Conventional treatments for freckles include cosmetic cover-ups and bleaching creams, neither of which have garnered satisfactory results. Heavy cosmetics need frequent touchups, and are not a good fit for today’s active lifestyles. Bleaching agents attempt to fade the freckles to a color approximating that of the surrounding skin. However, they can sometimes lighten or darken the skin surrounding the freckles, calling even more attention to the spots. Occassionally, bleaching agents cause rashes or chemical burns.

Some people have had success using alpha hydroxy acids on a regular basis, combined with sun avoidance and the use of sunblock. Some dermatologists recommend prescription-strength retinoids for the treatment of freckles.

More modern treatments for lightening freckles include freezing them with liquid nitrogen, and the use of strong acid peels or ablative laser treatments which are also used to treat fine lines and wrinkles. Freezing, chemical peels and ablative laser treatments, while more effective than conventional treatments, can damage healthy skin, cause scarring and demand lengthy recovery times.

New Treatment Option: Intense Pulsed Light^TM(IPL)

There are an overwhelming number of options available to improve the skin's appearance, from creams and peels to microdermabrasion and laser treatments. Can any of these procedures provide significant improvement without interrupting daily routine?

IPL Skin Treatments using Photorejuvenation offers a solution that:

• Addresses skin conditions that are most visible
• Treats the entire face, not only small spots
• Causes little discomfort
• Offers an immediate return to routine activities
• Provides gradual, natural-looking improvement
• Produces long-lasting results

Photorejuvenation with IPL is the most versatile of all treatment options. Patients often schedule appointments during their lunch hour. IPL can treat numerous skin conditions at once. IPL is effective on red blemishes that originate from blood vessels. At the same time, IPL can treat brown pigment blemishes in the form of freckles, age spots and other sun damage. IPL also treats the neck, the chest, and the hands as well, where sun damage is often most visible.

Getting Started

Practitioners determine an IPL treatment plan for each new patient, accounting for the number and severity of skin conditions being treated, as well as skin type. On average, four to six treatments are recommended, scheduled at three-week intervals. Each session usually lasts about 20 minutes, with patients returning to normal activity immediately afterwards. IPL treatments provide gradual, natural improvement with excellent long-term results.

What to Expect

Before treatment, a cold gel is usually applied to the areas to be treated and patients wear protective eyewear. During treatment, a physician or trained staff member gently applies the smooth glass surface of the IPL handpiece to the skin. Light is delivered to the skin surface in precise pulses that are typically pain-free. Occasionally, some signs of treatment, such as redness, can last for one or two hours. In most cases, the entire face is treated, but the therapy can also work well on the neck, chest and hands. Results from a full series of treatments usually last for a year or more.

IPL treats the damaged superficial layer of the skin, while delivering thermal energy to deeper tissue. Clinical studies are now underway to quantify the effect this energy has on collagen production, which helps firm and tighten the skin. Some providers may refer to Photorejuvenation with IPL under other commercial names such as FotoFacial™, EpiFacial or others. Prospective patients should verify that they will be treated with IPL technology patented by Lumenis^TM.

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