If you’re interested in optimal skincare treatment, you’ve undoubtedly heard about light-based therapy. However, you might be confused by the different types, such as BroadBand Light (BBL) Therapy and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy. Such confusion is certainly warranted given that the both types of light-based therapies work on the same principles and treat similar skin conditions.

Tru Glō Medspa offers both of these FDA-approved, anti-aging therapies to its southwest Florida-area clients. As such, we can give you the skinny on how these innovative treatments can condition your skin and help reduce visible signs of aging.    

BBL and IPL—What’s the Difference?

Often referred to as “photofacials” and “photo rejuvenation,” BBL and IPL both utilize non-invasive light waves to condition and rejuvenate skin anywhere on the body. They also both stimulate the body to produce more skin-building collagen, which enhances skin tone, adds volume, and may decrease the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and other skin imperfections. The procedures themselves are highly similar, with both resulting in limited downtime and both requiring similar aftercare instructions, including the avoidance of direct sun exposure for at least a week after treatment.    

The primary difference between the two therapies lies in the technology, type of light, and depth of skin penetration each provides. While IPL has been in use for well over a decade, BBL entered the market a few years ago and is considered an advanced form of IPL. In fact, some medical spas are replacing IPL treatment with BBL rather than offering both.   

The Skinny on IPL

With the use of a hand-held device, IPL delivers pulses of broad-spectrum light into the skin to target the skin’s hemoglobin and melanin. The heat energy of the light waves helps destroy pigmented cells and close off superficial blood vessels. Over the ensuing weeks the body absorbs the dead cells and tissue, leaving fresher looking skin cells.

The energy also stimulates a wound-healing response, which enhances the body’s production of skin-building collagen and elastin. This helps add volume to the skin, which can help reduce the appearance of other signs of skin aging. For the most noticeable results, most people need between three to five treatments spread a month apart.

In particular, IPL is most effective at treating:

• Rosacea
• Acne
• Sunspots
• Scarring
• Enlarged Pores
• Dilated Blood Vessels

BBL Represents Photofacial Upgrade

BBL is essentially an upgrade of IPL that delivers higher intensity light pulsed energy that can target skin layers deeper than the original therapy. This boosts the effectiveness of the heat energy’s correction of pigmentation issues and stimulation of collagen and elastin production. Researchers also believe that the BBL light wave energy helps works at the molecular level to alter genes linked to the aging process. This alteration appears to induce cell rejuvenation that produces overall younger looking skin at the treatment level beyond that cosmetically created by pigmentation correction and collagen buildup.

Along with effectively treating the same conditions as IPL, BBL addresses other skin conditions such as:

• Sun Damage
• Irregular Texture
• Birthmarks
• Age Spots
• Fine Lines
• Sagging Skin
• Freckles
• Acne and Acne Scarring

Learn More About Light-Based Skin Treatment at Tru Glō Medspa

To learn more about how light-based therapy at Tru Glō Medspa can correct specific skin imperfections and rejuvenate your aging skin, consult with one of our Naples-based skincare specialists. While BBL has become the standard of care for photofacial skin rejuvenation, IPL remains effective for some skin conditions and some skin types. Your Tru Glō Medspa specialist can help you determine which light-based therapy is best for you. Contact us today through our website’s contact page, or by calling 239-919-7009.