Summary

If you suffer with age spots, sun spots and other pigmented marks, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) offers a simple solution for removal.  This treatment offers a very effective reduction on pigmented marks that are superficial lesions such as age spots or freckles that appear on face, hands or chest area.

What is it?

Our skin natural ages the skin texture can change and become uneven, this can be increased due to Ultra Violent rays from the sun. These changes could include thinning of skin, coarse wrinkles, thickening of skin and fine lines.

Skin is always shedding dead skin cells to allow for re-growing skin. Some of these dead cells remain attached to the new skin, so when the oil travels up the hair shaft and a mix with the dead skin cells, a plug is created. This is the start of a blackhead or whitehead. When certain types of bacteria are present, the acne may escalate into a more severe form and cause scarring.

Hyper pigmentation is a built up concentrations of melanin in the skin (the colouring), which have formed due to unprotected exposure to the sun for long periods of time. Basically patches of skin, which have become darker in colour.

Benefits

Enhanced self confidence and self esteem

Low risk and effective treatment

Procedure

How it works

IPL releases a precise impulse of filtered light that is absorbed by melanin in freckles or sunspots. The pigmented area absorbs the light and is heated and is removed by skin renewal. After treatment the pigmented area may turn darker and may form a crust. Over the following weeks the pigmented area will gradually flake away from the skin leaving little trace of the original mark.

The process

You will be asked to wear protective eye goggles, the skin is cleansed and a layer of chilled gel will be applied to area to guide the light treatments. The area may be cooled to increase comfort during treatment.

The light applicator is placed on the skin and a short pulse of light is released this repeated until the entire area is treated. The chilled gel is removed and further cooling is carried out if necessary.

Treatment is slightly uncomfortable and is described as a sharp quick pin prick

The treatment time varies in length depending on the type and size of lesion to be treated but typically 15 to 30 minutes. The number of treatments necessary varies for each individual but typically 1- 3 treatments.

Side effects

After IPL treatment the lesion will darken and may appear more obvious, but this will gradually fade and flake off leaving a more even skin tone over the following weeks. It is vital that the crusts are not picked and that the skin is allowed to heal naturally.

There are no long term side effects to this treatment.

Cost

It is £75 per treatment and the amount of treatments will vary.

Suitability

Are you suitable for this procedure?

Prior to any treatment a consultation will identify your goals and expectations and will give you an explanation of the treatment process and the likely outcomes. A test patch to confirm suitability for treatment will follow this.

This treatment is for both men and women

We can treat most skin types with this procedure however not all pigmented lesions can be treated, large, dark moles should not be treated or lesions covering a large area of body

Contraindication to treatment

None known

Related treatments

Pumpkin Resurfacer

Pigmentation Reduction