Saying Goodbye to Sunspots: How IPL Treatments Can Transform Your Skin

Every time we walk outside, we risk damaging our skin. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays damage our skin cells as they come into contact with them. 

At first, this sun damage isn’t necessarily noticeable. When you’re young, you’ll usually need a UV light to see it. 

As you age, though, that damage becomes increasingly visible. In fact, over time, it can start to transform your appearance.

If that sounds familiar, talk with Elaine Phuah, DO, MBA, FACOI, and our team about intense pulsed light (IPL). With this treatment, which we offer right here at Hanami Medspa in Fort Worth, Texas, we can target sun damage and work to clear it from your skin. 

How IPL works

Here at Hanami Medspa, we use the state-of-the-art Stellar M22™ IPL system by Lumenis. With this technology, we can send pulses of light into your skin. We fine-tune that energy to target certain colors of pigment. Because sun damage is generally darker than your healthy skin, the IPL system picks it out and focuses the light energy there. 

The light heats the sun-damaged skin cells, destroying the pigment. In the coming weeks, your body will process the IPL-treated cells and get rid of them. 

IPL often gets called a photo facial, but we don’t have to stop at treating sun damage on your face. Dr. Phuah and our team can also use IPL to address sun spots on your:

• Arms
• Chest
• Hands
• Shoulders

What’s more, IPL isn’t only useful for sun spots. It can also treat the other ways the sun damages your skin. It can help smooth fine lines and wrinkles while giving you a more even complexion overall. 

What to expect during and after treatment

The treatment itself is fairly well tolerated. The Stellar M22 system has cooling technology to keep you comfortable while the IPL goes to work. At worst, most people liken it to having a rubber band snapped against their skin. 

There’s no downtime with IPL, although you might look red or slightly swollen for about 24 hours. The after-effects aren’t dissimilar from a mild sunburn. 

Dr. Phuah usually recommends 3-6 IPL treatments spaced about 3-4 weeks apart to give you the best results. She tailors a plan to your level of sun damage and cosmetic goals.

Explore our before-and-after gallery for a better idea of what to expect with IPL. 

If you’re living with visible sun damage, IPL gives you a tool to use to undo it. To learn more about what it can do for you, call Hanami Medspa or make an appointment online.