Photofacial

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Experience the Benefits of Treatment With Light

While prolonged exposure to sunlight can be damaging to the skin—causing cosmetic and health problems as collagen breaks down and skin cells are damaged—carefully controlled treatments using beneficial wavelengths can actually treat problems to improve complexion, texture, and more. Patients dealing with lesions, acne, and other problems can choose a photofacial at Albuquerque’s Western Dermatology Consultants.

One option for a photofacial is IPL, which stands for “intense pulsed light.” This treatment sends light energy deep into the skin, where it is absorbed as heat and damages unwanted lesions.

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Contact Us

IPL is a photofacial treatment for Albuquerque residents, and anyone who wants to seriously tackle certain skin problems. Western Dermatology Consultants is proud to offer the services of trained and experienced dermatologists. Call 505-855-9267 to speak to someone about your concerns or have your questions answered. You can also schedule an appointment or free consultation online.

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What Can a Photofacial Treat?

A photofacial can focus on a particular problem, or can be applied more broadly. The heat generated by IPL is ideal for collapsing visible spider veins, reducing the redness of rosacea, clearing up age spots and freckles, and removing unwanted hair. Collagen rejuvenated by the photofacial can also smooth out wrinkles and lines.

For many of our clients, rough, scaly spots are a common problem. While most of these lesions and patches are completely benign and often easily treatable, there are some cases in which the spots are more concerning. If our dermatologists have reason to suspect that a dry or crusty spot on the skin is indicative of something serious, they will present photodynamic therapy—a more intense and medical–based treatment than a photofacial—as an option.

How Does a Photofacial Work?

While there are many photofacial options that use light, they employ it in different ways to achieve skin–improving results.

An IPL photofacial works by sending light past the surface to be absorbed as heat by darker elements in the skin, such as unnecessary red veins, areas of hyperpigmentation, and hair follicles. The heat damages the lesions that absorb it. In a follicle’s case, this prevents it from properly growing new hairs. With spider veins, the blood coagulates and the vessel ultimately collapses and is absorbed into the body. Some surface lesions fade, while others eventually flake away.

A Word on Photodynamic Therapy

Photofacial treatments are intended for cosmetic services. A more intense light–based treatment, photodynamic therapy (PDT), is a clinical way to treat and eliminate a wide variety of medical skin conditions, including precancerous spots, acne, bacteria, and fungi. It is considered minimally invasive, minimally toxic, and highly effective. When used to treat acne—from moderate to severe—a PDT treatment can provide a solution that lasts for months, keeping skin clearer, and even reducing the appearance of some scarring. This may require a series of treatments, but many patients find such a commitment to be very worthwhile.

Photodynamic therapy works by exposing nontoxic, light–sensitive compounds to selective lighting. These compounds then become toxic, but only to the targeted diseased or malignant cells. The toxic and targeted compounds of PDT go to work on suspicious spots, microbial cells, and more to reduce the chance for cancer or widespread infection.

The precancerous lesions, or actinic keratoses, that are treatable with photodynamic therapy may be found on the scalp, face, lips, neck, ears, chest, forearms, or back of the hands. If you find any red, crusty spots in these areas, ask Western Dermatology Consultants in Albuquerque about what photodynamic therapy could do for you.

Depending on the type and severity of your acne, photodynamic therapy may be a viable option for you. If you've tried everything, but haven't experienced much success, ask about PDT for noncancerous skin conditions.

Contact Us

Want to learn more about options for a photofacial in Albuquerque? At Western Dermatology Consultants, you′ll receive the attention of board–certified dermatologists. Call today at 505-855-9267 to learn about all the services offered. You can also schedule an appointment or free consultation.

Book Online

Options Beyond the Photofacial

Patients who want to focus on their unwanted hair may consider dedicated laser hair removal, which operates on the same principle as a photofacial: Unwanted follicles absorb energy and become incapable of functioning properly. Laser energy is also used to break down ink as a strategy for tattoo removal.

Another light–based skin treatment available at our Albuquerque facility is fractional skin resurfacing, which promotes healing to address uneven coloring, wrinkles, and some laxity. A series of gentle sessions yields results that appear gradually over months.

Even if you have a photofacial or other particular treatment in mind, talk to the dermatologists at Western Dermatology Consultants, who will work with you to create the ideal treatment plan for achieving the results you want, whether the solution is light based or involves another strategy.