
Jan
Asking questions about dermatological procedures is the best way to find out if you are a candidate for treatment and prepare yourself for your appointment. The same applies to certain treatments, including IPL photo facial services. A dermatology office like Essential Dermatology is managed by a board-certified dermatologist who can provide education on various skincare procedures available at the clinic. Let’s look at a few questions to ask our dermatologist when you arrive to learn more about intense pulsed light therapies.
Most patients who visit Essential Dermatology for IPL treatments do so to improve the look of their skin. IPL treatments treat many common skin concerns, including sun damage, age spots, acne scars, rosacea, and uneven pigmentation.
IPL is an acronym that stands for Intense Pulsed Light and works by delivering high-intensity light pulses onto targeted areas of the skin. Specific chromophores in the skin, such as melanin or blood vessels, absorb the light, reducing pigmentation and redness while promoting collagen production for improved texture and firmness.
As with any medical procedure, there are potential side effects to consider when undergoing IPL treatments. These can include temporary redness, swelling, and bruising in the treated area. Some patients may also experience mild discomfort during the treatment or a sensation similar to a rubber band snapping against the skin.
The length of an IPL treatment session typically varies depending on the size of the treated area and the specific concerns being addressed. Generally, a session can take between 15 minutes to an hour. The number of sessions needed for optimal results can also vary, but most of our patients require several treatments spaced out over a few weeks.
Unlike more invasive procedures, IPL treatments do not require significant downtime. Most patients can return to their daily activities immediately after treatment, although some of our patients might experience minor redness or swelling that typically subsides within a few hours.
Before your first IPL treatment, you must schedule a consultation with our experienced board-certified dermatologist and his team at Essential Dermatology. This allows our team to assess your skin concerns and decide if you are an ideal candidate for the procedure. It would help if you also were mindful to avoid direct sun exposure and tanning beds before your visit and to inform your doctor of any medications or skin care products you use.
If you live in Marlborough, Natick, or Needham, Massachusetts, and are interested in finding out if you are a candidate for IPL treatments, call one of our three office locations to request a consultation appointment with Dr. Michael Krathen and his staff at Essential Dermatology.
Dr. Michael Krathen is a board-certified dermatologist with over a decade of medical training and experience. He studied biology and Spanish, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also completed medical school. His training included a medical internship at the Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and a dermatology residency at the combined Boston University/Tufts Residency Program.
Author of various medical journal articles, Dr. Krathen taught at Stanford University School of Medicine and the VA Hospital in Jamaica Plain.