Posts Tagged ‘fotofacial’
Can you imagine that in 10 years from now, that you could look 2 years younger than you do today? A recent study may have discovered the fountain of youth in a popular skin treatment that utilizes BBL technology, also known as IPL.
PhotoFacial is a popular skin treatment that utilizes IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology also known as BBL (Broad Band Light). Traditionally, IPL/BBL technology has been used to treat reds (vascular) and browns (pigmented spots),but new research shows impressive anti aging benefits.The study looked at the effects that BBL treatments had on the skin over a period of nine years. They found that with continued treatments over the nine years, skin looked two years younger than it did before treatment.
Click to Learn More {Photofacial: Understand the Benefits of IPL}
Why Does Skin Look Younger
Many of the treatments that we use in aesthetics, benefit from skins wound healing ability to produce collagen. Although IPL/BBL treatments do cause a wound healing response that will stimulate collagen production for the first 3 weeks post treatment, it isn’t exactly long enough to account the level of anti aging results observed. So, then, why did the skin look younger?
The study revealed that ongoing BBL/IPL treatments positively effected gene expression in the skin to mimic that of a younger person. Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis or form a functional gene product, usually a protein. Aging is associated with changes in gene expression, which is most evident in the skin.
The study indicates “that patients who maintained a regular annual or biannual regimen of BBL treatments over 5 to 11 years can reduce and delay the long-term signs of skin aging such as photo damage, telangiectases, fine lines and wrinkles, and skin laxity in a natural way.”
BBL has been shown to change the expression of genes associated with aging, longevity, and increased lifespan.
Before Treatment: 43 Years Old | After Treatment: 55 Years Old
After 12 Years of Forever Young BBL treatments, the skin looks younger…
Before Treatment: 58 Years Old | After Treatment: 67 Years Old
After 9 Years of Forever Young BBL treatments, the skin looks younger..
Before Treatment: 58 Years Old | After Treatment: 67 Years Old
After 9 Years of Forever Young BBL treatments, the skin looks younger…
How To Stay Forever Young with BBL/IPL
The protocol that we use for this treatment is more advanced and differs slightly from traditional “Photofacials”. IPL/BBL devices use something we call “cut-off” filters, which are used and changed to target specific chromophores in the skin, for example the color in melanin (browns) or hemoglobin (reds). The best IPL/BBL devices are equipped with several “cut-off filters” that the technician can switch between during a treatment. With a traditional “photofacial” treatment we use these “cut-off filters” to specifically treat brown spots and reds such as broken blood vessels and we work only until we reach what we call a “clinical end point”, which basically means we have treated the targeted lesions. With this new approach we treat with multiple “cut-off filters” and make more passes over the skin than we do with a traditional IPL/BBL treatment. We are not focused solely on treating reds and browns, but also on rejuvenating the skin to act more youthful.
To delay aging, I generally recommend a series of 3-5 treatments, spaced 3-4 weeks a part. A treatment series should be repeated annually or biannually depending on level of improvement desired. I would like to emphasize the importance of a comprehensive approach to aging, as the aging process is multi-faceted and ongoing. Regardless of how great any treatment is, it will never replace the need for treatments that address the other aspects of aging. – One treatment does not necessarily replace the need for another. Consult with your skin care professional to determine which treatments are best for you.
Thank you for visiting Best of Both Worlds Az
You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest and on our blog site
www.bestofbothworldsaz.com
®© All Rights Reserved.
Photofacial is one of the most popular treatments for skin rejuvenation and with good reason. Photofacial can treat a variety of skin conditions including skin discolorations and redness, but with all the different light devices and treatment names being used there is a lot of confusion about this versatile treatment.
What can be treated with IPL.
Photofacial uses Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), which is well absorbed by chromophores that have color such as melanin and hemoglobin (think red and brown). It works best for brown spots and vascular skin conditions. IPL treatments can help stimulate collagen production, can kill acne causing bacteria and some IPL devices can also be used for hair removal.
The most common conditions treated with IPL include:
- Rosacea
– Broken capillaries
– Flushing/ Facial redness
– Sun damage/Age spots
– Melasma
– Freckles
– Brown Spots
What is in a name?
Photofacial is a photo rejuvenation treatment that uses Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology. Photofacial is known by many different names with a variety of spellings including: PhotoFacial, Fotofacial, FotoFacial RF, Photo-Rejuvenation, Photoderm, BBL or simply IPL. These are essentially all the same thing, however some names may be trademarked, associated with a specific device or a developed treatment protocol. Dr. Patrick Bitter, Sr. developed the procedure PotoFacialSM in 1988 and Dr. Bitter Jr., is the developer of the FotoFacial™ and PhotoFacial™. BBL is Sciton’s trademarked name for their IPL machine, which is said to be the most powerful IPL device. You do not need to be overly concerned with the name being used to describe an IPL treatment, instead focus more on the device being used and the experience of the technician performing the treatment.
Learn More [Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) 101: Shining Light On Aesthetic Skin Treatments]
What device should be used for a Photofacial?
Photofacial is a treatment and the devices used is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). Some people will use an LED device and call it a Photofacial, however this is not a true Photofacial. LED devices are commonly use in spas, they have lower energy and do not produce intense light.
Due to the increasing popularity of Laser and IPL treatments and the growing industry there has been an explosion of new devices on the market. Many of the new devices are less effective. As Laser Technicians we look for a device that gives us more precise control. IPL treatment settings do not work by simply turning a dial up or down. We control things such as the pulses, pulse duration, the amount of joules used and cut off filters. Devices that use a larger selection of cut-off filters are more effective because they allow for treatment of vascular and pigment lesions at different depths. In the authors opinion the best IPL devises are Scitons BBL and the Lumenis One/M22.
How many treatments are needed?
The first treatment will generally provide significant correction, however for best results a series of treatments are recommended. The exact number of treatments will vary depending on the condition being treated, the desired patient results, how the skin responds and how compliant you are with pre and post skin care. A very generic protocol would be a series of 5 treatments scheduled 3 weeks apart, however it is better to work on a plan that is designed specifically for your skin and your lifestyle.
What to expect after a Photofacial (IPL/ BBL).
There generally isn’t any down time with Photofacial, however if you have a lot of sun damage you may not look great for a week or two. Immediately after your treatment your skin will be a little pink and slightly warm. It is normal for it to feel like a mild sunburn, windburn or razor burn, but if you experience an excessive or lingering heat you should communicate this to your technician.
If you have brown spots they will darken up and gradually flake off over the next two weeks. Freckles tend to look darker, skin with a lot of discoloration may look “peppered” before it flakes off. If you have treated non-facial skin such as neck, chest, hands or arms it may take three weeks and some spots may take even longer. You may be able to speed up the process with a microdermabrasion 7-10 days after your treatment. Swelling and redness may also occur, you can apply cold packs to help with swelling and some people find an over the counter antihistamine helpful.
It may feel hot. If the skin does not cool down quickly after treatment it is very important that you go home and apply cold cloths until it is no longer hot. Take a large, clean bowl fill it with ice, add water and put clean washcloth in the bowl. Ring out excess water and apply cold cloth to treated area. When the cloth is no longer cold, trade it out for a cold one. Continue to do this until the area is no longer hot (this could take hours).
How can I improve the results of my Photofacial treatment?
The most important thing you can do is follow all pre and post care instructions, this includes not tanning, avoiding heat immediately post treatment and using the recommended topical skin care. If you are treating skin discolorations you will most likely need a skin care regimen that includes tretinoin and 4% hydroquinone. If you are treating rosacea you will need a topical vitamin-C. Everyone will need an approved sun protection with Zinc Oxide, the SPF should be over 30.
IPL treatments can be combined with other technologies for enhanced results. I will often use a vascular laser in my treatments for treating broken blood vessels or add Radiofrequency (RF) for skin tightening. Other possabilities include blue light for acne, laser resurfacing and laser hair removal. A microdermabrasion may be done prior to treatment to cause vaso diolation which can enhance results of an IPL treatment for those with facial reddness.
