Summer may be over, but sometimes it leaves a little something behind.
Sun exposure can make freckles, brown spots, uneven pigmentation and redness appear more noticeable. And while skincare can help support brighter, healthier-looking skin, there are some concerns that topical products simply can’t address as effectively on their own.
That’s where an IPL Photofacial comes in.
At Ciao Bella Advanced Aesthetics, fall marks the beginning of one of our favourite treatment seasons — because as our days get shorter and sun exposure decreases, it’s an ideal time to start working on the visible signs of summer sun exposure.
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light.
Unlike a laser, which typically uses a single wavelength of light, IPL delivers a broad spectrum of light that can be filtered to target specific concerns within the skin.
At Ciao Bella, we use our IPL technology to target concerns such as:
The goal isn’t to resurface or remove the top layer of your skin. Instead, IPL uses controlled pulses of light to target specific colour within the skin.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Pigment in the skin absorbs the light energy delivered during an IPL treatment. That light energy is converted into heat, helping to damage the targeted pigment so your body can gradually clear it.
When we’re treating brown pigmentation, you may actually notice some spots become darker before they become lighter.
This is expected.
Over the days following treatment, targeted pigment can temporarily deepen in colour and develop a coffee-ground-like appearance before gradually flaking or fading away.
For redness and visible vessels, IPL works a little differently. The light is absorbed by hemoglobin within the blood vessels, helping reduce the appearance of unwanted redness over time.
It’s one technology, but we can use specific settings and filters depending on what we’re trying to target.
There’s a reason we talk about IPL so much once summer ends.
IPL and sun exposure do not make a good combination.
Because the treatment targets pigment, we want your skin as close to its natural, untanned colour as possible. Recent tanning and significant sun exposure can increase the risk of unwanted reactions and make it more difficult to safely distinguish between the pigment we want to treat and the melanin naturally present in your skin.
Fall makes treatment planning much easier.
In Grande Prairie, our transition into cooler weather generally means less time spent in intense sun, more covered skin and fewer days at the lake or patio.
That creates a much better window for a series of IPL treatments.
And because pigmentation often requires more than one treatment, starting in the fall gives us several months to work on your skin before next summer arrives.
One of our favourite things about IPL is that it can address multiple visible signs of photodamage during the same treatment.
Rather than focusing on just one individual brown spot, we can treat larger areas of accumulated pigmentation and uneven tone.
Over a series of treatments, clients may notice:
Brighter-looking skin.
Areas of excess pigmentation can become less noticeable, helping the complexion look clearer.
More even skin tone.
By addressing both brown and red discolouration, IPL can help create a more uniform appearance.
Reduced appearance of sun spots and freckles.
Pigmented areas that have accumulated from years of sun exposure can gradually become lighter.
Reduced visible redness.
Depending on the type and cause of redness, IPL may help reduce the appearance of certain visible vessels and diffuse redness.
The result isn’t about changing what your skin looks like.
It’s about revealing more of the clear, even complexion underneath the accumulated effects of sun exposure.
Most clients describe IPL as a quick snapping or warm sensation as each pulse of light is delivered.
Treatments are relatively quick, particularly when treating the face.
Immediately afterward, your skin may look slightly pink or feel warm. Pigmented spots can begin darkening within the following hours or days.
And this is where patience matters.
Your skin needs time to process and clear that targeted pigment. IPL results aren’t something we judge the moment you leave the treatment room — they continue developing in the days and weeks afterward.
We wish we could erase years of accumulated sun exposure in one appointment.
Skin doesn’t quite work that way.
Some clients notice visible improvement after a single IPL Photofacial, but pigmentation, redness and photodamage often respond best to a series of treatments.
How many treatments you’ll need depends on your skin, the concerns we’re treating, how much pigmentation is present and your treatment goals.
That’s why we assess your skin before simply deciding on a number.
And once you’ve achieved your desired correction, occasional maintenance treatments can help preserve your results.
IPL can target existing pigmentation — but it doesn’t make your skin immune to future sun damage.
Daily SPF is essential.
We also want your home skincare routine working alongside your professional treatments rather than against them. Depending on your skin, we may recommend products that support hydration, barrier health, antioxidants or pigmentation management between appointments.
Think of IPL as one piece of a larger skin strategy.
The best results happen when professional treatments, home care and daily sun protection all work together.
If you spent the summer enjoying Grande Prairie’s long days, camping, travelling, golfing or simply spending more time outside, you may be noticing the evidence on your skin now.
Fall is the perfect time to do something about it.
Our IPL Photofacial is $225 for the face, and we’ll customize your treatment based on what we see in your skin.
Because sometimes the best part of fall isn’t the sweaters.
It’s getting your skin back.
Ciao Bella Advanced Aesthetics
Grande Prairie, Alberta
