- Consultation and Test Patch:
Your first appointment will be a comprehensive consultation to answer all your questions and to check that there are no contra-indications to IPL treatments, such as medications which cause photo-sensitivity, and to ascertain the degree of recent sun or UV exposure on the area to be treated.
The colour of your skin and the condition to be treated must be assessed, then a calculation is made to determine the appropriate setting. A patch test will be applied and we must wait to see the outcome. Some conditions only require a few minutes wait, while others will require a separate appointment of up to 48 hours after the test patch. It is very important to be honest about medications and your recent sun or UV exposure. Clients with photo-sensitivity problems may develop some adverse reactions such as blistering or mild burning sensations. Your first test patch flash will be set on a low setting in order to avoid this. The setting may be raised if appropriate.
All Treatments:
The treatment area is re-assessed, wiped with a mild antiseptic lotion to remove all traces of oils, etc., and ultrasound gel is then applied. Both the operator and the client will wear glasses to protect their eyes from the bright flashes of light, then treatment may commence. The flash light lamp at the head of the hand piece is held against the client’s skin and the intense light is pulsed at the trigger of a button. The lamp is moved to cover the entire area, with a minimum of 2 seconds between each flash. Once the treatment is completed the gel will be wiped off and a cooling gel will be applied, plus sun block where appropriate.
Hair removal treatments: If your appointment is for hair removal; in areas of course hair growth the treatment area is obvious, but sometimes it is not so obvious, so it is therefore appropriate to allow the hairs to grow just a little, so that the operator may clearly see the area needing treatment. This area will then need to be shaved before your IPL treatment begins, because it is imperative that the light is targeted down the hair shaft to the bulb. We don’t want to treat (and heat) hairs on the skin’s surface. Where the treatment area is obvious, you may shave the hair yourself before you arrive for your appointment.
