• Home
• Aesthetic Dermatology
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Treat Sun Damage, Spider Veins, and More in Los Angeles

Aging and sun exposure can create uneven brown pigmentation and pronounced red blood vessels on your skin. One way to reduce the resulting uneven appearance is with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), which uses gentle pulses of optimized light to even out your skin tone. When you visit Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills for IPL in the Los Angeles area, you will first have an assessment so we can be sure intense pulsed light is the best choice based on your skin and goals.

What can intense pulsed light (ipl) treat?

Intense pulsed light is primarily used for imperfections caused by sun damage, but can also be applied to a range of cosmetic skin conditions on the face, chest, and hands. These include acne, freckles, birthmarks, melasma, broken blood vessels, varicose veins, age spots, discoloration, wrinkles, redness, rosacea, and scars. It is also used for hair reduction.

Men and women who are susceptible to hyperpigmentation, have sensitive skin, have recently tanned, have certain skin conditions, or are taking some medications may not be good candidates for intense pulsed light. One of our physicians can assess your skin to determine whether IPL is right for you.

Real patient results may vary.

View More Before & After Photos

Intense pulsed light explained

Much like laser treatments, the heat generated by IPL is absorbed by melanin-producing cells and blood vessels that create unwanted pigmentation on the skin's surface. This ultimately causes lesions to flake away and visible vessels to collapse. The body also creates new cells to replace what has been lost as it also replenishes dwindling collagen.

As opposed to laser treatments, however, IPL emits several different, scattered wavelengths of broad-spectrum light. In this non-ablative treatment, light penetrates the outer layer without causing damage to the skin or surrounding tissues.

The IPL procedure is virtually painless. After the skin in the treatment site has been cleansed, a cool gel is applied to reduce discomfort. Depending on the severity of the condition and the desired result, patients can expect one to three treatments. Recovery time is a matter of hours.

Some improvements will be visible right away, though the most dramatic effects typically take days and weeks to be seen. Additional IPL sessions may be necessary to achieve the desired result. The end result will be clearer skin that has a more youthful and healthy appearance.

How to maintain results from intense pulsed light

Typically, as this light treatment causes very limited damage, there is no significant recovery period. Patients can return to their activities shortly after their IPL session, but may experience mild swelling, redness, or bruising for the first few days. The skin is often particularly sensitive during this time.

After an IPL treatment, it's important to avoid exposure to direct sunlight or UV radiation from artificial sources, as well as waxing, hot water, chemical peels, and blood thinners, until the skin has completely healed. Patients should avoid using makeup if their skin feels sore, moisturize regularly, and apply a cleanser designed for sensitive skin.

Beyond IPL: other light and laser options

Depending on your individual cosmetic needs, there are a variety of light and laser alternatives available at Skin Care & Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills. Laser skin resurfacing with Fraxel^® DUAL laser is effective for addressing wrinkles and issues relating to skin texture and tone, working by targeting the skin with a pixelated pattern of light to create micro-injuries that stimulate skin cell turnover and collagen regeneration. Additionally, microneedling can be used for skin rejuvenation to kickstart collagen production, improve skin laxity, and help topical products to better penetrate the skin.