everything you need to know about a photofacial

as an aesthetician, when i think back to my adolescent years of not just tanning, but BAKING in the sun, i cringe. the thought of branding myself with that playboy bunny sticker is truly disturbing. i had no idea the damage i was doing at the time would one day come back to haunt me...

fast-forward to present day where i'm now paying for it. sun damage, AKA hyper-pigmentation, is my biggest skin battle. fortunately, while i was in school to become a laser technician, i learned that most of the damage i incurred could be reversed! in fact, the majority of corrections done with lasers are due to sun damage

we're all aware of how much damage the sun can cause, but like cigarettes, a large majority of society keeps coming back for more. personally, i avoid the sun like the plague and apply SPF like i'm on the clock, but the damage i had done needed to be corrected

my photofacial experience...

i've now had 3 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart. i'm not going to pretend like you won't feel a thing, but it's very tolerable. the most startling part (in my opinion) is the bright light that caused me to jump a little with each pulse. after the first treatment, my skin was red and the brown spots i had were 10x more prominent (this is normal and a good thing). the goal of the treatment is to damage pigmented tissue and bring it to the surface

it's important to note that your brown spots will continue to be prominent for the next couple of weeks until they eventually flake off or fade, but this can easily be covered up with makeup. the hardest part for me was not being able to exfoliate right away, but it's important to let the process happen naturally or you'll put yourself at risk for scarring/hypo-pigmentation

my hyper-pigmentation is now substantially lighter and in some places completely gone. i had my face and décolleté treated, and i can't believe how much we were able to bring to the surface. however, a photofacial isn't a one-hit-wonder. it takes a series of treatments and a committed lifestyle to keep up with the results

what is a photofacial

a skin treatment that uses light-based technology to create a more even complexion by targeting multiple skin conditions such as brown spots (sun damage, age spots, liver spots, freckles), redness (rosacea and broken capillaries) and acne

how does it work

the light penetrates the pigmented tissue and damages it. once this happens, the body processes the injured tissue and over time, the natural healing process of the skin helps remove the affected areas, revealing fresh, healthy skin

skin conditions that can be treated

sun damage

 age spots

freckles

liver spots & other benign brown pigments

broken capillaries

rosacea

acne

are you a candidate

there are several factors that need to be considered to confirm this treatment is safe and effective for you

 these include (but are not limited to)...

• medical history
• ancestry/skin tone
• pregnant/breastfeeding is a no-go
• no sun exposure 2-4 weeks prior and post-treatment (this includes sunless tanner)
• you must be off accutane for at least 6 months to a year as well as any other photosensitizing medication
• stop the use of retinol/retin-A or glycolic acid one week prior
• wait 2-4 weeks after botox & filler

cost

we charge $295 per area

post-treatment

there's little to no downtime. the treated area might be red and slightly swollen, but you can apply makeup directly after. a mineral SPF should be applied post-treatment and worn religiously thereafter.your age spots and sun spots will typically become darker as the pigment is lifted to the surface (varies per patient) and can have a “coffee ground” appearance, but generally sloughs off after 1-2 weeks

treat the skin gently and allow the pigment to slough off naturally

*picking or scrubbing can lead to scarring*

day 1-7

• avoid excessive heat and sweating for 24 hours following your treatment (saunas, hot tubs, hot showers, and exercise)
• the sun is enemy #1, so always wear SPF + hat to limit exposure as much as possible
• no exfoliants of any kind
• use a mild cleanser and moisturizer along with any redness relief/post-procedure products recommended by your practitioner

day 7-14

• follow the above steps until your skin has completely healed
• NO SUN

how many treatments are needed

this is something you will need to determine with your provider based on your individual needs.typically, it's anywhere from 3-6 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart