IPL — Pigmentation & Facial Redness

ILK uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to treat both pigmentation disorders and diffuse facial redness through selective photothermolysis — the same principle as laser but using a broad-spectrum filtered light source rather than a monochromatic beam. For pigmentation (melasma, chloasma, freckles, solar lentigines), IPL targets melanin in the epidermis, heating and breaking apart the pigment clusters so they can be cleared by the skin's natural turnover. For facial redness and rosacea, the targeted chromophore is oxyhaemoglobin in the dilated capillaries — the IPL seals these vessels, reducing diffuse redness over 2–4 weeks. Small localised areas like a few spots can be treated from 600 Kč; comprehensive facial redness treatment covers the entire face for 5,000 Kč.

IPL at ILK is a versatile, non-ablative photorejuvenation modality that uses a flashlamp producing a broad spectrum of visible and near-infrared light, filtered to specific wavelength ranges to match the absorption peak of the target chromophore. Unlike a laser, which emits a single wavelength, IPL applies a range of wavelengths simultaneously — this makes it less wavelength-precise than a dedicated laser but highly flexible for addressing multiple targets (pigment and vascularity) in the same session. For pigmentation treatment, the IPL filter is selected to match the melanin absorption peak, heating the melanin-rich cells in lentigines and other superficial pigment deposits to the point of destruction. In the weeks following treatment, the disrupted melanin clusters are phagocytosed and cleared, and the affected spots fade progressively. Melasma, chloasma, freckles, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and solar lentigines (sunspots) all respond to IPL, though melasma requires more careful parameter selection given its tendency to respond with reactive melanogenesis if over-treated. For facial redness and rosacea, the filter is shifted to target oxyhaemoglobin — the pigment in the small dilated capillaries responsible for rosacea-type flushing and persistent facial erythema. The photon energy seals these capillaries through thermal coagulation; the body resorbs the closed vessels over 2–4 weeks. Treatment of facial redness at ILK is priced by zone: full-face (5,000 Kč), cheeks (3,000 Kč), or nose (2,400 Kč). Localised pigment spots can be treated at a per-pulse rate (600 Kč for up to 6 pulses, 100 Kč each additional). A typical pigmentation course involves 2–4 sessions; rosacea vascularity may require more. IPL is contraindicated on tanned or recently sun-exposed skin — the excess epidermal melanin competes with the target chromophore and increases burn risk.