A Photofacial (or IPL – Intense Pulsed Light) is a laser light treatment that targets pigment issues, such as brown spots, sun damage, redness and rosacea. The IPL passes through the epidermis, drawing out the pigment-producing cells and dispersing the uneven pigment. IPL can be used on the face, neck, chest, shoulders, arms, legs, just about anywhere! It’s quick, virtually painless, and requires little downtime.
Exfoliating off the dead skin cells will allow products we use in office, and the ones you use at home, to penetrate deeper and be more effective. Along with the dry skin, Dermaplaning also removes fine vellus hair (peach fuzz), leaving your skin incredibly smooth and bright. In the long run, Dermaplaning can help with hyperpigmentation, skin texture, pores and it creates a smoother canvas for perfect makeup application.
After a Photofacial treatment, you can expect some redness and a slight sunburn feeling, both of which only last for about 30-60 minutes post-treatment. The pigment that was treated will immediately begin to become more noticeable, reaching a few shades darker a couple hours after. The pigmented spots may resemble coffee grounds on the skin but will have no texture to them. It is safe to wear makeup and continue with most normal skin care regimens following a treatment. The ‘coffee ground’ spots can take up to 2 weeks to slough off naturally while washing the area treated. Revealing bright, more even skin after!
Those with a higher Fitzpatrick score, those with a tan or active sunburn and those with melasma are not good candidates. Because the light of the laser is targeting pigment, darker skin tones can actually become discolored and melasma patches can become darker.
Best results are typically seen after completing a series of three to six treatments.
While pain tolerance is different for everyone, most people tolerate Photofacials well and describe the sensation as a rubber band snap to the skin. The majority of clients require no topical anesthetic.
