Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LASER AND IPL? A: IPL and Laser are light-based treatment methods used in the skincare and med esthetics industry to treat a variety of common skin conditions and permanent hair reduction.
The IPL and Laser equipment deliver their results by emitting a specific range of light energy towards a specific target in the skin. In a successful treatment the light energy is absorbed by water, blood, or pigment in the skin, which are eradicated without causing disruption the surrounding tissue.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
IPL technologies project flashes of light energy onto the surface of the skin. The handheld device is placed directly on the skin and flashed at set intervals. The device emits a broad band of light energy into the skin, which is then quickly absorbed by the target. The diameter covered by the spot size varies and is ideal for larger areas.
IPL treatments are said to have less discomfort involved during the procedure, and require shorter recover periods and visible down-time. The peak temperature during these sessions is typically lower than that of Laser, making it ideal for treating heat sensitive skin conditions such as Melasma and Rosacea.
LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation)
Lasers operate by emitting a single wave of steady or pulsed laser light into their target. Depending on the manufacturer of the Laser equipment, some lasers are not suitable for all skin tones or skin conditions; therefore the technician is required to use different attachments or machines for treatment.
The spot size used to treat with laser is more concentrated, therefore smaller, and procedure time can be longer. For treatment of skin conditions, Laser tends to have a longer period of recovery and visible down-time following sessions. Lasers are said to be ideal for treating leg veins and tattoo removal.
IPL and Laser are both safe and effective treatment methods for treating skin conditions and permanently reducing unwanted hair. It is important to remember that results vary with both methods, there are specific guidelines to follow pre/post treatment, and number of sessions can range from 4-12.
For clients who meet the skin and/or hair criteria for IPL or Laser, the success of treatment is also influenced by the quality of equipment being used, and the technician’s knowledge of operating light-based technology.
In summary, the major difference between the two IPL and Laser is the range of light energy emitted by the device. Regardless of whether you choose IPL or Laser, it is always best to do your research.
Love, Peace, and Great Skin! Dérmica MedEsthetics
(780) 885 7108
dermica.ca
As some of you may know, “Ask Dermica” is featured on our website, dermica.ca, as a way to answer any Skincare questions you may have.
Here is an interesting submission:
Q: I have had good skin for most of my years, but over the past few months it has been acting up and breaking out. I haven’t been using anything different on my skin or stopped using my regular products. I have though, been going through an ugly break-up. Could this be the reason for my sudden break-outs?
A: As if dealing with the emotional uppercut break-up thrusts your way isn’t enough, most of us will also experience changes in our physical appearance, including the decline of our skin health. The endless nights sobbing will leave your eyeballs and under eyes feeling like a bad rug burn, your complexion starts to resemble the pepperoni pizza you’ve been stuffing your face with, your nose as red as the sorrow drowning wine you’ve guzzled, and your skin feels as tender as the heart that’s been shattered. Now take a moment, dry those tears and listen up!
For those of you going through this emotional rollercoaster, we may not be able to mend a broken heart but we sure can help you mend a broken complexion…
Think of your skin as a reflection of the emotional storm brewing inside your body, it too is suffering with you and needs a little extra TLC. During times of distress we tend to stray away from our daily routine and our “me time” or self-care routine drops down the list of priorities.
Poor diet, skin hygiene, lack of sleep, constant crying, and nervous habits take control of your skin, so what can you do to help your skin through this time? Let’s begin by examining some of the most common skin issues during this period.
ACNE or BLEMISHES
This can be one of the worst things that can happen to your skin during this period. Not only does it take a toll on your self-esteem, but it can leave you scarred for weeks. Diet can play a role in this department, so if you know there are certain foods or food groups that cause you to break out; this is the time to AVOID them.
If your skin has already taken a turn for the worst, you can help reduce and heal the damage by following a regular skin care routine.
HOW-TO TIPS:
Start off with a fresh cleanse using the Purifying Gel Cleanser in the morning, and finish your day with a double cleanse in the evening.
If you normally have a normal or combination skin, use Purifying Gel Cleanser for your evening wash only.
Spot treatment are also great for a quick fix, just be sure to stick only to the areas affected as these products have a higher concentration of active ingredients and can have an extremely drying effect on the skin.
Take a small amount of the Daily Polishing Cleanser and rub into a paste, leave on overnight. The Salicylic Acid will help banish blemish!
