From freckles to age spots

Maybe its new pigment that you are noticing after a wonderful summer in the hot south Georgia sun or age spots that have been around for years.  Or better yet pigment that came along with your pregnancy and never went away. No matter the cause, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)  therapy is a quick and effective way to lighten up those annoying areas.

Unlike laser resurfacing, deep chemical peels, and dermabrasion, there is almost no downtime with IPL. That means no blisters, burns or long recovery period, and you can go right back to your life after your treatment is complete. This therapy is based on high-intensity pulses of light that penetrate the skin.  There are several different machines that emit different wavelengths of IPL to penetrate different distances into the skin.
Different wavelengths treat different colors within. At Sole we use the IPL therapy to focus on both reds and browns in the skin. Treatments will over time help any browns spots lighten signficantly and also reduce the appearance of capillaries and redness.


Are You a Candidate for IPL?
You are not a good candidate for intense pulsed light therapy if you have diabetes, as this disease may affect your body's wound-healing ability.

Discuss your candidacy with our qualified physician or aesthetician. He or she will examine your skin and any scars you have. Although most candidates don't have to go through a testing process, there are certain skin types that will need to have a patch test to see how you react to IPL. After this test, you have to watch the test area for several days for any reactions such as blistering, pigmentation problems, rashes, or persistent redness. Report any problems back to our office.

If you are deemed an appropriate candidate, we will devise an individualized IPL treatment plan. You will be instructed on what (and what not) to do for the two weeks before your first treatment. This will likely include staying out of the sun and avoiding certain medications and skincare products that may increase sensitive to the light treatment.


IPL Treatment
Your technician will apply a cold gel to the area to be treated and a glass prism is placed over the treatment area. Pulses of intense light will be flashed through the prism, directed at the treatment area. You will receive several treatments. Your first treatment may not be as aggressive as those that follow. Treatments are usually performed every three to four weeks. The treated area may be slightly pink or red right after your treatment. There may be some mild swelling. Follow your doctor’s advice regarding the judicious use of sunscreen with a high sun protection factor after your IPL treatment.

An Example of Brown Pigments:

An Example of Capillaries: