You’ve probably heard the phrase “knowledge is power,” but we take that phrase to heart at BeachGlo Aesthetics. When it comes to helping our patients make educated decisions about their health and beauty, we go beyond the surface. We provide in-depth information so each patient understands their treatment plan and feels confident in the results they’ll achieve.
For this blog, we’ll talk specifically about IPL, or intense pulsed light treatment in Nags Head. First, we explain the basics about the treatment, and then we go deeper into the topic. You can understand the science behind IPL and how to determine if it’s the right treatment for your skin’s needs.
The Basics
IPL, or intense pulsed light, noninvasive skin rejuvenation treatment uses pulses of light to address a variety of issues, including:
- Fine lines
- Rosacea
- Acne
- Sun spots
- Freckles
- Scars
- Spider veins located on the face
IPL uses a broad spectrum of wavelengths to address your skin concerns. This makes treatment more comfortable than other skin rejuvenation options.
What’s more, the IPL wavelengths penetrate deep into the skin, going beyond the surface to correct skin concerns at the root.
| Treatment Length | Numbing Needed? | Downtime | Number of Sessions | Results Duration |
| 30 to 40 minutes | None | Minimal | 3 recommended | Up to a year |
What You Should Know Before Getting IPL
Before we go into the science of how IPL improves your skin, let’s look at other aspects of the treatment you should consider before scheduling an appointment.
Contraindications
Certain medical conditions may prevent you from getting intense pulsed light treatment in Nags Head. It’s always good to talk with one of our providers during your consultation first, and they can identify if you’re a candidate based on your specific health history. The following conditions mean you may not be the ideal candidate for IPL.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You have an active skin infection or cold sores.
- You have a sunburn or tanned skin.
- You take medications like blood thinners or Accutane or certain antibiotics.
- Your skin is sensitive to light.
- You have active skin cancer or a history of skin cancer.
- You have a skin resurfacing disorder.
- Your skin tone increases risks of hyperpigmentation.
If any of these conditions apply to you, we suggest talking with one of our providers or talking with your primary care provider before undergoing intense pulsed light.
The IPL Process
While we personalize your treatment to your individual needs, you can expect your visits with our team to look similar to this when you reach out for intense pulsed light treatment in Nags Head.
Step 1) Consultation
For your first appointment, you schedule an initial consultation with one of our expert providers. They listen to your concerns and your goals, then ask you plenty of questions to get a clear idea of your health history. This helps them choose the best treatments for your needs, including intense pulsed light. For example, if you have spider veins on your face, you may benefit from IPL. But you will benefit more from other treatment for spider veins on the legs, since IPL cannot treat them.
Once they have determined which treatments would work for you, they talk with you about your options, and you both work together to create a personalized treatment plan that will help you accomplish your goals.
Step 2) Treatment
Once you and your provider feel confident in your treatment plan, they help you schedule your IPL appointment and give you care instructions to follow before your procedure.
They provide you with safety goggles to wear and apply a clear gel on your skin to keep it cool and comfortable. Once you feel ready, your provider begins administering the IPL treatment. While you might have some slight discomfort, IPL is not a painful treatment, and many patients tolerate treatment without any numbing. Patient feedback during this part of the process is important, and your provider will check in often to see if treatment is too hot.
Step 3) Results
Your intense pulsed light treatment in Nags Head should take just 30 to 45 minutes to complete, and your provider will have you remove your protective goggles. They will remove the gel and apply aloe to help calm the skin. Some patients can immediately return to most of their normal daily activities, but others need a little downtime to allow their skin to heal. It is critical to stay out of the sun post-treatment to protect your skin, stay hydrated and use products that are safe for sensitive skin.
Since the healing process varies from person to person, we encourage you to take the downtime you need. After your initial session, your provider helps you schedule your next IPL sessions to complete your treatment series.