A relaxing facial will treat your skin and mind to a much needed “me time”. Your skin will feel refreshed and nurtured after having been purged of the impurities, build-up, and infused with nutrients.
Book your FIX Facial or LUX Facial.
SENSITIVITY OR DRY SKIN AROUND THE EYES
The constant flow of tears, friction, and pressure on your eyes leaves your skin feeling tender and looking tired. This fragile skin is easily irritated and can become puffy or sunken, magnifying fine lines and wrinkles.
It is important to protect and nourish your eye area by using proper eye care products and application.
HOW-TO TIPS:
If you already using eye care, add an extra dab of Eye Restore (dry/mature), or Vital Eye Cream (combo/oily) after applying moisturizer for added barrier. When applying, ensure you are only applying on the ocular bone using your ring fingers in a dabbing motion. Use day and night before applying your moisturizer, and possibly once in between if your eyes are feeling really dry.
Keep products in a cool dark cupboard or fridge for added soothing effects.
REDNESS and BROKEN CAPILLARIES
For those of you that are prone to broken capillaries and Rosacea or Rosacea like symptoms, your skin may flare up during this stressful period.
Soothing skin masks such as Cucumber Recovery Mask , are an excellent way to keep your skin calm and prevent further damage. This step will add hydration, calm redness and inflammation.
HOW-TO TIPS:
After a night of water work, try giving your skin a nice thorough cleanse with Gentle Cream Cleanser based cleanser, then follow up with soothing mask, focusing on the cheek and nose area, as these tend to be the most sensitive. You can also try storing your products in the fridge for added calming and cooling effect.
If the symptoms persist even after you broken heart has mended a great option is the ALIVIA IPL Photofacial. Not only will it help reduce the vascular appearance present in the skin at the time of treatment, but it will also help reduce the severity of symptoms in the future. Book your ALIVIA IPL Photofacial .
Submit your questions to our Skin Experts, we will gladly share our knowledge.
Ask Dérmica: Sun Spot Removal Edmonton
Dear Dérmica,
I have developed a few brown spots on my face over the summer and am wondering if there is anything you guys can do to remove them?
Thanks,
Lindsay
Dear Lindsay,
It sounds like you have some sun damage that has surfaced in the form of sun spots.
Sun spots usually appear in areas of high sun exposure such as the forehead, nose, cheeks, and decollate. They can also appear on the body, back of the hands, upper shoulders (especially on people who drive during times of the day when the sun is at its strongest), etc.
Sun spots are cells that were damaged by UV exposure. Typically this damage has been caused before the age of 18 and surfaces later on in life and become darkened with repeated or excessive sun exposure.
If your brown spots appeared over the summer, I can surmise that they are sun damaged cells that have surfaced in the form of sun spots with the recent sun exposure you experienced this summer.
In regards to your question on the removal of your brown spots, yes, we can most definitely remove your spots.
We will shed some light on repair and maintenance.
REPAIR
Dérmica’s IPL Photofacials are safe, non-invasive Advanced Skincare procedures that deliver immediate results. We offer different types of photofacials for different skin concerns, and in dealing with your specific concern, we would recommend Dérmica’s ACLARA ME photofacial .
Aclara ME works to removes pigment spots (brown spots/sun spots/ age spots) and damage affecting your face, neck, chest, hands, and arms.
Throughout the procedure, we deliver quick pulses of light to the targeted area penetrating between 535-580nm into your skin. This process breaks up the spot, which then brings the pigment to the surface and sheds the spot with your skins natural processes.
We perform all of our laser procedures using Sharplight’s Formax-VP System. The system features a number of safety-control attributes including a contact cooling tip that cools the skin being treated, adding maximum comfort and protection.
Best of all, there is no downtime required for this procedure. An ACLARA ME photofacial takes 15-30 minutes, after which you can continue your daily routine!
MAINTENANCE
As we mentioned earlier, most damage has been caused before the age of 18 and surfaces later on in life and becomes darkened with repeated or excessive sun exposure.
Having said this, we recommend reading our
Anti Aging tips
and of course, always use sun block, sun block, sun block!!! Sun block is vital, even in the winter months.
Thanks Lindsay for your question, we hope we were able to help.
This article discusses anti aging tips. As some of you may know, we have a “Ask Dérmica” category on our blog. We always reply to our followers, and sometimes publish an entry when it pertains to a popular topic. This week we received an entry which we feel is a topic we would like to shed some light on. Thanks to “Sadly Sagging” for the latest entry!
