In recent times, there has been an increased demand for photo facials or foto facials. Foto facials are good for fine lines, particularly around the eyes and mouth, shallow acne scars, age spots and pigmented lesions, broken blood vessels and sun damage. It also reduces large pores, dark circles and chronic facial redness.
If you want to look like you did in your 20s or early 30s, a treatment involving foto facials along with a chemical peel and microdermabrasion is ideal. An LED (light emitting diode) foto facial is a very gentle treatment that uses narrow spectrum light to boost collagen. LED photo facials are painless, cool and relaxing and carry no risk of burning. The best results come after a series of sessions.
An IPL (intense pulsed light) foto facial can treat a variety of skin conditions such as brown spots, broken capillaries, spider veins and facial redness. It delivers a bright blast of light at very high energy levels through a hand-held device. While some IPLs have cooling devices, it can be uncomfortable, even painful depending on the patient’s skin condition. Else, it is painless.
People with blotchy, sun-damaged, discolored skin or large pores, freckles and wrinkles may benefit from an IPL foto facial. The procedure is quick and has no downtime.
During foto facial treatments, high energy light waves are used to reduce or eliminate many common effects of aging, including wrinkles and skin discoloration. It also encourages the production of collagen, a natural protein that fills in wrinkles, making the skin smooth and supple. With each treatment, the results of foto facials become more prominent. Five full-face sessions spaced three weeks apart are normally required for optimal results. The skin is cleaned and a cooing gel is applied.
The treatment is performed with a laser which is placed against the problematic skin area and passes over with a bright infrared light. The good thing about the facial is that it has no down time, and in some cases results can be seen immediately.
— The writer is a dermatologist.
