Intense pulsed light, or IPL, delivers brief flashes of light across a broad range of wavelengths, while a laser uses one. Filters on the handpiece trim that range to suit what we’re treating. The light passes through the skin until something dark enough absorbs it.
Two things in your skin absorb it well. Melanin, the pigment in sun spots and age spots, is one. Hemoglobin, the red in small blood vessels, is the other. Both heat up while the skin around them stays comparatively cool. Treated brown spots darken, rise toward the surface, and flake away over the next 1 to 3 weeks. Small vessels are damaged by the heat, and the body clears them.
That’s also the limit. IPL works on color. It doesn’t resurface the skin, so it won’t smooth acne scars or deep lines the way Erbium resurfacing can. It may give some support to collagen over a series.
Over a series of sessions, IPL may:
The best candidates have fair to medium skin that isn’t tanned, and their main complaint is color rather than texture. Living near the beach, that means planning around sun exposure. Tanned skin competes with the spots for the light, which raises the risk of burns and blotchy patches.
IPL is often marketed as gentle and suitable for most skin. It’s gentler than resurfacing, but it isn’t right for everyone. We’ll hold off or suggest something else if:
If texture, fine lines, or acne scars are what bother you most, Erbium resurfacing is the better match. If melasma is part of the picture, bring it up at your consultation. It needs a different plan, and IPL may not be in it.
First comes a consultation. We look at your skin, go over your medical history and medications, and decide whether IPL is right for you.
On treatment day, you wear protective eyewear and we spread a cool gel over the area. Then the handpiece moves across your skin in a pattern of flashes. A full face takes 30 to 45 minutes.
For the first 24 to 48 hours, most clients look mildly sunburned, and some have slight swelling. Treated sun spots turn darker, a bit like coffee grounds, before they flake off. That darkening means the treatment is working. Less often, IPL can cause blistering, a burn, or patches that heal lighter or darker than the surrounding skin, and the risk climbs on tanned or darker skin.
You’ll get written aftercare and sun protection instructions before you leave, plus a plan for your next session.
Most clients need 3 to 5 sessions. Results vary with skin type, the concern being treated, and how well skin is protected from the sun between sessions.
IPL is done by our licensed medical team, led by owner Rachel Polazzi, CRNA. Settings are chosen for your skin at each visit, and adjusted as your spots and redness respond.
We also offer Erbium resurfacing in this same office, which matters more than it sounds. Plenty of sun damaged skin has both a color problem and a texture problem. We can plan for both, rather than stretching one device to cover a job it wasn’t built for.
Our office is at 2323 NE 26th Ave in Pompano Beach, close to Lighthouse Point and Deerfield Beach, and we see IPL clients from Fort Lauderdale and Coral Springs too. A session is short enough to fit into a midday break, though your face will look flushed afterward.
Is IPL actually a laser?
No. IPL uses pulses of light across a broad range of wavelengths, filtered for the target, while a laser uses a single wavelength. It’s grouped with laser treatments because it’s used in a similar way and requires the same eye protection.
How many IPL sessions will I need?
Most clients need 3 to 5 sessions. Results build over the series, and we’ll set your number at your consultation based on what we’re treating.
What does my skin look like after IPL?
Expect redness similar to a light sunburn for 24 to 48 hours. Sun spots often look darker for a while, then flake off over 1 to 3 weeks.
Can IPL treat melasma?
Usually it isn’t the first choice. The heat from IPL can make melasma darker, so we’d talk through other options at your consultation.
Is IPL safe for darker skin?
It depends on your skin tone and on the device. IPL carries a higher risk of burns and pigment changes on darker and tanned skin, so we assess your skin type at your consultation before recommending it.
How much does IPL cost?
We price IPL at your consultation. Adding the neck and décolletage to a face session costs an additional $200.
Where is The Sandbar Beauty Company located, and do you serve clients outside of Pompano Beach?
The Sandbar Beauty Company is located in Pompano Beach, FL. We are not a mobile service and do not have satellite offices in other cities, all treatments are performed at our Pompano Beach location. That said, we welcome clients from across the surrounding Broward County area who are willing to make the short drive for the quality of care, expertise, and results we provide. We regularly see clients traveling in from:
Margate, Tamarac, Boca Raton, Lauderhill, Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hillsboro Beach, Sandalfoot Cove, Lauderdale Lakes, Lighthouse Point, North Lauderdale, Sea Ranch Lakes, Bay Colony, North Andrews Gardens, Coral Ridge Country Club, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Silverlakes, and Miramar.
If you’re located in one of these areas, the trip to Pompano Beach is a short one, and many of our clients tell us it’s well worth it.
Online, choose the Laser menu and the “IPL Laser Skin Rejuvenation” item. Rather talk it through first? Call or text 954.440.6400. If you aren’t sure IPL is the right fit, book under “Consults.”
The Sandbar Beauty Company · 2323 NE 26th Ave, Suite 101, Pompano Beach, FL 33062 · rtp@thesandbarbeautycompany.com
