Intense Pulsed Light Treatments FAQs
What is a treatment procedure?
A full medical history, including any medication (prescribed, herbal or homeopathic) that you are on, is taken by the doctor or therapist. Then a comprehensive treatment programme is written up for your exact needs. Pre treatment photographs will be taken for your notes, which are treated as private and confidential information. The treatment programme will be reviewed at each treatment session and adjusted accordingly. A test patch is needed 24 hours before a full treatment can be carried out. During the treatment the area is prepared and then the applicator head is applied and moved across the area in steps to ensure full coverage. The applicator head is large therefore treatments can be carried out quickly, which is important with today's hectic lifestyles.
Are there any side effects?
There are little or no side effects. The treatment can be uncomfortable; the sensation has been likened to being flicked by an elastic band. If the discomfort is intolerable, then the practitioner can reduce the energy and reduce the discomfort, though results may take longer to be seen. During the treatment the skin may feel warm and go slightly red. There is a slight chance that the skin may blister or crust over, though this normally resolves within a few days.
In darker skins there is a slight risk of lightening the skin. In certain treatment such as removal of pigmented patches, crusting is a definite expected side effect, as the whole point of the treatment is to remove the pigment.
How many treatments may I need and how often do I need them?
In most cases results are seen after 3 treatments for all indications i.e.: hair removal, skin rejuvenation or pigmentation.
Treatments are spaced at 4-6 week intervals. There is no maximum amount of treatments that you can have.
For skin rejuvenation a combination treatment package may be recommended, which would include a course of glycolic peels, microdermabrasion or other medical cosmetic treatments to really enhance results, with maintenance treatments every 6 months.
When will I see results?
For facial rejuvenation, acne and facial vein treatments, the improvement can be gradual; you may not see results for about 3 months. This is why the pre and post treatment photographs are taken. Your bodies own collagen can take up to 9 months to fully mature, so the results will continue to develop over this time period.
Skin pigmentation will gradually fade over the course of treatments.
Who can be treated?
Anyone can be treated, though children under 18 years must be accompanied by their parent or guardian for consent purposes. If you have a suntan, then it is advised that you do not have treatment until you have returned to your base colour.
What do I need to do after my treatment?
1- 2 days after your skin treatment - You may wish to avoid vigorous exercise and swimming, as these may cause irritation. You may prefer not to use any make-up and avoid perfumed products. In case of any irritation, we recommend using a lotion containing Aloe-Vera.
1- 5 days after your skin treatment - You may find that hot baths, showers and saunas can cause irritation. You may wish to avoid contact sports while your skin is more sensitive. We advise you to avoid tanning for 5 days after treatment. When sunbathing we recommend a sunscreen with a UVA 5* rating and a UVB protection factor of SPF 30 or more.
4-6 months after your treatment - It is recommended that you avoid sun exposure on the treated area to prevent pigmentation of the area (commoner in skin type III or IV). If pigmentation does occur, use sunscreen on the area, the pigment will usually fade in 4-9 months.