Before & After

• Dry Eye Disease & Symptoms
• Rosacea
• Stye
• Acne
• Large pores
• Sun damage/ Freckles
• Discolored skin
• Small capillaries
• Age spots
• Varicose veins
• Broken blood vessels on your face
• Unwanted hair on your face, neck, chest, legs, underarms, and back.

IPL is similar to a laser treatment but more gentle on our skin. The light from IPL is more scattered and less concentrated than a laser. Unlike lasers, IPL sends out more than one wavelength of pulsating light, therefore can treat multiple skin conditions at the same time. It penetrates to the second (dermis) layer of our skin without harming the top (epidermis) layer, so it causes less damage to your skin.

• Dr. Mikitchenko will examine you first and you should mention if you:
  • Sensitive to light
  • Pregnant or nursing
  • Have a skin condition
  • Might have skin cancer
  • Have a skin resurfacing disorder
  • Have recently tanned your skin using sunlight, tanning beds, or tanning creams
  • Are very dark-skinned
  • Take medication for other conditions that has light sensitivity side-effects ( Doxycycline, Retinoid creams, vitamin A, such as RetinA, or glycolic acid)

The effectiveness of IPL depends on severity of the condition and what exactly is targeted.

• Sun damage: You may see 65-75% less of the brown spots and redness caused by UV rays.
• Redness: Most patients report noticeable improvement after one to three treatments, the IPL therapy can get rid of 50%-75% of broken blood vessels for most patients. They could completely go away however, new ones might appear later on.
• Acne: IPL may help if you have acne or the scarring it causes. Depending on the severity, you may need about 4-6 sessions to notice a difference.
• Hair removal: You’ll get the most benefit if you have light skin and dark hair. Usually takes 2-3 sessions.

Before your IPL appointment, you should avoid:

• Perfume, makeup, and scented products that can irritate your skin.
• Tanning, sun exposure or use of tanning creams 2 weeks before the treatment
• Waxing, aggressive rubbing (exfoliation) or chemical peeling of the skin 2 weeks before the treatment
• Take medication that has light sensitivity side-effects

Once you are at your appointment, Dr. Mikitchenko will ask you to remove any makeup, creams, SPF for the effectiveness of the treatment. You will wear protective eyewear for the duration of the treatment. The doctor will use clear hypoallergenic cooling gel. You will feel a cool device applicator touching your skin and the doctor will move it in the specific pattern. You might feel a gentle rubber band snapping feeling, which is normal. After the treatment is done the doctor will remove the gel and will ask you to moisturize and use SPF frequently and vigorously. The IPL session usually takes about 20-30 minutes but larger treatment areas might take longer.

Usually there is no downtime after the procedure. No scarring, no redness, no big discomfort. Some of the brown spots may get darker but they should peel off on their own within a few weeks. Dr. Mikitchenko recommends avoiding direct sun and tanning for the next 2 weeks to preserve IPL effects. Don’t use makeup if treated skin is irritated. Use moisturizer and SPF and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Usually IPL treatment is repeated in 2-4 weeks. It may take a few sessions for you to notice any changes in your skin. Remember, IPL can make your skin look and feel better, but it can’t stop future aging. It also cannot treat the systemic condition that might affect your skin. You can repeat IPL treatment once or twice a year to maintain your skin appearance.