight reddening and possibly mild swelling which usually disappear within hours to a couple of days. Very rarely a small blister may form or temporary lightening or darkening of the skin can occur.