 Cosmetic Services > Photorejuvenation
Photorejuvenation
with the Harmony IPL
Read about Rosacea and Pigmentation, the primary targets of Photorejuvenation.
Here are some comments from a few of our happy customers:
My skin looks much better. The brown spots and tiny veins are gone.
LM, 33, Keswick
I'm very pleased with the results, particularly my hands.
LM, 59, Aurora
I am very happy and I have only had one session of Photorejuvenation.
I can not wait until I have had all 5 sessions.
LC, 42, Aurora
I was impressed that Dr. Kritzinger took the time to explain the procedure. I'm very pleased with the results.
MM, 47, Newmarket
Questions and Answers
What is photorejuvenation?
Photo means light. Rejuvenation means to give new life. So photorejuvenation refers to a technique that uses "light energy to give new life" to skin.
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What conditions are treated using photorejuvenation?
Photorejuvenation is used to improve the color of skin. It is one of three methods used for the treatment of PIGMENTATION, and the only effective method for treating the facial veins of ROSACEA.
While the primary purpose of photorejuvenation is to improve skin color, some people may get subtle improvements in skin texture including smoothing of the skin, reduction of pore size, and improvement in very fine lines. If skin texture improves, it is a bonus. It should not be an expectation.
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How does photorejuvenation work?
Pulses of intense light are applied to the skin using our Harmony IPL machine (IPL is short for Intense Pulsed Light). The intense light is absorbed by structures in the skin that have darker color, namely blood vessels and pigmented areas. These dark structures instantaneously heat up and are damaged by this intense light. The body then repairs this minor damage, and in doing so the blood vessels and pigment spots are absorbed by the body and disappear.
No one understands the process by which skin texture may be improved. It probably relates to collagen tightening and stimulation of new collagen.
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What is IPL?
IPL is short for Intense Pulsed Light. As the name implies, IPL devices produce intense pulses of light from flash lamps. This light initially contains all colors of light in the visible spectrum plus infrared and ultraviolet. Because ultraviolet light is harmful, all IPL machines use some type of mechanism, usually filters, to block out UV.
Lasers are quite different, because they produce light of only one color (wavelength).
The fact that lasers and IPL are different is neither good nor bad. Their different properties simply make them useful for different tasks.
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What areas can be treated?
Any skin area can be treated with photorejuvenation, but the most common areas are the face, neck, upper chest, and hands. These are the areas that receive the most sun exposure and, hence, sun damage.
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Who is a good candidate for photorejuvenation?
Since almost everyone has sun damaged skin to some degree, everyone can benefit from photorejuvenation. The greater the damage, the greater the benefit.
People with severe sun damage will get noticeable benefit with one treatment. People with minor damage are actually harder to treat. This is simply a matter of physics.
Severe damage produces dark spots that absorb more light from the IPL, and these darker spots respond dramatically. People with minor pigmentation problems have less pigment in their spots to absorb light, and less damage is caused to the spots. Results are not as noticeable, and it takes more sessions to achieve the desired result.
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How are treatments done?
Photorejuvenation treatments are done using our Harmony IPL machine. Intense pulses of light are applied to the skin using a hand piece that has a window about half an inch wide and one and a half inches long. This window is held against the skin and a single flash is given. The technician moves the window to the adjacent area of skin and another flash is delivered. The entire face can be covered in about ten minutes and then a second pass is done at right angles to the first pass to maximize results and to ensure that there are no streaks or missed areas.
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How much does photorejuvenation hurt?
There is no simple answer to this question, because pain response and tolerance is different from person to person. Most people find that photorejuvenation causes mild to moderate pain.
There are several things that can be done to minimize discomfort including cooling, vibration, and topical anesthetics.
Topical anesthetics cannot be used when small blood vessels are the target, because the anesthetic constricts the blood vessels making them harder to treat.
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What are the side effects of photorejuvenation?
Mild redness is normal and usually lasts a few hours. Rarely, it may persist for a few days.
The intense light can cause burning and blistering, but this is very rare. Burns may result in permanent scarring.
Pigment changes can occur. This can be increased pigmentation or decreased pigmentation in the treated area. This is rare with the Harmony IPL . Pigment changes are almost always temporary, lasting perhaps a few months. Increased pigmentation can be treated with creams. There is no treatment for decreased pigmentation.
