IPL Photofacial In Westlake, OH

IPL pulses themselves feel like hot rubber band snaps. Given that the best results are obtained if the whole area is treated, not just the visible spots, we offer our patients a prescription for a compounded topical numbing medication to be applied 1 hour before treatments to alleviate the discomfort. We will remove the numbing medication in the office prior to your treatment.

Immediately after the procedure, the skin is mildly pink for up to 2-3 hours. Within the first 24 hours post-procedure, the brown spots will begin to darken, looking like ground pepper flakes. Within 1 week for the face and 2 weeks for body areas, the darkened spots fade or flake off. Make-up may be worn immediately after treatments, so the redness and spots can usually be covered, and there is no social downtime to this treatment. It usually takes several treatments to get to an optimal outcome.

Any parts of your body with true age spots, solar lentigines, or freckles can be treated safely. The face, chest, shoulders, and hands are the most popular areas for IPL treatment because they have typically had the most sun exposure. Discrete brown spots with or without diffuse or splotchy redness, as well as skin densely covered with freckles, all respond well to treatment.

No. New brown spots and diffuse redness may appear with new sun damage; however, they also can be treated. Remember to apply mineral-based sunscreen liberally every day, even when not outdoors, to minimize ultraviolet damage and the appearance of new damage. Rosacea is chronic and cannot be “cured” with any laser or light source; however, its appearance will be much improved and managed.

Solar lentigines can be treated effectively. There are, however, other types of pigmented lesions, such as birthmarks, moles, or lesions with worrisome characteristics, that cannot or should not be treated with light-based therapies. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Christian to identify the spots most likely to respond well to IPL Photogenesis.