In today’s world of skincare innovations, a few treatments enable us to stay ahead of the ageing curve and help us achieve the most beautiful and healthy skin possible. One that stands out is a treatment like LUMECCA™ IPL (Intense Pulsed Light). It’s a powerful tool for reversing the signs of ageing and achieving radiant skin.
Jade Smith, Woman & Home’s Head of Beauty, delves into all things LUMECCA™ IPL and how it can reduce age spots and veins and improve the skin’s overall texture.
My First-hand experience of LUMECCA™ IPL at Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates
Firstly, I had a consultation that included a Visia skin analysis; this was both exhilarating and daunting.
This hi-tech machine scans the skin and reveals all. It even spills the beans on your actual ‘skin age’. For some, this is older than their chronological age. When I started my skincare journey with Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, My ‘skin age’ was 36 (my actual age was 38), which is not bad, I was told, for a South African. Unfortunately, our love for the sun does not do wonders for our skin and premature ageing concerns. I can thank my years in sunless London for a few years off the proverbial clock.
After six months of my journey and treatment plan, my ‘skin age’ was right down to 30 years old! That’s a remarkable improvement, and I was delighted with it. The LUMECCA™ IPL had a vital role in this, improving the redness on my cheeks, removing most of those annoying spider veins around my nose and chin and smoothing the overall texture of my skin.
What is LUMECCA™ IPL, and how does it work?
LUMECCA™ IPL is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that uses high-intensity light pulses to target various skin concerns. Where laser treatments use a single wavelength of light, IPL uses broad-spectrum wavelengths. This versatility allows IPL to address multiple skin concerns simultaneously.
During LUMECCA™ IPL, the light penetrates the dermis and converts it into heat energy, creating controlled inflammation. This process triggers the release of regenerative growth factors and stimulates fibroblasts to produce new collagen and elastin, resulting in firmer, tighter skin.
Regarding pigmentation, light energy targets the pigment and converts it into heat, breaking it up. This leads to either the pigment flaking off the skin’s surface or being absorbed and removed by the lymphatic system, thus improving the appearance of sun damage and age spots.
One of the standout benefits of LUMECCA™ IPL is its ability to maintain an even skin tone. By targeting excess melanin responsible for pigmentation issues like sunspots and age spots, IPL treatments help restore a more uniform complexion. This enhances the skin’s appearance and contributes to a youthful glow.
For vascular lesions (those pesky spider veins), light energy is absorbed by oxyhemoglobins in blood vessels, converting into heat energy that coagulates the vessels. The coagulated blood is then absorbed and removed by the lymphatic system, reducing redness and the visibility of broken blood vessels.
What can LUMECCA™ IPL help to improve
LUMECCA™ IPL performed at Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates is effective at improving the appearance of:
- Sun damage and age spots (red/brown pigmentations)
- Small facial veins such as facial telangiectasias (spider veins) and poikiloderma
- Overall texture, smoothness and radiance
- Rosacea (redness)
- Freckles
Is it painful, and what is the downtime?
During my LUMECCA™ IPL sessions, I experienced a mild sensation of warmth as the light pulses targeted specific areas of concern. The procedure was quick and mostly comfortable. The only areas where I felt discomfort were when my therapist targeted specific spider veins around my nose. This felt a bit like being zapped with an elastic band. It was not the best, but watching the veins disappear instantly was worth the momentary sting.
After the treatment, I looked slightly red, but it was nothing that required me to hibernate in my room. The next day, my skin looked completely normal. Over a few weeks, I noticed an improvement in the overall texture of my skin, it appeared more radiant and even, especially as the pigmentation and broken veins diminished.
How long does it take to see results, and how many sessions do you need?
Pigmented lesions (sunspots) and vascular lesions will improve after every treatment. Collagen stimulation will continue to improve skin rejuvenation over the next three months.
You should receive more than one treatment to see noticeable results, and a professional skin care therapist is the best person to map out an individualised plan for you. Book your consultation now: [email protected]
More information on LUMECCA™ IPL here.
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Feature Image: Supplied by author
