Want to start the year with fresher, clearer skin? Consider intense pulsed light treatments to remove sun spots, uneven brown pigment and broken blood vessels, and to improve rosacea and photo damaged skin.

HMF’s dermatology department has been getting great results with the Palomar RejuveLux system. The device, which is shaped like a space-age hair dryer, emits light from selected parts of the light spectrum to reduce or eliminate a variety of conditions.

Unlike a laser, pulsed light covers more skin at once, which means treatments require less time. Patients report very little downtime.

"Typically, a patient will see mild redness for a few hours. A few patients may experience minor swelling for a day or two. Women are free to wear cosmetics right away because the skin is remains intact," says Physician Assistant Krista Smith, who works under the direction of HMF dermatologists Patricia Cavender, M.D. and Stephani Takahashi, M.D.

Smith says the two most common reasons patients seek pulsed light treatments are overly ruddy skin (often caused by broken blood vessels or rosacea) and brown spots caused by prolonged sun exposure.

When treating pigmented lesions, the brown spots will darken before flaking out within one to two weeks. Depending on the degree of pigmentation, patients may require several treatments, spaced two to four weeks apart, to achieve the best results. On average, patients schedule three appointments, although fewer or more may be needed.

"When patients ask us how long the results will last, we let them know it’s partially up to them. Daily sunscreen can help prevent new sun damage, while avoiding common ‘flushing triggers’ can prevent new broken blood vessels or rosacea flare-ups," Smith says.

Women are not the only ones seeking intense pulsed light treatment. "Men make up a small, but growing, percentage of our patients," says Smith. "For many men and women, looking good is essential to success in business."

For more information, pricing, and appointments, call the HMF Specialty Office at 626/397-8323. Smith says patients can often book a treatment within a week of calling, but that openings fill up quickly around the holidays.