IPL – The Secret Weapon to Remove Sun Damage

If you have spent a significant amount of time outside under the Jacksonville sun without sunscreen, you might be showing the unfortunate signs of sun damage. After years of exposure, there may be dark, freckled patches, also known as age spots on your face, neck, shoulders, or other parts of the body. The good news is that the experienced staff at Pura Vida Body & Mind Spa in Fleming Island, FL can correct sun damage with an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) photofacial.

This IPL technology is our secret weapon reserved for patients who desire a youthful look to once sun-damaged skin without extensive or invasive treatments. IPL is a simple treatment that uses light to restore the skin and reduce the appearance of sun damage with no or minimal downtime. Not only is IPL a fast and effective way to eliminate discoloration, but it also works to improve skin texture and minimize wrinkles while leaving the skin unharmed. Learn more about IPL photofacials at Pura Vida Body & Mind Spa in Fleming Island, FL, by reading below.

How IPL Photofacials Work

An IPL photofacial works in many ways to cure the body of different skin conditions. Specifically, this treatment uses a broad spectrum of light to target individual molecules to reduce blemishes caused by harmful UV rays. To begin the treatment, Pura Vida Body & Mind Spa will deliver an intense pulse of light to the second layer of skin, known as the dermis. The light energy is then transformed into heat, causing tiny lesions in the skin. Over the next few weeks, the body produces collagen and elastin to help the skin to appear firmer and more vibrant than before.

If you have dark spots due to frequent UV exposure from the sun in Jacksonville, IPL treatments work by breaking up the cells that contain dark spots and blemishes, also called melanin. While the body heals from the procedure, the old skin will wither flake away, scab over, or be removed naturally by the body.

IPL photofacials also work by targeting the hemoglobin in red blood cells. This reduces the redness of dilated or broken capillary vessels (also called spider veins). Blood vessels lie close to the surface of your skin, becoming visible due to sun exposure, extreme temperatures, and other environmental factors. When spider veins cause a loss of confidence in the way you look, IPL can help.

Reverse Sun Damage and More

At Pura Vida Body & Mind Spa in Fleming Island, FL, our skincare experts most frequently treat the face for signs of sun damage. However, IPL photofacials are also suitable for the neck, chest, shoulders, hands, and other parts of the body to reverse the effects of aging. Based on the severity of the damage, you may require up to five treatments spaced out every four weeks to achieve your desired look. To maintain your results and address other concerns as they arise, continue to schedule follow-up appointments as needed for future IPL sessions. Our experienced team in Fleming Island, FL will work closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan for IPL.

How we Perform the Procedure

Before the treatment, your trained technician at Pura Vida Body & Mind Spa will give you a custom consultation and help you understand if you are a candidate for IPL. After an assessment of your skin, we let you know what to expect from the procedure. IPL is best for men and women alike with untanned skin featuring sun damage, blotches, or discoloration. Please inform our staff if you have any skin conditions that will affect the healing process, such as eczema or severe acne.

At Pura Vida Body & Mind Spa, we offer the Limelight IPL system. This innovative technology delivers a noninvasive light treatment that can be customized for various skin types and tones, as well as aging skin conditions.

Recovery at Home

There is no downtime following an IPL photofacial, which means you can schedule the treatment as needed and then return to your daily activities right away. This includes wearing makeup and sunscreen after the procedure, but be careful to avoid exposure to direct sunlight for at least 5 – 7 days. We may recommend avoiding direct sunlight, tanning beds, chemical peels, waxing, and collagen injections until you have completely healed. You may experience minor temporary redness that can be reduced by a cold compress. Those who have a more intense treatment may have a red or splotchy face for at least a week afterward. After your IPL photofacial, Jacksonville patients will begin to see the improvements in the skin about 2 – 4 weeks after treatment.

Visible Results with an IPL Photofacial

Powerful UV rays can cause quite a bit of damage to the skin if you’ve neglected to wear sunscreen. After years of sun exposure, your skin may have developed freckles, discoloration, or dark spots that make you appear older. At Pura Vida Body & Mind Spa, we have revolutionary technology at our spa to restore the skin for a healthier appearance. If you are ready to press the reset button on your face, neck, and shoulders and eliminate sun damage, reach out to our spa to schedule your next appointment for an IPL photofacial in Fleming Island, FL.