When Is the Best Time for IPL? Your Autumn & Winter Guide to Clearer Skin

As we sadly start to farewell the warm summer rays, it’s officially the perfect time to start thinking about how to make the most of the cooler months and for me, that always means skin treatments. Cooler weather usually brings less skin damage and fewer social events. We tend to go into hibernation mode as soon as the seasons change and honestly, as much as I love summer, I’m a homebody so I’m all about it. 

With less UV exposure, we can safely perform treatments that are not suitable over summer or on tanned skin. IPL treatments are a great option for targeting unwanted pigmentation, sun damage, and vascularity such as redness and visible veins, but they should only ever be performed during autumn and winter. Far too often, we have clients coming in to start their IPL journey mid-winter. While this can be done, in my opinion it’s cutting it fine. If you are going to invest in your skin, let’s do it properly the first time. The results you get from any treatment, whether that be IPL, skin boosters, or peels, are only as good as the prep work. You wouldn’t skip priming your walls before painting and the same applies to your skin. IPL is often marketed as a course of just three treatments. One and done. But three is not a magic number, it is simply a cookie cutter approach. Our approach is completely individualised because no two skins are the same. 

STEP ONE - PREP 

A skin consultation allows your therapist to properly understand your skin, your concerns, and your expectations. From there, we work with you to put together a home care plan that actually supports your skin and helps you get the best response from treatment. Time and time again, this step gets skipped. People go straight in for treatment without a consultation and I can wholeheartedly say your skin and your bank balance will thank you later for slowing this part down. This step is also important because IPL is not always the right treatment. Many people come in convinced they need IPL, when in reality it may not give them what they are looking for or could even make certain types of pigmentation worse. Being on the same page as your clinician is essential. 

STEP TWO - TREATMENT 

IPL is not always the first step. Sometimes there are other skin conditions that need to be treated first, or we see value in spending more time prepping the skin before introducing IPL. The IPL treatment itself is relatively quick, and I usually describe it as uncomfortable but manageable. Our IPL device has an inbuilt cooling system which allows for pre and post cooling and makes the treatment far more tolerable. Treatments are generally spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart and most clients will need anywhere from 2 to 5 sessions. Three treatments will often give a beautiful result, especially when it comes to reducing pigmentation, sun damage, and redness, but this is never set in stone. I always like to review progress after 2 to 3 sessions and adjust settings based on how the skin is responding. Have you ever noticed you have more sun damage on your forehead than your cheeks, or more redness on your neck and chest compared to your face? Your skin is not the same all over your face, thank goodness, so some areas may need more or less treatment. I also like to include targeted touch ups in areas that need it to give you the best clarity and longevity from your IPL results. 

STEP THREE - PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT 

This part should go without saying but unfortunately it doesn’t. I often see clients complete their IPL treatments and walk away with very little understanding of how to maintain their results. Removing sun damage does not mean it will not return. It’s a bit like losing weight, going back to old eating habits and expecting the weight not to come back. What you do after treatment is what determines how long your results last. I often say to my clients that I don’t want to see them back in clinic for IPL next winter. Other treatments, absolutely, but not repeat IPL. 

I have worked in the skin industry for almost 18 years and with a variety of IPL devices across multiple clinics. When I say that preparation and post treatment care matter, I truly mean it. In the long run, it saves you time, money, and delivers better, longer lasting results. 

Yes, you can walk into some clinics and have IPL done on the spot with no consultation or test patch, but this does not come without risk to your skin or your wallet. 

If you want healthy, beautiful skin for life and not just for one season, we are just a phone call away and look forward to seeing you soon.