Question 1

How does it work?

Accepted Answer

Pigmentation: IPL is absorbed by pigmented areas of skin where it is converted to heat, causing a breakup in the pigment, which improves progressively over time with consecutive treatments.

Vascular: IPL targets thread veins by firing short bursts of light energy into the affected area. This light is absorbed by the haemoglobin in the surface capillary, causing the tiny blood vessels to break down and be reabsorbed by the body. IPL effectively treats thread veins while minimising harmful effects to surrounding healthy tissue.

Rejuvenation: IPL stimulates the fibroblast cells deep within the skin to gradually soften wrinkles and improve skin tone, which will create new collagen re-growth and reformation. You can have your whole face treated for rjuvenation.

Question 2

What results can I expect?

Accepted Answer

You may see improvements to broken capillaries, and some pigmented areas within a few days. 
Other improvements such as wrinkle reduction will be more subtle and may take four months or more. With each subsequent treatment, subtle changes will accumulate until you have achieved the improvement you desire.

Question 3

How many treatments will I need and how often?

Accepted Answer

Often, a course of 6 treatments spaced 3-4 weeks apart. Occasionally, more treatments may be needed for certain individuals or conditions.

If treating a variety of different concerns, such as pigmentation and rejuvenation, treatments can be alternated and spaced at 2-week intervals.

Rosacea treatment results vary from person to person. Most patients usually see a 50% to 75% reduction after 3-6 treatments, with some patients seeing a 100% reduction. This condition requires maintenance/top-up treatments, for example this could be once or twice a year, or once every 3 months.

We can never guarantee how many you will need or how effective it will be for you.

Question 4

How do I prepare for treatment?

Accepted Answer

Do not apply skin products, moisturising cream, or make-up (if treating face) or perfume on the day.
Do not use essential oils 48 hrs prior.  
If possible  avoid Ibuprofen or Aspirin 48 hours prior to treatments (unless medically necessary).
Refrain from using products containing active ingredients such as retinoids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or vitamin C on the treatment area for 7 days prior to treatment.
Do not use any photosensitising creams or medications.

Inform your practitioner before your next appointment either by email or direct message if any of the following apply, otherwise treatment may not be able to go ahead on the day.
Any change in medications (including herbal remedies). 
If you have been exposed to strong sunlight without any SPF.
If you have applied fake tan products to the area 2 weeks prior.

Question 5

What will my skin look like after?

Accepted Answer

You may not notice anything straight away. Sometimes following the treatment, you may have a little redness and very mild swelling, which usually subsides within a few hours or by the following day.

Pigmentation may gradually fade, or darken as it comes to the surface of the skin before gradually flaking away over the course.

Question 6

What cause vascular lesions?

Accepted Answer

Small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin, known as thread veins, broken capilarries, telangiectasia and spider veins, they can be unsightly and often occur around the nose, cheeks and chin. 
These superfial broken veins occur when the vein dilates and becomes larger, so they are visible through the transparency of the skin. 
They are quite common and also found on the body (commonly on legs). 
They can be hereditary, or a variety of factors including damage from sun exposure, wind, and the extremes of temperature. The overuse of steroid creams and certain autoimmune conditions may also induce thread veins. Often the exact cause is unknown and may just be part of the natural ageing process or as a part of a skin condition called rosacea.

Question 7

What causes Rosacea?

Accepted Answer

Rosacea often refers to redness, sensitivity and break-outs of the face, which affects approximately 1 in 10 people. 
Rosacea can be a long-term inflammatory process that causes an over-growth of capillary blood vessels in the upper layers of the skin.
These tiny blood vessels are very sensitive and enlarge in response to sunlight, stress, exercise, alcohol, spicy food, caffeine and hot/cold weather. 
In addition rosacea can be caused by a change in hormones – pregnancy, menopause etc.
These factors cause flushing and a sensation of burning or stinging. Over time, the chronic inflammation leads to larger vessels developing (‘telangiectasia’), often seen around the nose, cheeks and chin.
The appearance of rosacea can be improved with IPL, but it cannot cure the condition, instead it can help to subside the redness, spots and inflammation. Often people have a course of treatments which can last a year or so and may require maintenace/one-off treatments as and when.
We are an offical stockist of HYPO21 which is a very effective treatment spray, helping to improve skin conditions like rosacea by reducing inflammation and redness.