“Sadly Sagging” asks “What are your best anti aging tips?”
In order to share her story, we will give you some of her details:
Female
35 years old
Smoker
Tanner
In response to “Sadly Sagging”, we reply:
Dear Sadly Sagging,
Thank you for your question. According to your entry, our recommendations for you are few, yet can be difficult to accomplish.
Firstly, we recommend you try and get a good night sleep. During our sleep, we go through REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep which is basically our brain going through all of the information we acquired and experienced throughout the day and deleting unnecessary information. This is a whole body experience which means all of your cells require rest, including your skin cells.
When you don’t get good shut-eye, your skin cells don’t get to regenerate which decreases your skin’s ability to recover from daily damage which in turn doubles your signs of aging.
Secondly, we recommend you try to decrease your sugar intake. Sugar binds to the cells in your skin and produces.
Advanced Glycation End (AGE) products through the process of glycation, making cells stiffer, less pliable and more subject to damage and premature aging. Sugar kills collagen and elastin, and slows down the body’s defense system and natural supplies of antioxidants to your body’s defense towards environmental attacks such as UV exposure, environmental pollutants, cosmetic influences, etc.
Thirdly, we know this one is especially tough during the summer months, tan responsibly. We would like to take this opportunity to dismiss the myth that you don’t tan if you wear sun block. This is UNTRUE!! Allow us to shed some light:
When you engage in unprotected tanning, you have a 74% higher risk of developing melanomas, a.k.a. skin cancer. Melanomas are skin lesions that can develop into carcinogenic regions; always have you moles checked out
Unprotected tanning can lead to a leathery appearance to your skin due to dehydration
Unprotected tanning can cause deep internal damage to your skin. FYI- every time your body creates a tan, your body is sending melanin cells to the surface of your skin to create a protective barrier that acts like sunglasses to your skin, your skin’s natural defense to harmful UV rays. In other words, your tan is truly your skin showing signs of its defense against an attack
Today’s sun is more damaging to your skin then it was 20 years ago due to the depleting ozone
The damage you are causing now will surface in 5 years in the form of sun spots, age spots(which can be confused with liver spots), and increased freckling on the skin
Unprotected tanning destroys collagen and elastin which add to the suppleness and elasticity and volume to your skin
Finally, the most difficult tip of all, you have to try and decrease (if not quit) your tobacco intake. We all know the downfall of smoking, but to some of us, we may need to hear what it does to our physicality before we can really understand, so here goes:
Asphyxiation of the skin, blocking it from proper flow of oxygen, blood circulation and nutrients such as H2O
Premature aging such as age spots, deep wrinkles, creping around the labial area due to repeated usage of the oral muscles and constant exposure to cigarette toxins within the tobacco smoke
Crows feet due to squinting to keep smoke out of your eyes
Smoking causes dilation of the blood vessels in the eyes making your eyes look blood shot
Vasodilation (dilation of the blood vessels of the capillaries along the surface of the skin particularly on the cheek and nose)
Sallow skin and lips (a yellowish dull appearance and decrease in vibrancy to the skin). For women that are concerned with the fullness of your skin, you may want to consider what smoking is doing to that full, plump, youthful pout
Hope this helps! And remember, at Dérmica, we offer an array of services and products to help you get a leg up on your fight against anti aging!
ALISA is Dérmica’s very own Skin Resurfacing/ Skin Rejuvenation/ Skin Tightening laser treatment in Edmonton.
Skin Resurfacing Edmonton, ALISA – FAQs
How does the ALISA ME Rx work?
ALISA is a Skin Rejuvenation or Skin Resurfacing treatment. In other words, it reverses the signs of aging through the non-traumatic removal of skin surface layers that induce neocollagenesis (the production of new collagen).
Following the removal of surface skin layers though selective photothermolysis, the body’s natural wound-healing response begins to regenerate the epidermis and the underlying wounded skin layers, which gives an overall glow and youthful look to the skin, but more specifically, treats fine lines and wrinkles and minimizes large pores.
What is Selective Photothermolysis?
Selective Photothermolysis is a method that destroys a specified target without damaging the surrounding tissue. The method consists of irradiating the target with pulsed visible radiation. As a result, the targeted area is heated above body temperature which causes the proteins to coagulate. Because the target absorbs the radiation much more strongly than the surrounding tissue, this surrounding tissue is almost not heated at all.
