IPL Pigmentation & Skin Brightening

Intense Pulsed Light treatment using a broad-spectrum xenon flash filtered to wavelengths that target melanin and haemoglobin without harming the surrounding skin. Gen Z Clinic uses IPL primarily for dull / uneven complexion, sun-damage spots, post-acne erythema and superficial freckles — alongside a collagen-stimulation effect that improves overall skin tone and texture.

IPL is not technically a laser — it's a high-intensity, broad-spectrum xenon flash filtered to a band of wavelengths (typically 500–1,200 nm). Unlike a single-wavelength laser, IPL treats multiple chromophores in one pulse, which makes it efficient for clients whose pigmentation issue is mixed (sun-damage + redness + textural dullness). What IPL targets: • Melanin in superficial sun spots, freckles, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation • Haemoglobin in fine telangiectasia and post-acne redness • Mild collagen stimulation as a secondary effect, leading to gradual brightening and pore tightening IPL is usually NOT first-line for melasma (which is hormonally driven and lives deeper than IPL reaches) — for melasma the clinic recommends Q-Switched Nd:YAG instead. The doctor will steer you to the right device at consultation. Protocol: cool gel, the handpiece is pulsed across the field with overlap; you'll see a bright flash and feel a hot 'snap' for each pulse. Sun spots may darken ('coffee grounds') over the next 48 hours, then flake off across 5–7 days. Erythema may persist mildly for 24 hours. A typical course is 4–6 sessions every 3–4 weeks, with maintenance every 6 months. The brightening effect compounds across the course. Not appropriate for: active tan, very dark Fitzpatrick (V–VI) without an experienced operator, photosensitizing medications, pregnancy, recent isotretinoin within 6 months.