Acne
Acne affects up to 95% of us to some extent during our lives.
We use IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Treatment to help reduce the number and severity of active lesions as well as lessening the inflammation and frequency of break-outs.
Acne is often linked to our hormones changing and is characterised by spots of all types on the face, back, neck and chest. We know it can impact how people feel, especially when a number of treatments have been tried.
IPL is a is a non-invasive procedure that uses broad-spectrum light to:
- target the overactive oil glands to reduce the production of sebum,
- destroy the bacteria that are often responsible for causing the acne
- reduce the redness and swelling that often comes with the inflammation of the skin.
Every body is welcome at Buff & Bare. If you are pregnant or taking Roaccutane for your acne, we would advise you not to have IPL treatment – and to discuss alternative options with your medical professionals.
If you’re not sure whether IPL treatment is right for you, please do get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss it.
How we work
Consultation & Preparation
We’ll have a chat with you to find out about your acne, who you’ve seen about it and what treatments you have tried or may be trying at the moment.
We will also discuss your medical history to ensure there are no contraindications and talk about any supplements, lotions, creams or oils you may be using on your skin at the moment.
When you come for a repeat appointment, we’ll check with you that nothing has changed.
We’ll then clean and prepare you skin for treatment as well as giving your protective eye wear.
Will it hurt?
Generally, our clients say IPL treatment is a bit uncomfortable but doesn’t need any anaesthesia. It’s been likened to having an elastic band ‘ping’ on your face and it can feel warm.
If you’re uncomfortable at any point, always let us know.
The Process
We use the Lynton Lumina system for our IPL treatments – a device that you would find in NHS and private hospitals here in the UK.
A layer of chilled gel is applied to the skin to help guide the light. The light guide is placed onto the skin and a short pulse of light is released. The applicator is passed over the skin several times before moving onto the neighbouring area, and the process is repeated until the whole area is treated.
Each pulse of light treats a large area of skin and so the duration of the treatment is very short. The gel is removed and the skin is moisturised.
You might experience a bit of redness, warmth and a tingling feeling after each area of skin is treated. We’ll apply a calming gel to help reduce this.
Treatments are usually completed within half an hour.
After Care
Most importantly, you need to stay out the sun after your treatment. We’ll let you know for how long.
There may be some redness for a couple of hours after the treatment. Most people experience no other side effects but very rarely a small blister could form or the skin may become temporarily lighter or darker.
We’ll let you know when you can use products on the treated area again.
We usually see significant improvements with 6 IPL and 6 exfoliation treatments – but this does vary from person to person.
If you experience any unexpected reactions after treatment, please get in touch with us immediately.