Occasionally people develop a light-induced rash (photodermatitis), which can be intensely itchy but goes away on its own in a few days. It can be treated with cortisone cream.
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What makes the Harmony IPL different from other IPL machines?
First, read the question: What is IPL?
All IPL machines use some type of device to prevent harmful ultraviolet light from reaching the skin. Most machines use filters to simply block out the UV rays. In contrast, the Harmony IPL converts the UV light to useful wavelengths. This method is called Advanced Fluorescent Technology (AFT). Most of the energy boost occurs at the wavelength that the IPL machine uses for doing its job. Because more light is available at the desired wavelength, the overall energy delivered can be reduced, and consequently, the machine is safer. This safety factor is the primary reason we decided to purchase the Harmony to treat our patients.
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What are the alternatives to photorejuvenation ?
Peels, and cosmeceuticals can help reduce pigmentation. There is no other beneficial treatment for facial veins.
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What is your cancellation policy?
We require 48 hours notice for cancellation of your consultation or treatment, in order to fill the appointment time. If sufficient notice is not given, the full value of the treatment to be done may be charged (minimum charge $80). If you have purchased a package, and you miss an appointment without giving sufficient notice, then that treatment is deemed to have been given, and you will receive one less treatment than you paid for.
How do I book an appointment?
Call (905) 853-3200 or click here.
Case #1
BEFORE AFTER
This patient was treated once with IPL for sun damage.
Case #2
BEFORE AFTER
This patient was treated with laser and IPL to reduce intensity of birthmark.
Case #3
BEFORE AFTER
Patient treated with IPL once to reduce appearance of "sun spot".
Rosacea and Pigmentation
Rosacea
Rosacea is an extremely common condition that produces facial veins across the cheeks, nose and chin.
The underlying cause is unknown. There are some who believe that it is a problem specfically involving blood vessels. There are theories that rosacea is a skin problem that induces blood vessels. There is even a theory that rosacea is a nervous system condition.
Genetics play a role in rosacea. Sun exposure can aggravate rosacea. Alcohol and exercise will accentuate the veins for a few hours, but these play no role in causing or aggravating rosacea.
There are several variations of rosacea. People can have any of the following features in combination with the blood vessels:
- acne-like lesions
- blushing
- ocular involvement (the eyes get red and feel gritty)
- rhinophyma (the blood vessels on the nose induce growth of the nose)
There is no known cure, but rosacea can be controlled.
The acne-like lesions can be controlled using topical antibiotics such as clindamycin (Dalacin) or metronidazole (MetroGel) among others. But antibiotics will do nothing for the blood vessels.
The only effective treatment for the blood vessels is PHOTOREJUVENATION and LASER. Laser is used to treat the larger veins. Photorejuvenation treats the tiny veins that are barely visible. Frequently, both treatments are needed.
Almost all of the redness associated with rosacea can be eliminated with these light-based treatments. Typically the blood vessels take twelve to thirty-six months to recur. That is, if no other treatment is done, the vessels will come back to their pretreatment state in one to three years. Many patients require annual treatments to maintain a good cosmetic result.
Rhinophyma (continued growth of the nose) can be slowed down by eliminating the nasal veins. Treatments should be repeated annually.
Pigmentation refers to uneven brown discoloration of the skin due to deposits of melanin. Melanin is produced in the skin by cells called melanocytes that are stimulated by sunlight. The purpose of melanin is to offer protection from sunlight.
A suntan is a temporary form of pigmentation. Permanent pigmentation includes freckles and "age spots".
Melasma is a form of pigmentation that develops in response to hormone changes (especially pregnancy). It is usually temporary, but for many it is permanent.
Uneven pigmentation can be treated in three ways:
None of these treatments will cure pigmentation, they are only methods for controlling the problem. The reason is that all of these therapies are treating the very superficial layers of the skin where the visible pigment resides. The cells that make the pigment are deep in the skin, and they are unaffected by these treatments.
Maintenance treatments are therefore required. Since the cells that make pigment are primarily stimulated by sunlight, sun avoidance and sunscreen are extremely important for delaying the return of pigment. Other cosmeceuticals such as vitamin C serum are also beneficial.
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