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LUMECCA IPL PHOTOREJUVENATION: WHAT CAN IT DO FOR PIGMENTATION AND REDNESS?
Facial skin tone is not always as even as we would like. After summer, pigmentation may become more noticeable, small visible vessels can appear around the cheeks and nose, and the overall complexion may look uneven.
Interestingly, these are very different concerns, yet in many cases they can be treated using the same technology — IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light.
At BABOR Beauty Spa, we use Lumecca IPL for this purpose.
But what does “photorejuvenation” actually mean, and how can light target both brown pigmentation and red blood vessels?
IPL doesn't look for wrinkles — it “sees” colour
This is perhaps the easiest way to understand how IPL works.
Cosmetology specialist Inga Saulīte explains that IPL uses intense pulses of light whose energy is absorbed by specific targets within the skin.
When treating pigmentation, one of the main targets is melanin. When treating visible blood vessels, the target is haemoglobin.
This is why Lumecca is particularly interesting when we want to address uneven skin tone — sun-induced pigmentation, freckles, redness and visible superficial vessels.
Why can pigmentation become darker after Lumecca?
This is one of the things that sometimes surprises clients.
You come in wanting pigmentation to become less visible, yet the following day the treated spot may actually look darker than before.
That does not necessarily mean anything has gone wrong.
Following a Lumecca treatment, treated pigmentation can temporarily darken. Over the following days, the pigmented area gradually changes and superficial pigment may begin to flake away.
Inga always advises clients not to rush this process — the skin should not be rubbed or picked in an attempt to remove the darkened pigment.
What happens to visible red vessels?
The principle is similar, but the target for the light energy is different.
The light is absorbed by haemoglobin in the blood, creating a controlled thermal effect within the targeted vessel. Following treatment, the vessel may gradually become less visible, while temporary colour changes can also occur immediately afterwards.
This means that Lumecca can address both brown and red elements contributing to an uneven complexion.
It is one of the reasons why, after a successful course of treatments, the complexion can look clearer, fresher and more even overall.
“Will one Lumecca treatment be enough?”
Inga hears this question often.
And the answer is different for everyone.
In some cases, visible changes can be noticed after the first treatment. However, the number of sessions required depends on the condition of the skin, the concern being treated, skin type and individually selected treatment parameters.
This is why we prefer not to promise: “one treatment and the pigmentation will be gone.”
A small area of superficial sun pigmentation is not the same as more pronounced pigmentation. Likewise, a single small visible vessel is not the same as widespread facial redness.
What does a Lumecca treatment feel like?
Inga once described it very simply:
“I wouldn't say that you feel absolutely nothing during the treatment.”
At the moment of each light pulse, you may feel a brief sensation of heat, a small pinch or something similar to a light snap of an elastic band.
Your eyes are protected during the procedure, although the flash itself may still appear very bright.
Afterwards, the skin may feel warm and appear slightly red. These reactions usually subside relatively quickly.
Lumecca therefore does not usually mean spending several days at home recovering, but it would also be unrealistic to promise that “the skin will show absolutely no reaction.”
Why do we often think about Lumecca in autumn?
IPL and active tanning are not a good combination.
The skin should not be recently or intensely tanned before treatment, and careful UV protection is particularly important afterwards.
For this reason, autumn and winter are often especially convenient seasons for a course of Lumecca treatments in Latvia.
However, suitability is not determined by the calendar alone. The condition of the skin, recent sun exposure and tanning are more important.
Inga Saulīte: what you do after the treatment also matters
With pigmentation in particular, the story does not end when the IPL treatment is finished.
If the skin is regularly exposed to intense UV radiation again without adequate protection, new pigmentation can develop over time.
That is why daily SPF protection is not simply an instruction for the first few days after treatment. It is an important part of long-term pigmentation prevention.
The same applies to skincare. During the initial period after treatment, the skin should not be unnecessarily irritated with aggressive peels or other intensive treatments. Your specialist will provide specific aftercare recommendations based on the treatment performed and your skin's response.
Lumecca isn't just for the face
Although we most often talk about facial treatments, pigmentation and accumulated sun damage do not stop at the jawline.
The neck, décolleté and backs of the hands are areas where years of sun exposure can become particularly noticeable.
Lumecca can also be used in these areas.
So when thinking about a clearer and more even skin tone, it can be worth looking beyond the face to the neck, décolleté and hands as well.
Not every brown spot is simply “pigmentation”
Pigmented skin changes should be assessed before an IPL treatment. Not every dark lesion on the skin should automatically be treated as a cosmetic pigmentation spot.
Skin phototype, recent tanning, medications, the condition of the skin and other individual factors can also influence whether Lumecca is appropriate.
The purpose of a consultation is therefore not simply to choose a Lumecca setting. The first question is whether IPL is the right treatment for the particular concern.
At BABOR Beauty Spa, we use Lumecca IPL for photorejuvenation. More information about the treatment, suitability, contraindications and current prices is available on our Lumecca IPL treatment page.
