Both men and women contend with hyperpigmentation in the form of brown spots and discoloration, primarily on the face, neck, shoulders, and hands. While pregnancy and sun exposure can hasten the development of brown spots, your age and certain medical conditions may also increase your risk for unsightly skin discoloration.
By far, the biggest threat to your skin comes from ultraviolet (UV) light. Exposure to this type of light can result in broken capillaries, discolored areas, redness that becomes ever-present, and the classic brown sunspots. Certain UV rays, such as those produced by the sun or by indoor tanning beds, can do the most damage and cause premature aging of the skin. At HK Dermatology, Dr. Norma Kassardjian, JoAnn Coker, NP, and nurse practitioner Atoussa Cameron utilize IPL therapy to address these issues caused by harmful UV rays.
Brown spots are frequently seen as a sign of aging, as they rob the skin of the uniform appearance and coloring most often associated with youth. Banishing brown spots can go a long way toward restoring and rejuvenating your complexion and your self-confidence. The most thorough way to get rid of your brown spots, along with other signs of UV damage and hyperpigmentation, is through intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy.
IPL therapy is revolutionary in that the pulsed light destroys the pigmentation and discoloration while maintaining the integrity of the surrounding tissue. IPL technology enables light therapy to travel beneath the top layer of skin into the next layer, where the melanin-triggered dark spots erupt.
The darker pigmentation attracts and absorbs the pulsed light and converts it into heat, which causes the pigments to virtually disintegrate, then your body’s waste removal system takes over to dispose of them.
Although IPL therapy is similar to laser therapy, IPL is much more thorough in treating discolorations of the skin, such as brown spots. Where lasers use one directed wavelength of light, IPL produces many different bursts of light at one time, much like a photo flash.
HK Dermatology encourages anyone bothered by the appearance of brown spots and other types of pigmentation, to consider IPL therapy. There isn’t too much involved in your preparation for IPL therapy, beyond meeting with a member of our team. One of our skincare specialists examines your skin and discusses specific goals you hope to achieve with your IPL therapy. They’ll let you know what to expect and how many treatments you may need to achieve your desired appearance.
At the time of your procedure, your skin is cleaned and treated with a numbing cream. The skincare specialist places the IPL device on your targeted areas and pulses of light are emitted, diminishing your brown spots with each flash. In most cases, the entire process takes less than 30 minutes.
IPL therapy is noninvasive, so there’s no downtime involved in your recovery, and you can expect to return to normal activities immediately. You may experience some swelling and redness, and you’ll be advised to avoid hot water and strenuous exercise until the tenderness subsides. Your skin will look and feel sunburned, but the redness will go away within a few days. Your brown spots will darken and flake off in 7 to 10 days.
Depending on the amount of sun damage and discoloration you have, you may need to schedule a series of IPL therapy treatments. As with all of our custom treatments and procedures at HK Dermatology, your IPL therapy will be tailored to address your specific goals.
For more information on the remarkable results you can achieve with IPL therapy, contact HK Dermatology. Our outstanding team of skincare and aesthetics specialists will be happy to meet with you for a consultation to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
We are conveniently located in San Juan Capistrano, California, and serve the surrounding area of Orange County. We look forward to helping you banish your brown spots and improve your skin’s appearance.
