A photo facial is a general term for any facial treatment that involves light. They are also known as foto facials, and though there are a few different types of light-based technology treatments, they are generally known to treat brown spots on the skin, broken capillaries and can even boost collagen in your skin—a great way to better looking, even, and younger skin. One type of foto facial is an IPL or "intense pulsed light” which is commonly used to even skin tone, treat rosacea, and even shrink pores! Photo facials can be concerning for some people because light can sometimes end up scarring, depending on your skin’s sensitivity and the dermatologist or spa you end up visiting. When considering a photo facial, here are a few things that you’ll want to think about before deciding on photo facials in Boston for your next facial treatment. Candidate for IPL Not everyone is a great candidate for photo facials, and it really will depend on your skin color and your health history. A consultation is really the best way to determine whether or not you are a viable candidate for IPL. Something else that you should consider before determining whether or not you’d like to receive a photo facial is your pain tolerance. Though IPL isn’t traditionally extremely painful, there is heat involved and some people say that it feels like a rubber band snapping. Because facial skin is extremely sensitive, it may be more painful for certain people. This is definitely something that you should consider before going in for an IPL treatment. How Does It Work? According to spas.about.com, IPL uses “short blasts of a polychromatic, high-intensity light to penetrate just below the skin’s surface, damaging either the melanin that makes up brown age spots or the blood vessels that create broken capillaries.” When you go to receive your treatment, you’ll have a topical numbing cream applied, after which a cooling gel will be applied. After, the IPL is applied to the skin, and the skin’s healing process over the following few weeks will turn over the skin and create a more healthy looking and even-toned skin. Expense? For the IPL treatment, it can range from 350 dollars to up to 600 dollars for just one session, which can be extremely expensive, especially if you don’t receive the results you’d like. What Should You be Aware of? For certain skin tones, there is a danger of hyper pigmentation. Hyper pigmentation is a common condition in which there is a patch of skin that is much larger than the surrounding skin. Because this is usually the opposite of what you’d traditionally like when going in for an IPL treatment, you should definitely consider the risk of this treatment. Though this risk is usually just for darker skin tones, like asian skin tones and darker, everyone should be aware of the risk. If you have a concern, talk to your dermatologist or IPL provider before going through the treatment. Something else to be aware of is the risk of being burned by the treatment. If the operator isn’t very knowledgeable or if they haven’t had much experience, there is a greater risk of being burned. Talk to the operator or doctor before to insure that your face will be safe. How to Prepare To prepare for any treatment, be sure to use a high SPF sunscreen before and after the treatment. Though it may be difficult, try to stay out of the sun as much as possible. If you have to be in the sun, wear a hat or sunglasses to protect your face. Overall, be sure to research photo facials in Boston before you go in for treatment and determine for yourself whether this type of facial is worth the pain, risk, and money. But, in the end, an IPL facial may be the best type of resurfacing treatment for your skin and will make your skin look beautiful and healthy.
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