Anti-ageing using intense pulsed light
Many people in their thirties and older suffer from sun-damaged facial skin, which can present itself in many forms: wrinkles and fine lines are often accompanied by dry and rough skin, mottled skin tone and areas of abnormal pigmentation.
Lentigines (commonly known as age or sun spots) and ephelides (commonly known as freckles) are frequently seen types of ‘superficial’ pigmentation, and although benign, they can become an issue of cosmetic concern. Vascular irregularities such as telangiectasias and rosacea can also contribute to overall skin tone irregularities and up until recently, treatment options have been limited.
The method of photo-rejuvenation has recently been developed to provide longer-term benefits, improving both the firmness and overall texture of the skin, as well removing areas of superficial pigmentation and capillaries that together cause the visible signs of photo-damaged skin.
IPL systems operate on the principle of selective photothermolysis in which target chromophores are selectively damaged with minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue. In general, when light enters the skin, the majority of it will be absorbed by the chromophores blood, melanin and water. In photo-rejuvenation treatment several wavelength ranges can be used.