Many of us out there suffer from the annoying condition that is acne. Although all women can relate to the odd hormonal spot once a month, for some of us it’s a cause of constant concern.
Acne can be defined as a skin condition characterised by red pimples on the skin, due to inflamed or infected sebaceous glands. Although it is most common in adolescents and young people, it can also affect those in their twenties and thirties. It can be extremely painful, and can have a negative impact on a sufferers self-esteem and confidence.
There are countless facials and treatments that claim to help resolve acne, and there are of course antibiotics that can be subscribed by a healthcare professional, but we put one treatment to the test to see for ourselves if it is really worth the hype.
IPL, or intense pulsed light therapy, is an available treatment at The Adare Clinic for acne sufferers. It’s best suited for hormonal breakouts and mild/moderate acne. The interaction of light with the porphyrins (which causes acne) destroys the acne’s bacterium and results in overall reduction on the skin. Sounds pretty great eh?
The treatment lasts roughly ten minutes. You lie down, with protective glasses on and the doctor will put a cooling gel all over your face. Then the laser machine is brought out and the light is placed on specific areas on your face to target your spots.
All in all, we found IPL to be an effective treatment for people with moderate acne. It’s also a great option for those who don’t want to treat their spots with oral medication. It definitely killed some of the bacteria in the skin, which limited lesions in the areas where they typically appear (chin, under the nose and on the forehead). It certainly didn’t cure the acne, but a significant improvement could be seen, which we were happy with!
We found there to be no pain involved with the treatment, and felt practically nothing aside from a slight heat on the skin. The staff at The Adare Clinic were great- knowledgable and professional at all times. Although improvements were seen from the very first session, we would recommend doing a full course of six treatments to get the full benefit from IPL.
It’s €100 per session, or €500 for a course of six IPL treatments. Believe us, your skin will thank you for it!