Care Instructions
We provide personalized pre-care and post-care instructions before your IPL treatment to help you achieve the best results possible. Below, we preview the basic care instructions we encourage everybody undergoing IPL to follow.
Pre-Care Instructions
- Avoid direct sunlight, tanning beds, and tanning creams for at least 4 weeks before your IPL appointment.
- Arrive to your appointment with clean skin. Do not apply makeup, lotions, oils, or perfume the morning of your appointment.
- Do not get a wax or undergo any other skin-irritating treatment for 4 weeks before getting IPL.
Make sure to drink plenty of water the day before and the day of your appointment. This helps your body heal your skin more quickly. - Avoid taking any medication that makes your skin sensitive to light 1 week before your appointment, such as retinol.
Post-Care Instructions
- Use the recommended skin care products to keep your skin moisturized while it heals.
- Keep your skin protected by using a mineral sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30. Wear this sunscreen for at least 4 weeks after getting intense pulsed light treatment in Nags Head.
- Wash your face regularly to keep it clean. Make sure to use lukewarm water and dry your face by patting it gently with a clean cloth.
- Avoid exfoliation or treatments like chemical peels or use of harsh products such as Vitamin C or retinol.
- Avoid wearing makeup for 2 to 3 days after treatments. Only apply makeup once your skin stops feeling irritated or uncomfortable.
- As the skin heals, the pigmented areas may appear darker and the veins more visible. It may feel as if you have a sunburn. There is a period of sloughing where the skin sheds and naturally flakes off.
It’s Time to Go Deeper…
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at how IPL actually improves your skin.
Intense pulsed light therapy was originally developed in 1992 to treat leg telangiectasias, or spider veins on the legs. However, it proved to be so successful at using heat to heal the skin, the FDA approved it for a variety of other aesthetic issues in 1995.
Since then, researchers have made continuous innovations on the technology, and it has become a powerful treatment in the medical aesthetics world.
IPL emits polychromatic light, or light that contains multiple wavelengths, that span from approximately 400 to 1400 nanometers (nm). We can adjust the settings to each patient based on their skin tone and their specific needs.
That light targets the skin’s chromophores, molecules that absorb light and determine the color of an object. The most common chromophore in humans is melanin, which determines the color of our eyes, skin, and hair. The light from IPL breaks down irregular melanin within the skin, fading dark spots and evening out skin tone.
At the same time, IPL increases your body’s natural production of collagen and elastin. These 2 proteins keep your muscles and tissues healthy and flexible and your skin looking smooth and youthful.
After your intense pulsed light treatment in Nags Head, new collagen and elastin works to create healthier, smoother, and more evenly toned skin by building new skin cells. This can help with many issues, including spider veins in the face, rosacea, and pigmentation.
Commonly Asked Questions
Now you know exactly how IPL works to improve your skin, but we understand if you still have questions. Here, we answer some of the most commonly asked questions our team hears.
What treatments pair well with IPL?
We customize the treatments included in your care plan to meet your specific needs. However, we commonly pair IPL with treatments like Emface and facials to continue the collagen and elastin boost for long-lasting smooth skin.
How is IPL different from a laser?
A laser treatment uses a single wavelength of light to target dead and damaged skin cells. and because lasers offer more intense treatment, you only need a few sessions to achieve your goals.
When you get intense pulsed light treatment in Nags Head, we expose your skin to multiple wavelengths of light. This makes treatment less intense, so it is more comfortable than any laser treatment available, though it requires more sessions if you are targeting more severe concerns.
How far apart are my IPL sessions?
We typically space out your IPL sessions by 4 weeks. This allows your skin to fully heal before you undergo another session.
Glo Beyond the Surface
You can achieve smooth, glowing skin with just a few short sessions of intense pulsed light treatment in Nags Head. You can book an appointment with one of our expert providers to begin your IPL process. If you don’t yet feel ready to commit to an appointment, then you can use our virtual consultation tool to find out if IPL is right for you.
