“Everyone has two lives. The second one begins when you realize you only have one.” – Steven Sotloff

Fall is HERE!  Now is a good time to reevaluate your skin health, assess sun damage and focus on yourself!  When they kids go back to school, many parents feel like chauffeurs, driving them around to their various activities and rarely taking time for themselves.  Likewise, those without kids find fall a busy time at work and long for the leisurely times of summer when they could enjoy lounging in their swimsuit, socializing with friends and enjoying the Bay Area summertime.

Many of our patients return to our office with hyperpigmentation (brown ‘sun spots’ or freckles) from the sun, telangiectasias (broken blood vessels on the skin from sun, wind or age), and other features of sun damage.  What can be done?  

Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments to the cheek reduced brown hyperpigmentation “age spots” and reduced dilated capillaries known as “telangiectasias”

IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment is an amazing technology that works as light penetrates the tissue and is absorbed by either hemoglobin, which is red (when treating vascular lesions) or melanin, which is brown (when treating pigmented lesions).

IPL specifically targets and selectively destroys unwanted red or brown pigments while protecting the surrounding healthy tissue. The body’s natural processes then remove the injured tissue, giving the skin a more even tone and youthful appearance. The energy produced by IPL works directly on the top layers of the skin without penetrating deep enough to harm deep structures.

Benefits of IPL include:  

1. IPL treatments are quick, gentle and non-invasive. There is no interruption of routine activities.
2. By helping to remove the age spots (sun-induced freckles) and broken capillaries, the result is overall more even, luminous, younger looking skin.
3. Patients can see dramatic results within a very short time – usually a series of 4-6 treatments spaced several weeks apart is recommended.

Most sun damage is invisible! A shocking analysis under special light shows deep sun damage that is not yet visible at the surface. IPL can help!

 What is an IPL photo-facial?  

An IPL photo-facial is an in-office procedure that reduces freckles, areas of sun damage, or brown spots.  Areas on the skin that are already darkish may temporarily become darker, but this resolves gradually over one to two weeks post-treatment.  IPL-generated pulses of light are very short in duration, so discomfort is minor, and no pain medication is necessary for this treatment. 

Your skin continues to improve for weeks after the actual IPL treatment, and the results are permanent!  Ongoing protection from future sun damage is needed.  Learn more about medical-grade skin care, our favorite sun screens and protecting your skin from the sun here!  

To learn more about IPL treatments and other popular autumn procedures, visit our website and call 415-923-3067 today!  Complete our online consultation request form for a IPL consultation.