Over the years, sun damage, age, and the environment do a number on your skin, and the evidence is most visible on your face. These days, there are several cosmetic treatments that can diminish those signs, including the ever-popular IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy.
Dr. Nirav Naik and our team at New Life Aesthetics in Bakersfield, California, use the latest IPL technology found in Cynosure’s Icon®️ system to ensure effective, safe, and lasting results. It’s a great choice for women and men looking to erase the signs of aging and other blemishes that mar their skin, but it’s not for everybody. Here’s how to tell if you're a good candidate.
The sun’s harmful UV rays have a way of damaging your skin even if you've been diligent about protecting it with shade and sunscreen. The results, called photoaging, are spots, wrinkles, and a dry, rough texture, which typically appear on the places where sun hits most often — your hands, shoulders, chest, and, of course, your face.
But you also may have skin issues that have nothing to do with the sun, such as rosacea, spider veins or broken capillaries, birthmarks, and even freckles that you’d like to see disappear.
IPL therapy uses light energy to diminish the appearance of all of these issues. Bursts of rapidly pulsing light penetrate your skin and target the pigment beneath the surface. Once it heats to a certain temperature, the pigment breaks into pieces and eventually flushes out of your system.
If wrinkles are your main complaint, IPL helps rejuvenate the texture and tone of your skin by stimulating your body’s natural production of collagen and elastin, the two proteins responsible for the structure and resilience of your skin. As these proteins increase and restore lost volume from within, wrinkles on the surface smooth out, and your skin looks younger again.
Laser treatments work in a similar way, but they depend on a single wavelength of energy. IPL uses multiple wavelengths for more precise targeting. While the device hovers over your skin and emits the light energy, an integrated cooling system ensures that only the targeted cells receive heat — the rest of your skin stays comfortable, cool, and safe.
The best candidates for IPL photofacials are people seeking to rid their skin of:
Although IPL works on most skin types and tones, it’s most effective on pale to light brown skin. Dr. Naik uses the Skintel®️ melanin reader to measure the density of the melanin in your skin to precisely calibrate your treatment and ensure optimal results. If you have tanned or very dark skin, talk with Dr. Naik about whether IPL is right for you.
Reasons to put off or avoid an IPL photofacial include:
The best way to know for sure whether there’s a reason for you to steer clear of IPL therapy is to meet with Dr. Naik. He has years of experience performing medical and cosmetic procedures and can help you determine the right treatment for your skin.
To learn more about IPL photofacials and our full line of skin treatments — including skin tightening, Botox®️ and fillers, and skin resurfacing — call us at 661-230-8306 to arrange a consultation today.
