IPL Photofacial
IPL photofacial—short for intense pulsed light, sometimes called photorejuvenation—uses filtered broad-spectrum light rather than a single-wavelength laser to treat pigment and redness in the skin. It is a medical light-based treatment most often used to even out skin tone: sun spots, freckles, diffuse facial redness, and visible small vessels, typically over a series of sessions.
- Brightening
- Mild redness for a day or two
- Medical aesthetic
Overview
IPL is most often discussed for sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck, chest, and backs of the hands. Common goals include fading sun spots and freckles, calming diffuse redness and visible fine vessels, and softening the red marks left behind by acne. Many people also hope for a more even tone and texture overall; any improvement in pore appearance tends to be modest and varies by person, which is worth clarifying at the consultation.
It is not a fix for everything. Raised moles and pigmented lesions of uncertain nature should be evaluated by a physician first rather than treated with light; melasma responds unpredictably and can worsen with the wrong settings. Deep wrinkles and skin laxity are not its strengths. Hair removal uses IPL differently and has its own entry (IPL hair reduction); this article covers only the skin-tone, pigment, and redness side.
How it works
Intense pulsed light delivers filtered, broad-spectrum flashes of light. Melanin in pigmented spots and hemoglobin in small vessels absorb specific wavelengths and convert them to heat: pigment particles fragment and gradually flake away through the skin's surface, while dilated fine vessels are heated and seal off. Before treatment, recent tanning is usually a reason to postpone; on the day, the skin is cleansed, cooling gel is applied, and opaque goggles protect the eyes.
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