Treating Skin Concerns: IPL for Acne

Almost everyone experiences acne on their face at some point in their lives. IPL for acne is a great choice of treatment.

Acne is a common skin condition that causes breakouts of spots, and oily, hot or painful skin. Almost everyone experiences acne on their face at some point in their lives. Some people may also suffer with acne on their back and chest. Between the ages of 11 and 30, an estimated 95% of people suffer with acne to some extent. This is particularly true for the ages 14 to 17 in girls, and 16 to 19 in boys. IPL for acne is a fantastic treatment choice. 

 

Acne Causes 

Research links acne to changes in hormone levels which is why it commonly affects those aged 14-19. A fluctuation in hormone levels triggers an abnormal level of sebum production. The excess sebum affects a usually harmless skin bacterium, causing pus and inflammation. Along with this, hormones contribute to the thickening of the inner lining of the hair follicle. The combination of increased sebum and thicker hair follicles means clogged pores are more likely, leading to frequent breakouts. Breakouts may include painful whiteheads and pustules.

 

SkinBase IPL

SkinBase Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is one of the safest acne treatments on the market. If you are over 18, IPL for acne is a great choice to treat and rejuvenate skin. IPL is a skin treatment that uses wavelengths of light to treat specific conditions. Specific structures in the skin absorb the light and turn it into heat energy. The body’s natural repair mechanisms then take over, resulting in fresher looking, smoother skin. Unlike some less advanced IPL systems, The SkinBase IPL has been clinically proven to work on almost all skin types. Settings on the SkinBase IPL machine can be fine tuned to suit specific skin and hair combinations, so individuals can achieve their desired results. 

 

How Does IPL for Acne Work

When using IPL for acne, a handheld device is used to emit yellow, green and red light pulses into the skin. The lights pass through the epidermis to reach the second layer of skin. Each of the coloured lights have a different purpose used to tackle acne. The green and yellow lights are used to destroy any harmful bacteria on the skin. With the bacteria no longer causing pus and inflammation, this prevents new spots from occurring. The red light causes a targeted heating deep within the skin which helps to shrink the inflamed sebaceous glands. Therefore, minimising the production of sebum to help pores remain unclogged. The three lights work together to stimulate collagen production within the skin. As a result of this, the appearance of any scarring or texture is improved as the excess collagen plumps the skin. 

 

IPL Acne Benefits

 

Pain

The IPL treatment is non-invasive, and not painful. During treatments a slight discomfort may be felt, similar to the feeling of being flicked lightly with an elastic band. The treatment handset is used in tandem with a special cryo-handset, which has an anaesthetic effect and cools the skins surface prior to treatment. Therefore, the process is as comfortable as possible, and incredibly effective. 

 

Convenience

IPL Advanced treatments take no more than 30 minutes, and often a course of just 3-4 treatments is necessary to achieve desired results. Therefore, it is an incredibly convenient way to treat acne-prone skin. As the treatment works deep within the dermis, it does not damage the top layer of skin, as many lasers do. Therefore, you can get right back to your day after treatment, and do not need to take any additional time out. Post treatment, the only aftercare required is plenty of hydration and SPF. Avoid UV exposure as much as you can. 

 

Find your nearest SkinBase Therapist here.