Photofacial with Dye VL/IPL

At Albuquerque Vein & Laser Institute, we use the Harmony XL for our photofacial, which takes the standard IPL treatment to the next level! This “gold standard” procedure combines two trusted technologies – Pulsed Dye Laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) to provide safe, effective, consistent results.

This advanced treatment addresses a wide range of conditions including age spots, sun spots, rosacea, redness, and fine spider veins by making several “passes” over the skin using the different filters required. It’s a little more time-intensive and thorough than a conventional IPL treatment.

The Dye VL photofacial uses a selective pulsed light energy that is precisely absorbed by the targeted area, without damaging healthy skin. During treatment, smooth, light pulses ensure that the energy delivered is gentle and effective. Patients may feel the sensation of a thin rubber band “snapping” the skin, but most people feel little discomfort.

The photofacial will improve the appearance of red vascular lesions with the pulsed light selectively heating and closing off the abnormally clustered blood vessels in the lesion to improve their appearance while sparing nearby tissue from injury. In the case of pigmented lesions (age spots, sun spots), which are clusters of melanin that often appear brown, the treatment’s light energy targets the melanin, causing it to fragment. The fragments are then absorbed by the body and naturally eliminated.

Additionally, the Dye VL treatment can be applied using IN-Motion technology to enhance your comfort throughout the treatment. The heat from the “laser” is applied more gradually compared to other treatments, resulting in a noticeably comfortable procedure.

Any adult who has spent any amount of time in the sunlight, especially if they are lighter skinned, will benefit from a series of photofacials each and every year! This treatment is particularly effective at improving the appearance of:

• Vascular lesions/telangiectasias
• Port wine stains
• Rosacea
• Hyperpigmentation

There is no downtime with this treatment. However, it’s important that sun exposure should be avoided for approximately two to four weeks following this treatment, as it may cause an adverse response.

After treatment, patients can see immediate results with more even skin pigmentation and skin tone. Most patients require several treatments spaced three to four weeks apart for optimal results in the following areas:

• Reduced appearance of red vascular lesions
• Reduced appearance of pigmented lesions
• Improvement in fine facial veins/rosacea
• Overall skin rejuvenation