We often forget to give our skin sun protection, such as clothing, an umbrella, or sunscreen. While it may seem to be a minor thing to forget, our skin is receiving the sun’s full potential, which causes skin damage and complications later on. Fortunately, even when the skin is damaged, there is still a way to reverse and fix it, and that’s when Photofacial treatment enters the picture.
Your skin doesn’t get damaged by sun exposure that quickly, so it’s fine to forget sun protection from time to time. However, those minor damages will slowly stack up against one on the other. Over time, your skin will get so much damage that it won’t go away on its own.
When the skin is revealed to the sun, it becomes more sensitive to UV rays, leading to premature aging, wrinkles, freckles, pigmentation, and dark spots. When you are at this stage already, skincare products are not enough; you now need Photofacial cosmetic treatment to handle the job.
What Is Photofacial
Photofacial is a cosmetic treatment used for skin rejuvenation and skin imperfections. It is also known as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment. It is a form of phototherapy which uses light to treat various skin conditions.
Photofacial treatment has been around since the 1980s. It has seen a wave in popularity in recent years due to its effectiveness in removing acne scars, wrinkles and improving the skin’s overall complexion. The procedure involves using an IPL machine that emits light at different wavelengths depending on what needs to be treated on the skin.
Photofacial treatments can be performed in-office or in the clinic’s surgical suite. The procedure is non-invasive and painless. The goal is to enhance your skin’s texture, tone, and clarity without affecting its natural appearance.
The Photofacial treatment typically takes about an hour and can be customized for your individual needs.
How Is Photofacial Different From Laser Treatment?
Photofacial and laser treatments are cosmetic procedures that use light to improve skin appearance. The difference between the two treatments is the wavelengths and penetration depth.
Photofacial uses a combination of different wavelengths to treat various skin conditions such as acne, age spots, and redness. It is also used for skin tightening and rejuvenation. On the other hand, laser treatment only uses one wavelength with a higher concentration than Photofacial to treat skin conditions such as wrinkles or sun damage.
It doesn’t mean that laser treatments are inferior since they cannot do other wavelengths, and we still use laser cosmetic treatments as part of our services. They just have different purposes for their specific tasks. Photofacial offers different wavelengths since patient to patient can have varying circumstances.
How Does Photofacial Work?
The light energy used in Photofacial treatments is delivered through an intense pulse light. The light penetrates deep into the skin’s surface, heating it destroying the upper layer of cells on its surface. This process stimulates collagen production and improves the overall appearance of your skin.
The point is to improve the skin’s current condition, so why heat it and damage it? We only damage the skin enough to emulate an injury, like a burn, but not really. Since it’s not much damage, it won’t leave any scars behind.
Once the skin notices the damages, it kicks in the body’s healing processes, stimulating collagen and other healing properties production. Since there isn’t much damage, the existing skin layers are instead reinforced and renewed.
Benefits Of Photofacial
Photofacial treatment is a safe procedure used for years by dermatologists worldwide to improve the look and feel of their patients’ skin. The treatments are quick and easy because they use light waves that are very customizable to the needs of their patients.
Here are some benefits you can make out of Photofacial treatment:
1.) Non-Invasive Way To Improve Your Skin
Photofacial is a non-invasive procedure that can be performed on all skin types. The process takes about 30 minutes, and the results can last up to 3 years.
Photofacial procedure is done by applying a topical cream to the face and then exposing it to intense light emitted from a special lamp. This process causes the cells in your skin to regenerate, leading to an improvement in the appearance of your skin.
2.) Best Way To Fix Sun-Damaged The Skin
Photofacial can be performed on various body parts, but it is most commonly used to treat the face. The Photofacial uses UV light and other treatments to help repair sun damage and improve skin tone.
The varying light wavelength modular configurations allow the Photofacial treatment to be used for specific situations of each patient. The IPL light penetrates deep into the skin and destroys the unwanted melanin in the skin. It removes all dark spots and other uneven pigmentation.
3.) Fixes Acne
Photofacials use various wavelengths of light energy to treat acne breakouts. The equipment used for this procedure includes a high-intensity lamp with multiple filters and a handpiece that emits light energy in pulses. The light energy from Photofacial is more than enough to kill the acne-causing bacteria.
4.) Help Prevent Premature Aging
The aging process is inevitable, but with the help of a Photofacial treatment, you can slow down and even prevent the signs of aging from appearing.
The treatment works by targeting the damaged skin cells responsible for aging. When these cells are targeted, they are destroyed, and new cells replace them. The body then replaces these new cells with healthy ones that help to prevent signs of aging from appearing on the skin.
The intense pulsed light stimulates the natural production of collagen in your skin cells, which helps rebuild them and make them stronger.
Side Effects
The procedure is painless and quick, but it does have some side effects.
The treatment can cause sun sensitivity, so it’s essential to wear sunscreen after the procedure and avoid spending too much time in the sun or tanning beds. It can also cause skin dryness and peeling, so patients should moisturize their skin regularly.
Takeaway
Photofacial is known for its ability to fix sun-damaged skin. However, it’s also known to help reduce signs of aging, improve your skin complexion, and fix acne. What more are you waiting for?
If you are interested in Photofacial, make sure to reach out to our clinic, Frost Aesthetics