Look Younger Naturally With Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Doctor Ruthie Harper realizes that patients want to look as good on the outside as they feel on the inside! That is why she offers natural, anti-aging IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatments at her Integrative Medicine practice in Austin, TX.
IPL – sometimes called a “Photofacial” – is a safe, effective, and affordable treatment for reversing the effects of UV skin damage. In addition to fading dark spots and pigmentation caused by sun exposure, IPL can also improve skin texture, reduce redness and rosacea, help treat acne, and much more.
In this article we explain how Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments at Ruthie Harper, MD in Austin, TX can help you love the skin you’re in – without surgery and with no downtime.
How Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Works
IPL delivers high-intensity pulses of specific light frequencies that are calibrated to be absorbed by pigmented or damaged cells. The heat energy of the laser is absorbed by the pigmented area, where it destroys the discolored cells – leaving the healthy skin cells intact.
IPL can also be used to target the red hemoglobin in spider veins and other visible blood vessels that are causing redness. The thermal energy of the IPL laser collapses the unsightly blood vessels, dramatically reducing redness.
And, the IPL thermal energy also helps repair damaged skin by stimulating the production of new skin cells, as well as collagen and elastin which are the building blocks of young looking, smooth, clear, healthy skin.
The Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment
An Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) session generally only takes about 30 minutes or less in our Austin medical office. There is typically minimal to no discomfort – but a numbing agent may be applied upon request to ensure a pleasant and pain free experience.
After an IPL treatment there is usually only mild redness – somewhat like a sunburn. There may also be slight swelling, but skin should return to normal in a matter of a few hours. Applying cold packs to the treatment areas can assist in making the redness and irritation subside even faster. (Note: never apply ice directly to the skin).
Other than the mild redness, there is not any downtime. So, patients can resume their normal, everyday activities immediately afterwards.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Results
Patients typically see dramatic improvement in their skin after just one treatment. Depending on the type and extent of skin damage, a series of two or three IPL treatments may be recommended for optimal results. Dr. Harper will conduct a a thorough skin analysis, to determine the number of treatments recommended for you for spectacular IPL facial results.
While there will be some immediate improvement in “glow” and clarity immediately after treatment, it takes about a week to see the initial results IPL. Results continue to improve for four to six weeks until patients can to see the final results – as the body continues to produce new collagen, elastin and skin cells.
Am I a Good Candidate for IPL?
Because IPL treats a wide array of skin issues, it is suitable for a wide array of patients. Both women and men can benefit from Intense Pulsed Light therapy. And because it is a safe and gentle treatment it can be used on patients of virtually any age – from teens with acne issues to seniors looking for antiaging benefits.
However, because the Intense Pulsed Light is absorbed by the melanin (pigment) in skin, it should never be used on darker skin tones. IPL can cause and increase in skin discoloration – called post-inflammatory pigmentation – when used on darker skin colors. For patients with darker skin, we offer PRP facial rejuvenation at our office in Austin, TX.
We recommend Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Facials at Ruthie Harper, MD in Austin, TX for patients who have one or more of the following skin conditions:
- Redness, broken capillaries, spider veins, rosacea
- Age spots, sun spots, and brown spots
- Melasma or freckles
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Enlarged pores
- Dull, dry skin
- The early stages of losing tone and plumpness
- Acne scars or other facial scarring
IPL Intense Pulsed Light | Austin, TX
If you live in the Austin, TX area and you are suffering from dull, dry, lackluster skin, unwanted pigmentation, troublesome redness, facial scarring, enlarged pores, or fine lines and wrinkles, schedule an IPL treatment today.
A fast, painless Intense Pulsed Light treatment can give you clearer, smoother, brighter, younger-looking skin – with no downtime!
