Part 2: Putting Lasers to the Test, PhotoFacial Results

Every day this past week I woke up and anxiously ran to the mirror to inspect my face hoping for a miracle. Having received an IPL treatment, otherwise known as a PhotoFacial, by my derm Dr. Lefkowicz last week I couldn't wait to see results.  Bye, bye brown spots!  (Here's where I blogged about the laser treatment.)  A week later, I can tell you my complexion is definitely more even (almost as good as my airbrushed headshot), but still has some ways to go. Throughout the week the spots gave me some trouble just as I expected them to.  First, they got a lot darker from the lasers.  The day I had the treatment done I came back to my apartment to write and didn't leave again.  They were embarrassingly dark and irritated that day.

However, I had places to go and people to see throughout the week and was out the door the next day.  While the brown spots were darker than ever on the second and third day, I think I was the only one who noticed.  I felt the need to explain to friends and colleagues that I had an IPL, but to my surprise, they didn't even notice that my brown spots were super dark.  I was just paranoid.

By the fourth day they began to peel and fade.  This is what I was waiting for!  I was a good patient during this time as I normally scrub and pick like there's no tomorrow, but I kept my skin moisturized and allowed the brown spots to disappear on their own.  Now, a week later, my face is almost back to normal with less brown spots and the ones that are left are significantly lighter.

The IPL normally takes anywhere from one to four treatments spaced two to four weeks apart to work depending on one's condition.  I think if I had one more treatment my skin would be where I want it to be.  This week was trying, but worth it.  The treatment isn't too expensive and works quicker than any lightening serums and creams on the market.

 Dr. Lefkowicz can be found at NY Skin Rx at 875 Fifth Ave. NY, NY 10065. (212)288.3200

Putting Lasers to the Test: I Tried A PhotoFacial

Now that I'm 29 (yes, 29 and freaking out about my skin since I grew up a sun worshiper) I've been picking my dermatologist, Dr. Ilyse Lefkowicz's, brain about what I should do to make sure it looks the best it possibly can.  As I creep near the big 3-0 I want to make sure my skin ages as gracefully as possible.  Yesterday, she convinced me to try a PhotoFacial, otherwise known as Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL) to help rid my brown spots (thanks tanning), which dull my complexion and make me look older than I am.  Since I trust her tremendously, I happily surrendered to the PhotoFacial and let me tell you, it's no "facial." This was my first laser treatment.  More anxious than nervous I sat in the chair, put on a pair of goggles and listened as Dr. Lefkowicz told me I was going to be uncomfortable as she targeted brown spots with the laser on my cheeks, chin, nose and forehead.  When it comes to beauty, I'll take discomfort.  As a matter of fact, there's not much I wouldn't do for flawless skin.

The laser felt like a hot rubber band snapping for a second on each brown spot.  After one pass around my face, Dr. Lefkowicz waited a minute and checked in with me and went back for a second and then a third.  The forehead was by far the most sensitive, but the overall experience wasn't that bad, just slight discomfort.  The pulsed light hits the melanin in the skin, which causes the dark pigment to disappear.  When I looked in the mirror I noticed the brown spots were all darker and I had little red marks all over my face where she hit me with the laser.  It took about a half hour for my skin to calm down as it was a little inflamed.

For the next two days my brown spots will be darker and then naturally fall off.  I won't be able to go out without concealor and foundation on to hide them (and I don't normally wear face makeup).  Therefore, I would recommend doing this facial when you don't have any big meetings or events that week.  I'm instructed not to scrub or try to peel them off.  The care is simply to keep my face moisturized and wear SPF.  As you can imagine, I'm completely anxious to see results and will post a round two next week.

The IPL is great for people with brown spots, age spots and even rosacea and can be used on your face, chest.  Of course, treatment is different depending on the patient.  I may be happy after this one treatment, but sometimes several treatments are needed (up to four) spaced two to four weeks apart.