IPL Laser
Vancouver, WA
UV exposure, age, and inflammation can all leave their mark on your skin.
Brown spots, redness, and uneven tone tend to settle in slowly over time. If you're looking for a treatment that lifts discoloration and restores clarity without downtime, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) might be the perfect fit. At Camas Med Spa, we use advanced intense pulsed light technology to safely and effectively treat vascular and pigmented lesions like broken blood vessels, redness, sun damage, and uneven tone. Each IPL treatment is tailored to your skin type and goals, so results feel natural, helping you unveil clearer, calmer, and more radiant skin.
IPL is a non-invasive light therapy used in clinical and aesthetic dermatology that applies a broad-spectrum intense pulsed light source to targeted pigment and vascular irregularities in the skin. Unlike traditional laser treatments, which use a single wavelength, IPL devices emit multiple wavelengths to address a range of skin concerns.
The broadband light energy emitted by the IPL device is absorbed by melanin and hemoglobin in the treated skin, helping to fade pigmented lesions, reduce redness, and improve skin texture over time. Intense pulsed light therapy is a favorite for treating vascular lesions, sun damage, broken blood vessels, and uneven skin tone. Clients love that IPL is gentle enough to allow an immediate return to daily activities but effective enough to produce real, visible change.
Improve skin texture, tone, and hyperpigmentation like vascular lesions. This treatment includes the full face and neck.
Address uneven skin texture, tone, dark spots, and other imperfections. This treatment includes the full face, neck, and décolleté (chest area)
Clear away hyperpigmentation and improve tone and texture. This treatment includes the full face.
Our IPL spot treatment includes 3-5 brown sun spots on your body and/or face. These brown spots can vary in size
Laser Genesis offers a powerful way to reduce redness, pigment, and breakouts.
YAG laser provides comprehensive skin rejuvenation by targeting both pigmentation and vascular concerns in a single, synergistic treatment.
Your visit will begin with a consultation to discuss your goals and determine the best treatment plan for you, whether a full-face treatment, spot treatment.
When you are ready, your provider will cleanse the skin in the treatment area and apply a cooling gel to ensure your comfort. They then use the intense pulsed light device to deliver light pulses across the treatment area or in targeted areas of concern. Most people describe the sensation as a light snap or warm pulse that is easily tolerated without numbing. There is little to no downtime following an IPL treatment. Some patients experience slight redness or swelling, similar to a mild sunburn, which usually fades within hours. Pigmented lesions may temporarily darken before naturally sloughing off, revealing clearer skin beneath.
Intense pulsed light therapy is effective for a wide range of skin conditions, especially those related to discoloration or visible capillaries. It’s commonly used to treat skin imperfections like:
Intense pulsed light also supports overall skin rejuvenation, stimulating collagen production to improve your skin's clarity and brightness over time.
What Are the Benefits of IPL?
Patients love that IPL therapy offers visible improvements in tone and texture with minimal interruption to their routine. It targets unwanted pigment and vascular lesions while supporting overall skin rejuvenation from within.
Unlike more aggressive laser treatments or chemical peels, intense pulsed light is gentle and requires no peeling or recovery time. It’s a practical solution for treating sun damage, brightening aging skin, and improving the appearance of vascular and pigmented lesions in a way that fits your life.
Intense pulsed light is most effective on light to medium skin types with visible pigmentation or vascular concerns. Individuals with darker skin tones or those with active acne may be at an increased risk of pigmentation changes. For clients with darker skin tones, we offer treatments such as Fraxel or Chemical Peels, including our ZO 3-step peel and hydroquinone skin care system through ZO Skin Health.
We'll carefully assess your skin type, medical history, and goals to ensure the safest and most effective approach, whether IPL or another treatment.
Most patients return to normal activities immediately after an intense pulsed light treatment. You may experience mild redness or darkened pigment in the treated areas, but this typically resolves in a few days. Dark spots may temporarily darken before gradually flaking or sloughing off over several days, allowing you to see your results in action!
It's important to use SPF sun protection and avoid sun exposure to protect the skin as it heals. We'll guide you on how to care for your skin after treatment, including using gentle cleansing and moisturizing products and avoiding harsh ingredients and exfoliants while your skin is recovering.
Depending on your goals, we may recommend multiple treatments spaced several weeks apart to see optimal results. Many clients also combine intense pulsed light therapy with other skin treatments, like chemical peels and microneedling, as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. We can help you select and sequence your treatments to achieve your goals safely and effectively.
Results from IPL therapy develop gradually. Over a series of pulsed light sessions, you can expect to see noticeably clearer skin, reduced redness, and a more even, radiant skin tone. The light energy used in IPL treatments also promotes collagen renewal for ongoing improvements after every session. To maintain your results, we may recommend seasonal IPL therapy sessions.
The results are subtle yet transformative and continue to build with each session. Whether you're wearing makeup or going bare-faced, IPL helps you feel more comfortable and confident in your own skin.
At Camas Med Spa, our team combines clinical expertise, advanced technology, and a warm, patient-focused care model.
We take an unhurried approach, helping you explore the treatments that best fit your lifestyle and your goals for your skin. Here, every treatment is as unique as you are. Our advanced intense pulsed light device features variable pulse durations, which we carefully calibrate to your skin's specific needs for the safest and most effective treatment. Whether you’re looking to target specific skin imperfections like sun spots or broken blood vessels or simply want to refresh your overall glow, we can create an IPL treatment plan that meets your needs and goals.
Most patients see noticeable improvement after 3–5 IPL treatments spaced about 3–4 weeks apart. The exact number of treatments depends on your skin type, concerns, and goals.
Intense pulsed light is best suited for lighter skin tones. IPL treatments are not typically recommended for very dark skin due to the risk of pigmentation changes. During your consultation, we’ll evaluate your skin to determine the best and safest approach, offering alternative treatment options if necessary.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) uses broad-spectrum light to treat a range of skin concerns like redness, pigmentation, and unwanted hair, making it versatile for multiple conditions. In contrast, laser treatments use a single, focused wavelength of light, which allows for more precise targeting of specific concerns. Both are effective, but lasers are often more specialized, while IPL offers broader coverage with less intensity. Visit our Laser Genesis and Fraxel Laser pages to learn more about laser therapy.
You'll need to avoid sun exposure, tanning beds, and certain skincare products (like retinol) before an IPL treatment. After treatment, use gentle skincare, avoid direct sun exposure, and wear SPF daily while your skin recovers.
Yes, intense pulsed light treatments can be combined with other skin rejuvenation treatments like microneedling, facials, or chemical peels. We’ll create a custom IPL treatment plan based on your needs.
Many clients opt for periodic touch-up sessions to maintain their results, particularly those who experience ongoing sun exposure or recurring pigmentation issues.
With proper sun care and a good skincare routine, results can last for months or even longer. Seasonal maintenance sessions help extend your outcomes.
IPL has the benefit of very minimal downtime. You may experience mild redness or darkening of brown spots for a few days, but most people resume normal activities right away.
Some changes are noticeable after the first session, but full results typically develop over several weeks as the skin renews itself from within and pigmented spots fade.
