Most of us will experience acne at some point in our lives, however, some of us can be left with problems that last much longer than we would like. Acne can linger around even well into our 20s or 30s, even resurfacing, for some women, during menopause. Both Su and I have seen for ourselves the problems that acne can cause for our patients, so we made it our mission to find an effective acne treatment at my clinic!

What Is IPL Acne Treatment?

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. Many people confuse IPL with laser, as the machines look the same, but they are very different. To know how they are different, you need to know what a chromophore is. A chromophore is a tiny particle found within our cells that give them colour. If you have thick black hairs on your legs then the chromophore within the hair would be black, red for burst blood vessels and so on…

This is where lasers and IPL machines differ. Lasers are focused beams of light, only able to target a very small range of colours. For instance, for hair removal, our Alpha Formatk machine uses an 808nm wavelength, which very successfully targets coarse, black hairs – this is because this particular wavelength will be absorbed by this type of hair. On the other hand, IPL uses a wide range of wavelengths, due to the fact that the light emitted is filtered and not focused on any one colour particle. This means IPL is able to treat a wide range of conditions like pigmentation, redness and acne. 

How Does IPL Acne Treatment Work?

Our Alpha Formatk IPL acne treatment uses wavelengths between 430nm-1100nm, its advanced acne protocols have been developed and proven by leading dermatologists. The handpiece is activated by pressing a switch, which lets off a millisecond of light, just like the flash when taking a photo. 

The light, being less focused and scattered, can penetrate the deeper layers of the skin to the acne lesions, without damaging the surface layer. The energy from the pulsed light is absorbed by the bacteria and blood vessels surrounding the acne lesion, killing off bacteria and reducing redness and sebum production. Voilà! Reduced acne and smoother skin!

Most patients need IPL acne treatment 4-6 times for the best effects, Su recommends combining IPL treatments with Biretix Topical Therapy from Cantabria Labs. Biretix has anti-microbial properties and Retinsphere Technology® with salicylic acid so it clarifies the skin without irritation. Its effective yet gentle formula is perfect for use on sensitive skin and as part of a post-acne/spot treatment maintenance regime to keep spots at bay and maintain skin health.

Let Us Help Treat Your Acne!

Tired of living with acne? Then take your first step towards clear skin by booking a live consultation! This will give us the chance to get to know you and your skin, allowing us to decide what form of acne treatment will achieve the best results.

Due to the pandemic, I started offering online consultations a couple of years ago. At first, I was quite sceptical, but I have grown to think that they are a fantastic option! I can go through everything you need to know, with you in the comfort of your own home. However, if you would prefer to see me in person, that’s good too! Whatever you are more comfortable with.

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