IPL gives Calgary complexions even skin tone
The best treatment for uneven skin pigmentation is prevention – daily use of sunscreen. However, if your job or lifestyle has left you with sun spots, a solution is available at Silverado Medical & Aesthetic Clinic in Calgary. Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment effectively targets pigmentation caused by environmental damage, for even skin tone.
What causes sun damage?
Special cells in skin produce melanin. This surface pigmentation is part of your body’s natural defense system, protecting deeper skin layers from damaging ultraviolet light. Exposure to sun or artificial UV in tanning beds alters the DNA of these cells. Instead of a uniform disbursement of pigment, melanin clumps into flat spots with a grey, reddish, brown, or black color. This condition usually appears in our early 40s and progresses with age, but it can occur at any point in life.How IPL helps
IPL uses multiple wavelengths of broad spectrum, high-intensity light (rather than a laser’s single focused wavelength). In a process called photothermolysis, treatment heats and destroys structures that hold pigments, releasing the discoloration. Special filters protect skin from wavelengths that could be harmful to the patient’s specific skin tone.A series of three to four IPL treatments spaced about a month apart reduces discolorations while brightening the complexion. There is no downtime, but it is essential to wear sunscreen following a photofacial to maintain results.
IPL is gentle and effective for sun, age, and liver spots as well as freckles on the:
- Face
- Chest
- Back and shoulders
- Forearms
- Hands