If you really want to increase your results you may want to do a PhotoDynamic Therapy (PDT) treatment. PhotoDynamic Therapy uses Levulan (aminolevulinic acid) also known as ALA to photosensitize the skin prior to a photofacial Adding Levulan results in a higher level of correction of freckles, sunspots, skin discolorations, broken blood vessels and redness. You will also have the added benefit of an aggressive acne treatment and treating Actinic keratosis (AK’s).
Read more about PhotoDynamic Therapy (PDT)
Thank you for visiting Best of Both Worlds Az
You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and on our blog site
www.bestofbothworldsaz.com
®© All Rights Reserved.
Rosacea is primarily a facial vascular disorder in which blood vessels are functionally and structurally abnormal. Currently rosacea can’t be cured, however it can be effectively treated and controlled. Rosacea is a progressive skin disorder, that should be treated when symptoms first begin. Treatment should be aimed at treating the underlying vascular issues associated with rosacea. Vascular Lasers and IPL treatments are extremely effective at treating existing redness and broken blood vessels. In addition to avoiding rosacea triggers, topical products can be used to prevent flushing and further damage that can accelerate the progression of the disorder.
[Rosacea 101: Understanding Rosacea and it’s triggers]
Laser and IPL Therapy
Both Laser and IPL therapy are very effective at treating telangiectasia (broken blood vessels), generalized redness and flushing. IPL therapy can also be enhanced with Levulan to get the added benefit of treating acne, rosacea papules and pustuals.
Laser
Lasers that are absorbed well by hemoglobin are used to treat vascular concerns. The laser energy is absorbed by the blood vessel and creates heat within the vessel which damages the vessel wall and permenatly closes that vessel. The treated vessels are then absorbed by the body. Although there isn’t a cure for rosacea, studies show that laser treatment can permantly remove damaged facial blood vessels and with repeated treatment blood vessels will not always be created to replace the old vessel. Facial blood vessels treated with lasers are sometimes replaced with connective tissue. This is good news, because this will permently reduce the number of blood vessels in the face, near to the level of vessels found in healthy skin.
Lasers have a single wavelength that work at a very specific depth. So any idividual laser has it’s limitations. KTP 532 nm and Pulsed Dye: 577 -585nm lasers are well absorbed by hemoglobin and are very effective at treating superfical blood vessels in the face, while Nd:YAG 1064nm lasers are also well absorbed by hemoglobin, they are effective at treating vessels that are located deeper in the skin.
[ Lasers 101: Learn more about aesthetic lasers]
Intese Pulsed Light (IPL)
IPL skin treatments are known by many names including Fotofacial, Photofacial, Photoderm and Photo rejuvenation. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) differs from lasers because IPL uses a wide spectrum of wavelengths at the same time (for example: 500nm — 1200nm) that can target any chromophore in that range, while lasers have a single wavelength. You can think of the laser like a sniper that can precisely hit a single target with one shot, and IPL is like a grenade that hits several targets at once. IPL uses special cut-off filters that can be selected to target chromophors in a certain range within the skin. When treating rosacea or any vascular concern, the intended target is hemoglobin. The advantage IPL treatments have over laser treatments is that IPL can target vessels at different depths.
[ Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) 101: Learn more about IPL treatments]
Combined Laser and IPL Therapy
Best results are achieved when you combine IPL and Laser treatments. IPL and Laser treatments can be done independently, however combining technologies at the same treatment time will provide a better result. This type of treatment is fairly aggressive and should only be done by someone that is very experienced in combining these technologies.
Oral and Topical Products
Topical Metronidazole Gel
Metronidazole is topical agent used to treat rosacea, available only by prescription. The primary action of Metronidazole is anti-inflamatory. Metronidazole is effective at reducing papules and pustules and has a fairly minimal effect at reducing inflammation. Unfortunately, it isn’t effective for treating broken blood vessels or flushing.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics have long been used to treat rosacea, however they work primarily through their anti-inflammatory properties rather than antibacterial. Antibiotics are effective at reducing papules, pustules, and inflammation. The limitation with antibiotics is that they are not effective at treating telangiectasia or flushing.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are effective at reducing facial inflammation, swelling and burning associated with rosacea. Histamine contributes to swelling, itching and burning. Histamine has also been shown to play a role in inflammation and redness.
