Even the most diligent sunscreen users can end up with uneven skin tone, dark spots, and redness after months of exposure to the Florida sun. Luckily, today’s aesthetic technology makes it easier than ever to correct these effects and reveal brighter, more evenly toned skin. In fact, when patients start looking for the best laser treatment for sun damage, they’re often surprised to learn that one of the most effective solutions, IPL photofacial, isn’t a laser at all!
Instead, this innovative light-based treatment offers a gentler, more customized approach to restoring your skin’s natural glow. Find out how IPL can reset your skin below.
IPL vs. Laser: Understanding the Difference
While both IPL (intense pulsed light) and lasers use light energy to rejuvenate the skin, they work in different ways. Laser treatments rely on a single, focused wavelength of light to target specific concerns, such as deep wrinkles or scars.
IPL, on the other hand, uses multiple wavelengths to treat a broader range of skin issues, such as sun damage, redness, broken capillaries, and age spots. This photofacial precisely targets unwanted pigmentation and vascular irregularities caused by sun exposure, revealing a clearer and more even complexion.
Why Fall and Winter Are Perfect for IPL
IPL treatments target pigment in sun spots, freckles, and visible capillaries, so your provider will want your skin to be at its natural, untanned baseline. That’s why fall and winter—when UV exposure naturally decreases—are ideal times for treatment. Shorter daylight hours mean less sun before and after your sessions, reducing the risk of post-treatment pigmentation changes and helping your skin heal safely. It’s the perfect time to reverse summer sun damage and start the new year with a refreshed, even-toned complexion.
What To Expect From Your IPL Treatment
Here’s what you can expect before, during, and after your IPL treatment to ensure the best possible results.
During Treatment
Your provider will cleanse your skin and apply a cooling gel to enhance your comfort. Pulses of light will gently heat the targeted areas, breaking down excess pigment and stimulating collagen production. Most patients describe the sensation as a quick “snap” on the skin but find it very tolerable.
After Treatment
Because there’s little to no downtime, you can usually return to nearly all your normal activities immediately after treatment. However, you will need to avoid hot showers, harsh exfoliants, direct sun exposure, and anything that could overheat or irritate your skin. Your provider will give you detailed aftercare instructions to ensure a smooth recovery.
Results
Brown spots and redness will fade progressively over time as your body’s natural healing system clears away the treated pigment and small surface blood vessels. For the best results, we recommend a series of treatments spaced several weeks apart, consistent sun protection, and medical-grade skin care.
A Personalized Approach to Radiant Skin
Every complexion is unique, and so is every treatment plan at The Spa at Southeastern Plastic Surgery. Our expert team tailors IPL settings to your specific skin type, tone, and concerns. If you’re seeking more extensive rejuvenation, you may combine IPL with other treatments such as microneedling, which targets deeper layers of the skin to refine texture further and boost overall results.
Reveal Your Healthiest, Most Luminous Skin
Ready to undo the effects of summer? Discover how IPL can safely and effectively reverse visible sun damage and restore a brighter, more even complexion. Request a consultation using the online form or call us at (850) 219-2000 to schedule your visit.
Leave a Reply