How to Even Skin Tone with Photofacials

An Intense Pulse Light photofacial is a non-ablative skin treatment that primarily affects the deeper layers of skin. Unlike a laser, it uses a wide spectrum of light to target specific areas of the skin with a handheld unit. A photofacial is considered an effective treatment for hyperpigmentation and the following steps will show how to even skin tone with a photofacial.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine the likely effectiveness of photofacial treatments for your skin tone irregularities. A photofacial is best for removing or evening out brown and red discolorations known as age spots. The chest, face and hands are the most common treatment areas.

2. Spend about a half hour receiving a single photofacial treatment. Some patients experience mild discomfort and the skin should appear to have a mild sunburn for a few hours after treatment. A topical anesthetic may be applied if needed.

3. Expect the skin to be smoother and softer with a more even tone after the first session. The improvement gradually will become more visible after each session.

4. Treat the skin with aminolevuric acid before the photofacial for a deeper penetration of the skin. This is a more aggressive treatment and has side effects such as mild blistering, bruising and swelling.

5. Receive at least three to six photofacial sessions spaced three weeks apart for the treatment of irregular skin tones. Additional sessions may be needed and a series of follow-up treatments will probably be required in two years.

Resources

• Learn more about photofacials