How About a New Year without the Age Spots?
Living in sunny California, we’ve all had our share of sun exposure. Whether it was to the degree of slathering on baby oil and laying out on the roof or not (you know who you are!), odds are if you’re over 40, you have the result of all that sun — brown spots on your face, the backs of your hands, your decolletage, and elsewhere. Some people call them age spots, others liver spots. No matter what you call them, these areas of hyperpigmentation tend to get darker the older we get.
At Central Valley Eye Medical, they’re the realm of our resident skin expert, Dr. Kimberly Cockerham. And she knows just what those dark spots on your skin need — intense pulsed light, IPL for short. Dr. Cockerham uses IPL energy to help our patients get rid of their sun spots at Central Valley Eye Medical.
So, why not get intense with your age spots in the New Year at Central Valley? Let’s devote January’s two blogs to IPL treatments.
Intense Pulsed Light is good for your skin
Everyone knows someone who is just too intense. They get too close when you talk to them. They get overly excited when pushing their viewpoint. They’re just too intense.
But when it comes to your facial skin, you want intense treatment — you want intense pulsed light. Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is also known as a photofacial and is great for transforming age spots, areas of blotchy red skin, and other problems into a radiant complexion at Central Valley Eye Medical.
What is IPL photofacial?
A photofacial is a 30-minute procedure where intense pulses of light are used to penetrate deeply into the skin. This penetration causes collagen and blood vessels below the epidermis to constrict, reducing redness. The melanin in age spots absorb the light energy, and this breaks down the melanin, causing the spots to peel off, lessening their appearance.
Would a photofacial be right for me?
If you have blotchy, sun-damaged, discolored skin IPL can be a good option. Also, if you have large pores, freckles, or small wrinkles an IPL photofacial can help.
The procedure is best if you aren’t overly tanned. People with white, untanned skin that still has good elasticity are perfect for IPL photofacials. You need to know that IPL isn’t that effective on heavy facial lines or severe acne scarring. But for the right conditions, IPL photofacials improve skin texture, eliminate discoloration areas, reduce pore size, and can minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Also, if you have rosacea, a condition that causes blotchy redness on the face, a photofacial can help.
In January’s second blog, we’ll get into IPL photofacials a little more. Until then, if you’d like to get rid of some of your age spots for 2021, why not give us a call at Central Valley Eye Medical Group, (800) 244-9907, and make an IPL appointment at one of our three locations.
Posted in: Cosmetic Oculoplastic Services
