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Photofacial (IPL) for Sun Damaged Skin and Redness

Photofacial is for the treatment of sun damaged skin. Photofacial (Intense Pulsed Light) is a fast and effective simple light based procedure to lighten pigmentation caused by sun exposure and small facial veins from various causes. Photofacial can be used on the face, arms and chest.

Imagine your skin before all those hours in the sun. The Palomar Rejuvelux™ Pulsed Light Photofacial offers comfortable and effective treatment of sun damage and visible veins. IPL Photofacial treatments break up pigment so the body can more easily remove it through exfoliation. Small capillaries are heated to the point of coagulation and are then absorbed by the natural cleansing system of the body.


  • Source Palomar Medical
  • Photo Courtesy of Haneef Alibhai, MD
  • Treatment - IPL
  • Patient results may vary

Photofacial is the ideal procedure for

Sun damage - Wide areas of pigmentation on the face, chest and arms.
Sunspots - Individual pigmented lesions, also known as age spots or liver spots.
Results for : Sun damage/sun spots
The sunspots will darken after treatment and be naturally shed from the skin within 1 - 2 weeks.

SRosacea - General inflammation of the cheeks and face.
Results for : Rosacea
Skin tone will be more normal, with less pronounced redness within one week after treatment.

Spider veins - Individual vessels, which can be red, blue or purple in color.
Results for : Spider Veins
Vessels may disappear after treatment or they may appear darker and then fully or partially fade within 10-14 days.

Additional Photos from Palomar Medical
(Individual results may vary)

How does IPL Photofacial work?

The Palomar RejuveLux hand piece emits pulses of light into the skin. The light is absorbed by the pigment in sunspots and the blood in visible vessels, and converted to heat. The heat dissolves the cells that create the pigment and shrinks the vessels.

What is the procedure like?

A cool gel is spread over the area to be treated. You will wear small protective eye goggles. The hand piece will be moved over your skin while the light is pulsed. Each pulse will send a beam of light through the skin. A flashing light, an audible tone, and a mild sensation on the skin indicate when the hand piece is being pulsed.

Intense pulsed light is strong light. First-timers may be surprised at the flash of light which is noticed even with the wearing of goggles. Once you know to expect this, it is easy to relax and know the light is simply "doing it's job". The sensation is a slight "snap" feeling but it is not painful. Treatments are over in 10 to 15 minutes. Typically, several treatments will be necessary to achieve complete clearance of sunspots, rosacea and vessels.
  • Photo source Eden Aesthetics
  • Distribution - Model Demonstration

  • Source Baylor College of Medicine
  • Treatment - Intense Pulsed Light
  • Patient results may vary

  • Source Palomar Medical
  • Treatment - Intense Pulsed Light
  • Photo courtesy Akio Sato, MD
  • Patient results may vary

IPL Photofacial is an excellent way to restore a more youthful appearance to hands. As we age, often it is our hands that "give away" our age.

How will I look after my treatments?

Improvement is subtle and occurs with a series of treatments. You can expect your skin to look more even-toned, smoother and more youthful. After initial treatment you may experience temporary darkening of pigmented areas. This is a good indication and shows that your these trouble areas absorbed the light as was intended.

What is the healing process?

Immediately after treatment, you can expect a mild sunburn-like sensation, sometimes accompanied by some minor swelling if you are particularly sensitive. This usually lasts 2-24 hours, and can be soothed with a washcloth dipped in cold water or ice packs.

What kind of after care do I need to perform after my IPL treatment?

Sun protection is your primary post-treatment requirement. IPL is a gentle procedure and does not require unusual after-care. But you will need to protect your treated skin from sun exposure to prevent causing new sun damage.


  • Source Palomar Medical
  • Photo Courtesy of Randall Coverman, MD
  • Treatment - IPL
  • Patient results may vary

Will IPL Photofacials be all I need to make my skin look its best?

For some people, IPL is all that's needed to refresh skin tone and take care of redness or splotchy pigmentation. Others may need a combination of treatments. Heavier veins are treatable with vascular lasers and those with multiple years of sun damage may decide to seek the more profound benefits of Fractional Laser.

Related Treatments

Cosmelan depigmentation topical program
Fractional Resurfacing laser for melasma, scarring and skin resurfacing
Microdermabrasion for manual exfoliation of rough skin
Photo Rejuvenation with photodynamic therapy
TCA Moderate Depth Chemcial Peels
Neostrata Peels and Jessner Peels for light to high potency chemical peels
Vascular Laser for larger facial or leg veins

During your office consultation you will be provided with a detailed plan of the treatments that will benefit you most. Initial Cosmetic Consultations are Complimentary.

Please contact us by phone or email with any questions you may have or request an appointment online for your complimentary consultation. Would you like to share this information with a friend? Click here to Send this Page to a Friend.

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8920 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 404
Beverly Hills, California 90211
888-333-2515
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