Improve Sun Damage Layer by Layer with IPL

Take a look at your arm and count how many freckles you see. Chances are you’re wearing a lot more freckles than you did as a child. Sun damage resulting in freckles, age spots, sun spots and moles can pop up anywhere on the body - especially areas that are frequently exposed to sun light. Sometimes that damage can lead to serious skin issues including skin cancer. But treatments like Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL) can remove the damage leaving healthy, refreshed skin. Dr. Carol Clinton of Timeless Skin Solutions in Dublin says IPL is very effective in the treatment of sun-related aging.

“The advantage of IPL over other types of pigment and vascular removal methods is that it is fast, the recovery time is short, and the risk of side effects are low,” says Dr. Clinton. “The procedure simultaneously addresses a variety of common concerns including broken capillaries, rosacea, redness, age spots, and even enlarged pores.”

IPL therapy uses an intense light that passes through the top layer of skin and is absorbed by brown, black or blue pigment particles within the skin. The energy emitted by the laser light causes the pigment cells to break into miniscule particles which are removed by the body’s immune system.

“The light is emitted in pulses which can feel like someone has snapped an elastic band against the skin, but most patients find this treatment quite comfortable,” says Dr. Clinton.

A treatment may take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour depending on the size of the area(s) being treated. After treatment, the skin turns to a dark, superficial crust. Once the crusting turns over - typically in one to two weeks, the underlying skin gradually changes from a pink shade to the color of the surrounding skin.

“It’s a great option for various areas of the body including the decollete, hands, arms and legs.”

The number of treatments needed to remove sun damage depends on the severity of the damage - typically one to three treatments. Costs range from $150 to $750 per treatment.