Sunblock with Zinc Oxide
UV rays can penetrate the skin and activate sensory nerves that release potent vasodilators, as well as creating heat in the skin causing facial flushing. Zinc oxide reflects both UVA and UVB rays, blocking out heat from the sun. Topical zinc oxide also has significant healing properties when applied to damaged skin and has been shown to decrease inflammation in both the epidermis and dermis.
Dimethicone
Dimethicone is a silicone based ingredient with moisturizing ability. Dimethicone is also a protective ingredient that has been shown to reduce flushing caused by skin irritants.
Antioxidants
Free radicals have been shown to cause structural damage to vascular walls and many free radicals are potent blood vessel dilators. Dietary and topical antioxidants help to block the damaging effects of free radicals.
Studies show that vitamin C can protect blood vessel walls from free radical damage and reverse existing vascular damage. People with rosacea should get plenty of vitamin-C in their diet, and may want to consider a vitamin-C supplement. In addition to being a great antioxidant, topical vitamin-C has anti-inflammatory qualities.
*This post is intended for informational purposes only.
Thank You for visiting Best of Both Worlds Az.
You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and on our blog site
www.bestofbothworldsaz.com
There are many people that have embraced their freckles and love them, while others would prefer spotless skin.
Freckles are clusters of concentrated melanin, ranging in color from red, tan and brown. Some people have a genetic tendency to develop freckles, however sun exposure is the main cause of freckles. Freckles generally appear on sun-exposed areas, and will appear darker or more prominent after sun exposure. Ephelides is a freckle which is flat, light brown or red, and fades when protected from UV light. Ephelides are more common in those with light complexions. Liver spots (also known as sun spots and Lentigines) are freckles that develop after years of sun exposure, and are more prominent with age.
If You Want To Remove Freckles
The best way to remove freckles is to have a series of photofacial treatments, combined with bleaching creams containing 4% hydroquinone and tretinoin (Retin-A). A good UVA/UVB sunblock is also recommended, because UV exposure will make freckles more prominent.
Photafacial (Fotofacial) uses IPL (Intense Pulse Light) to treat skin discoloration, redness and broken capillaries. There generally isn’t any down time associated with IPL treatments, however pigmented spots will appear darker temporarily. After a photofacial any freckles or pigmented lesions will darken up and flake off. It can take up to two weeks for spots to flake off. The number of treatments needed will vary depending on the skin condition.
Photofacial / IPL Treatments
If You Like Your Freckles
If you are not concerned with removing freckles you can use lightening and brightening products. These products brighten the skin without removing freckles. Freckles will fade slightly, but will not go away.
OBAGI C-RX System
If you love your freckles, you may want to skip the Therapy Night Cream from this system. The Therapy Night cream has a 4% hydroquinone, which will further fade freckles and pigmentation. The Clarifying Serum also has a 4% hydroquinone, however this C- serum is only used in the morning and is not enough to eliminate freckles. The Clarifying Serum is great for anyone that wants brighten their skin tone, and still keep their freckles.
iS Clinical White Lightening Complex
Brightens and lightens skin with beneficial moisturizing properties. Utilizing an innovative blend of proprietary lightening ingredients and pharmaceutical-grade botanicals, this high performance formula exfoliates, reduces inflammation, and provides strong antioxidant protection.
White Lightening Complex will brighten the skin, and freckles will fade, but not go away completely.
Prevent Freckles
To prevent freckles, you need to use a good sunblock. I recommend a UVA/ UVB sunblock with an SPF 30 or higher. I also recommend sunblocks with Zinc, because it is a broad band physical block. SPF only measure UVB protection, and even if a product is labeled to have UVA protection, it may not protect from the full UVA spectrum. Topical Vitamin C ( L- ascorbic acid) can also help prevent sun damage because it neutralizes UV radiation.
Thank You for visiting Best of Both Worlds Az
You can follow us on our blog site, facebook, and twitter.
www.bestofbothworldsaz.com
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Recent Comments