With IPL treatment, most patients usually see a 50% to 75% reduction after 3-6 treatments, with some patients seeing a 100% reduction. But results for this condition cannot be guaranteed.
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Question 8

What cause aging skin?

Accepted Answer

As we grow older, our fibroblast cells deep within the skin diminish, collagen reduces and structures weaken, resulting in wrinkles and creepy, lax skin.
IPL can stimulate the fibroblast cells that create collagen, which tightens the skin and decreases fine lines. 
Fibroblast cells also help the production of hyaluronic acid, a natural skin substance that hydrates the skin, further improving tone and elasticity and smoothing the texture of the skin.
Both the face and body can be treated and is fantastic on the back of the hands.

Question 9

What causes pigmentation?

Accepted Answer

IPL is naturally attracted to melanin and so can be used to help reduce superficial sun damage. 
Pigmentation consists of sunspots, liver spots, age spots, brown spots and freckles. These dark patches are caused by an over-production of melanin.
From the age of about 40 the skin is less able to regenerate from sun exposure, and so age spots start to appear. Generally, these age spots pose no health risk, however, they can be unsightly and create a patchy, less youthful appearance. These lesions can be successfully lightened or removed with IPL.

Very large, raised, or very dark/black pigmentation cannot be treated.

Not all pigmentation concerns are a result of sun exposure and some people are born with pigmented birthmarks or may have melasma, a skin pigmentation condition often associated with pregnancy or hormones.

For birthmarks or severe pigmentation, we recommend our laser treatments instead Advanced Carbon Laser or Advanced Tri-wave.

Question 10

Am I suitable?

Accepted Answer

Suitable for skin types up to and including Fitzpatrick Type IV.

Westfield Clinic requires clients to complete a short medical questionnaire prior to their initial consultation. This allows us to assess suitability and ensure adequate time for patch testing where required.
Certain medical conditions and medications may make laser or IPL treatments unsuitable or unsafe. It is important that clients are generally fit and well, and that the immune system is not compromised at the time of treatment.
The medical questionnaire will ask you to list all current medications, including dosage, as some medications can be photosensitising. Please include all medications, even short-term courses such as antibiotics.

In some cases, medical conditions or medications may require written GP approval before patch testing can proceed. For example, regarding thyroid conditions, we need confirmation from your GP that your thyroid condition is well-managed and stable. This is a standard safety measure, as thyroid conditions can sometimes affect how the skin heals and responds to treatment. Once we have this confirmation, we’ll be able to move forward with your consultation and patch testing. You may be able to get your GP to write in your notes this confirmation which you can then screenshot on your NHS app.
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During the consultation, the treatment will be fully discussed and a series of three small patch tests at varying energy levels will be performed. This allows the correct treatment parameters to be established and ensures your skin’s tolerance to light.
Full treatment can then begin 3–14 days later, provided there are no adverse reactions.

For more information on contraindications that could prohibit you from treatment click here...

Question 11

Why do I need a consultation?

Accepted Answer

We do not charge for consultations.

It is important to check you are suitable for treatment, to explain the safety protocols, to answer your questions, to establish machine parameters for you and to check for no adverse reaction from the patch test.

Please note - your skin does not need to be at its worst for the consultation appointment. But photos showing this are useful.

If you are taking antibiotics, please let us know beforehand, as you may not be suitable for a patch test - some antibiotics are photosensitising and will need to be completely cleared from your system first.

Email photos or antibiotic query: info@westfieldclinic.co.uk

Question 12

Do I need to protect my skin from the sun after treatment?

Accepted Answer

VERY IMPORTANT
Avoid sun exposure for 48 hours post-treatment and wear SPF 50 or higher throughout the duration of your course.
Following this advice is important because the skin is more sensitive after IPL treatments and has increased risk of irritation and pigmentation changes. Sun exposure within the first 48 hours can trigger inflammation or unwanted darkening of the skin, while daily use of SPF 50 helps protect the treated area, supports healing, and ensures the best possible results throughout your course.

Question 13

Can I use fake tan on the area?

Accepted Answer

As a safety precaution, we advise that fake tan is not applied for 2 weeks prior to treatment, on the area. This timeframe is a precautionary measure, as there are several factors that affect how long fake tan lasts, including the product used and individual skin cell turnover rates. For example, some fake tan products fade more quickly than others, and regular cleansing or exfoliation can also accelerate fading.