Photofacials Aren’t Just For Brown Spots

Photofacial devices like IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and BBL (Broad Band Light) were introduced to the medical aesthetic market in the 1990s and have significantly evolved since. IPL and BBL devices produce a broad wavelength output of high intensity light.

The three main light treatment targets in skin are hemoglobin (in blood), melanin (pigment) and water. Since the light targets hemoglobin, vascular lesions (eg. cherry angiomas) and rosacea (eg. redness, superficial vessels) can be treated with photofacials.

Pigmented lesions (like age spots and freckles) can also be treated since the light targets melanin.

In addition, treating collagen fibers with high intensity light energy leads to their contracture and stimulates new collagen synthesis.

Therefore, as well as improving skin tone by improving red and brown spots, photofacials also firm the skin.

Photofacials only take 30 minutes with minimal to no downtime. A series of photofacials are always recommended for initial results followed by long-term maintenance treatments to maintain results.

Reference: Goldberg DJ. Current Trends in Intense Pulsed Light. J Clin Asthet Dermatol. 2012 June;5(6): 45-53.