Is the ALISA ME Rx safe at 65 years old?
Absolutely! There are no contraindications based on age since light-based treatments are safe and non-invasive.
How many treatments are required?
Your skin needs the time needed to recover and produce new collagen. Therefore, the typical regimen is an average of 5 treatment sessions, spaced 4 weeks apart. However, the number of treatments is completely up to you depending on the results you desire. Having said that, we do not recommend over 12 treatments in one year.
How long is the recovery phase? Is there any downtime?
ALISA does NOT require any downtime whatsoever! You can come in during your lunch hour and return to work and no one will ever know why you look better than you did in the morning! ;)
How long does a treatment take?
This depends on the different treatments you would like during your session, however, a full ALISA photofacial takes 15-30 minutes, after which you can continue your daily routine.
Are photofacials safe?
Our Skin Experts are knowledgeable on our technology and on the biology of the skin. Our team is lead by experts in the field with over 15 years of experience in medical esthetics treatments. This increases the safety of all of our treatments. Our treatments are non-invasive and safe, with minimum side effects if any at all. Side effects could possibly include:
Discomfort (stinging sensation up to one hour after treatment)
Change of pigmentation (most cases occur on people with darker skin and can be avoided by conducting a test patch)
Fragile Skin (skin may become temporarily fragile)
Purpura (purple bruising lasting from 5-15 days)
Scarring (may happen on darker skin but still, very rare)
Questions or concerns? We’d be happy to hear from you!
Dérmica MedEsthetics (780) 885-7108 dermica.ca Love, Peace, and Great Skin!
Q: How does the treatment work on superficial blood vessels? A: The applied IPL-DPC is absorbed by the oxyhemoglobin (formed by the combination of hemoglobin with oxygen, present in oxygenated blood) in the blood within the vessel, causing the blood to coagulate and the vessel to break up into particles that are naturally filtered away through the body’s lymphatic system.
Q: What is IPL-DPC? A: IPL-DPC stands for Intense Pulse Light- Dynamic Pulse Control. This treatment emits a light beam into the skin which is absorbed by different skin lesions. Through selective photothermolysis, this light pulse selectively destroys a specified target without damaging the surrounding tissue. The DPC technology means that we can determine the “aggressiveness” of the treatment based on the duration of the pulse; shorter pulses are more aggressive, delivering the light beam in a shorter period of time, while longer pulses are less aggressive as they have a longer period to deliver the light beam. The different range of pulse durations results in a major increase in the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.
Q: How many treatments are required? A: The typical regimen is an average of 6 treatment sessions, spaced 6 weeks apart. However, the number of treatments is completely up to you depending on the results you desire.
Q: How long is the recovery phase? Is there any downtime? A: The ALIVIA ME Rx does NOT require any downtime whatsoever! You can come in during your lunch hour and return to work and no one will ever know why you look better than you did in the morning! ;)
Q: How long does a treatment take? A: This depends on the different treatments you would like during your session, however, a full ALIVIA ME photo facial Rx takes 15-30 minutes, after which you can continue your daily routine.
Q: Is the ALIVIA ME Rx painful? A: No, during the procedure, a slight, momentary stinging sensation may be felt, comparable to the snapping of a small elastic band, but not pain.
Q: Is the ALIVIA ME Rosacea Treatment Safe? A: Our Skin Experts are knowledgeable on our technology, AND on the biology of the skin. This increases the safety of all of our treatments. Our treatments are non-invasive and safe, with minimum side effects if any at all. Side effects could possibly include:
Discomfort (stinging sensation up to one hour after treatment)
Change of Pigmentation (most cases occur on people with darker skin and can be avoided by conducting a test patch
Fragile Skin (skin may become temporarily fragile)
Purpura (purple bruising lasting from 5-15 days)
Scarring (may happen on darker skin but still, very rare)
Call or TEXT Dérmica to book your consultation!
Dérmica MedEsthetics
8105 106 St. Edmonton, Alberta
(780) 885 7108
dermica.ca
Start off with a fresh cleanse using the 
Spot treatment are also great for a quick fix, just be sure to stick only to the areas affected as these products have a higher concentration of active ingredients and can have an extremely drying effect on the skin. 
A relaxing facial will treat your skin and mind to a much needed “me time”. Your skin will feel refreshed and nurtured after having been purged of the impurities, build-up, and infused with nutrients.
