IPL Pigmentation Treatment Review

As we near the end of the summer and tans begin to fade, signs of sun damage can start to become more noticeable. 

One treatment which claims to improve pigmentation is IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light treatment. This advanced technology uses short blasts of light energy to stimulate skin cell renewal. With increased intensity, the treatment can home in on particular troublespots while also giving a general boost to the skin, reducing discolouration and patchiness. Over time, the skin becomes clearer and more even. The treatment also helps to rejuvenate the skin, improving fine lines and general radiance. What’s not to like?

This article originally appeared in an Evening Standard supplement on innovative healthcare. Writer Mattie Lacey-Davidson explained her concerns:

“After two years of frequent travelling, the light speckles across my face turned into dark, large dots with sporadic patches of dark pigmentation. It was clear that what was once a delicate array of freckles had become a very clear indication of badly sun-damaged skin. And while laser treatments can’t undo damage, it can at least hide the signs of it.

“I went to Cosmedics Skin Clinic in Harley Street to see Dr Ross Perry. The treatment began with IPL, which stands for intense pulsed light. A handheld device delivers quick hot pulses of light into the skin, which breaks down pigment patches into smaller particles, which then rise up to the surface of the skin and flake away.

“Each flash of light felt like a sharp sting and so each triggered my reflexes. Every shot of light made me jump and it didn’t give up for a single moment; I jumped my way through the entire treatment as the laser moved around my face.

“A different light was required for certain patches that were particularly dark — such as a circle on the inner top corner of my nose, so dark that a stranger once approached me to say I had a mascara smudge, quickly realising her mistake as the words escaped her lips.

“For this a KTP laser was used, which harnesses a particular wave- length of light using a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) crystal. These patches scabbed over and bruised, taking about a week to heal; whereas patches removed by IPL simply shed away in days.

“A month on, fully healed, and my skin isn’t yet crystal clear. Light freckles remain and the patches
of pigmentation are reduced and much lighter. Usually more than one treatment is required, so I’ll need another, but for the time being I’m treating it at home with skincare that reduces pigmentation.

Alternative options

“The Fitzpatrick skin type scale goes from one to six, with one to three covering pale to olive skin, and three to six covering light brown to dark skin tones. And, unfortunately, these laser treatments can only be performed on skin types one to three — frustrating for people of colour, especially because dark skin tones tend to be more prone to post- inflammatory hyperpigmentation. But there are alternatives,

“Dr Perry says:

“The gentle use of retinol and hydroquinone products may help with pigmentation, but there’s a fine balance between making things worse and improving, so it needs to be very carefully planned. Using a high SPF daily will prevent it worsening, and a mild retinol twice a week will help minimise it.”

Professional Skin Treatments

at London Laser Centres

Depending on the nature of the rosacea, professional treatments and/or skin care regimes may be of benefit. The Harley Street, City of London and Putney clinics offer a number of options including:

• Laser Pigmentation Therapy
• Laser Redness/Rosacea Treatment
• Laser IPL Treatment
• Cosmeceutical skincare with active ingredients which can improve even difficult skin conditions

The best treatment approach depends on the individual case. Please contact our team for advice.

Dr Ross Perry

Dr Ross Perry regularly provides expert comment and advises the media on a range of skincare and health-related issues.

He has particular expertise in skin surgery mole removal and melanoma; having removed thousands of moles in his career, both within the NHS and privately through Cosmedics Skin Clinics. He provides expert advice on skin cancer, sun damage and sun protection for a variety of UK media and publications.

He is also highly experienced in non-surgical cosmetic and medical treatments such as BOTOX® and dermal fillers, where he has a reputation for excellent results that look entirely natural.

DR ROSS PERRY

Cosmedics Skin Clinics

Cosmedics Skin Clinics was established in 2003 and has built up an excellent reputation for cosmetic and medical skin treatments, carried out by GMC Registered Doctors.  The company offer a full range of cosmetic treatments, including popular lip enhancement and wrinkle relaxing injections, dermal fillers; plus medical treatments including mole removal, thread vein treatment and excessive sweating injections.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics has a team of skin treatment doctors and surgeons in their 5 skin clinics across London and Bristol led by Dr Ross Perry.

Call 020 7386 0464 or email enquiries@cosmedics.co.uk for an appointment.