IPL Acne Treatment

Most of us experience acne to some extent during our lives. For many people it is a short-term annoyance, but others develop more long-term and more severe acne. Acne occurs when one of the skin’s natural oils – sebum – is unable to leave the skin because the hair follicle is blocked. This may result in a blackhead, or a whitehead, and can lead to the growth of bacteria below the surface of the skin. Inflammation can occur, and the rupture of an inflamed area can lead to scarring. Medication can help to reduce acne, but an IPL procedure in combination with prescription medication has been clinically proven to accelerate the healing process for acne.

How does IPL Treatment Work on Acne?

PL treatment works by directing well-controlled pulses of light into the upper skin layer. The light is absorbed by the body’s own natural chemical – haemoglobin – in the blood vessels that feed the sebaceous glands. IPL treatment works by reducing the blood supply to the sebaceous gland, which slows down production of the body oil sebum. The haemoglobin converts the light energy into heat, which damages the walls of the vessels supplying blood to the glands. This technique has the name “Selective Photothermolysis”. The visible light produced by IPL systems is carefully controlled to produce the correct pulse length and right amount of energy to reduce the acne without damaging the surrounding tissue.