Welcome to EKO Beauty IPL Studio where I specialise in advanced Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments, located in the heart of West Didsbury my studio is your go-to destination for effective skincare solutions.
What is IPL?
IPL is a cosmetic treatment which uses pulses of filtered light to target specific parts of the skin it is a safe treatment with no down time. Because of the versatility of the light filters, IPL can be used to treat many different skin concerns. It is an excellent choice for treating acne, pigmentation, sun damage, thread veins and other vascular lesions. It is also a popular hair removal method and it can be used to help reduce scarring too.
Eko Beauty IPL Studio uses the Skinbase IPL system which has been voted the No.1 IPL system used by skincare professionals in Professional Beauty Magazine.
For each of these skin concerns, IPL targets a different structure within the skin, so how does it affect each one?
Hair Reduction
IPL emits broad-spectrum light pulses that penetrate the skin and target the pigment (melanin) in the hair follicles. The light is converted into heat, which damages the hair follicle without harming the surrounding skin. Repeated treatments result in weakened follicles, causing the hair to grow back finer, slower and eventually stop growing altogether.
It can be used all over the body and typically requires several sessions (usually 6-8) spaced a few weeks apart to see the best results. IPL works best on light to medium skin tones with darker hair, it may be less effective on very light or grey hair.
Rosacea/Redness
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterised by facial redness, visible blood vessels, and sometime acne-like bumps. Dealing with this condition can be challenging, especially when it comes to redness and skin texture, but IPL offers a promising solution.
IPL delivers pulses of broad-spectrum light that target hemoglobin, the pigment in blood. When hemoglobin absorbs this light energy, it heats up and causes the blood vessel walls to coagulate (or thicken and close). This process damages the vessel lining just enough that the body recognizes it as no longer needed and naturally reabsorbs it over time.
Since rosacea often leads to visible blood vessels near the skin’s surface reducing the presence of these vessels can greatly improve the skin's appearance. Breaking down these vessels also reduces overall redness and flushing, as the blood flow near the skin’s surface is minimised. IPL can also stimulate collagen production, improving skin texture and making it smoother. This can be particularly helpful for rosacea patients who experience rough patches or thickening of the skin.
Overall, IPL can be a game-changer for managing rosacea, offering substantial relief from symptoms and improving the appearance and health of the skin.
Acne/Acne Scarring
IPL is proven to be extremely effective in the treatment of Acne. It targets Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes), the bacteria primarily responsible for acne. This bacteria thrives in the oily, low-oxygen environment of clogged pores, where it contributes to inflammation and acne formation.
IPL emits yellow, green and red light in a series of short pulses, this light energy penetrates the skin and kills the bacteria. By reducing C. acnes, IPL helps to alleviate one of the main contributors to acne and reduce active breakouts.
The heat generated during IPL treatments also decreases the activity of the sebaceous (oil) glands. Allowing the skin to regain balance, unclog the pores and reduce the oily skin that contributes to acne. The light energy from IPL also penetrates the skin promoting the release of anti-inflammatory mediators. These mediators help calm the skin, decrease redness, and reduce the swelling in active acne lesions making them less visible and promoting faster healing.
Scarring caused by acne is a deficit collagen in the specific region where acne has taken place. After the acne has subsided the affected region needs collagen to heal. IPL also stimulates collagen production in the deeper layers of the skin, which supports healing and strengthens the skin barrier and improves its texture. Stronger skin is more resilient to inflammatory triggers, helping to manage future breakouts and inflammation.
Pigmentation
Pigmentation refers to the natural colour of the skin, hair, and eyes, which is determined by the amount and type of melanin produced by melanocytes, specialised cells located in the skin. Hyperpigmentation is a common skin and harmless skin condition characterised by darkened patches or spots on the skin due to an excess production of melanin.
IPL is very effective for treating hyperpigmentation issues, such as sunspots, age spots, and melasma. It’s non invasive and selectively targets these darker areas without harming the surrounding skin.
IPL emits broad-spectrum light that targets melanin, the pigment responsible for dark spots on the skin. When the light energy from IPL is absorbed by the melanin, it converts to heat, which breaks down the pigmented cells. The heat generated by IPL breaks down clusters of pigment into smaller fragments. The body then removes these fragmented pigment particles naturally either through its lymphatic system, or they may rise to the surface and flake off, leading to a more even skin tone and reduction in discolouration.
Vascular Lesions
Vascular lesions are abnormal growths or changes in blood vessels that can occur in various forms and can affect the skin or deeper tissues. They include Telangiectasia, Spider Veins (Broken Capillaries) Thread Veins and Cherry Angiomas.
IPL is an effective treatment for these lesions, it works by emitting light at specific wavelengths that are absorbed by hemoglobin, the red pigment in blood. This absorption allows the IPL to specifically target blood vessels within vascular lesions without harming the surrounding skin. When the IPL light is absorbed by hemoglobin, it converts to heat. This heat causes the blood vessel walls to heat up and coagulate (clot), effectively damaging the targeted blood vessels.
This controlled damage seals off the blood vessels, which are then gradually reabsorbed and removed by the body over time. As a result, the vascular lesions become less visible or disappear entirely.
Photo Rejuvenation
IPL is widely used for photo rejuvenation, which refers to the treatment of skin damage caused by sun exposure, ageing and other environmental factors. IPL improves photo rejuvenation by targeting a variety of skin concerns, including pigmentation, vascular lesions and skin texture issues, so kind of a combination of all of the above!
It can also stimulate collagen for improved texture, improve skin tone and clarity and minimise pore size and skin texture irregularities. By regularly stimulating collagen and targeting damaged cells, IPL treatments can also slow down visible signs of aging and improve skin’s resilience against environmental factors.
Why choose EKO Beauty IPL Studio?
- Expert Knowledge: EKO Beauty is dedicated to providing safe and effective treatments tailored to your individual needs.
- State-of-the-Art Equipment: EKO Beauty utilises the latest IPL technology, ensuring high-quality results with minimal discomfort.
- Comfortable Environment: EKO Beauty's treatment room is designed to provide a relaxing and inviting atmosphere, making your experience as enjoyable as possible.
How do I make a booking?
A patch test and consultation must be carried out prior to any IPL treatment course taking place, so please select the relevant patch test and consultation on the booking page.
If you book a session without having attended a patch test and consultation this is what your first appointment will be amended to. All patch test and consultation fees will be redeemable against any treatments booked.
