What is IPL treatment?

Rosacea treatment made great advances in the mid 1980’s when laser treatment was first applied to more severe cases of rosacea.

There were some side effects with laser therapy that made it less effective as a general rosacea treatment.

Technology has moved on since these early days and newer treatments using light therapy have been developed to treat all sorts of vein conditions – including rosacea.

Nowadays – if you suffer from rosacea – one of the best options for treating your rosacea symptoms is Intense Pulsed Light or IPL treatment.

IPL is not a laser treatment – it involves the application of bands of pulsating light using an IPL machine with a small hand device.

IPL treatment is a non invasive procedure carried out in-office using a broad spectrum of light. The IPL treatment is completely safe, is non-carcinogenic and does not harm surrounding skin tissue.

In fact – as well as treating rosacea – the warming effect of the light energy from the IPL device increases the production of collagen and has a tightening and smoothing effect on the skin.

Increased collagen also supports and heals the tiny blood vessels in your skin. Rosacea symptoms stem from the inflammation of blood vessels so IPL treatment has substantial long term benefits for reducing rosacea flare-ups

IPL was approved in 1995 by the FDA for the treatment of dilated blood vessels in the face. It can safely be used to reduce dilated blood vessels, redness, flushing, and symptoms which resemble acne and so is ideal for rosacea.

Since it’s approval by the FDA – IPL has proved very effective against rosacea. In studies, 83% of patients who had IPL treatment reported reduced redness, 75% experienced fewer instances of facial flushing, and 64% reported fewer acne-type breakouts.

Even more encouraging – if you’re considering this form of treatment – is that it appears to show results quite quickly. Most patients who use IPL notice a reduction in redness and dilated blood vessels after only one or two treatments.

But with any treatment of this kind there are bound to be some side effects and these can include redness, swelling, bruising, and slight skin lightening.

The good news is that any side effects of this type are temporary and will disappear completely with correct rosacea after care.

IPL treatments are usually done in four to six sessions at three to four week intervals for the greatest benefit.

Not all of the improvements will show up immediately. You may find that your rosacea symptoms continue to reduce for several weeks after the treatments have been completed.

If you have tiny thread veins as a result of rosacea, for instance, they will take time to disappear.

Being dark against the skin – they absorb more light, heat up, and then are broken down and eventually reabsorbed. This process takes time and you’ll need to be patient.

With the right planning, a careful choice of doctor and attention to the correct rosacea after care – you should find that IPL is an effective and safe treatment which substantially reduces rosacea symptoms. 

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