IPL PhotoFacial — Lumenis One

Aura Skin Spa San Francisco treats sun damage, age spots, rosacea, and broken capillaries using the Lumenis One Intense Pulsed Light system with a sapphire-cooled tip. Sessions take 20–30 minutes with no downtime, making IPL a lunchtime-friendly treatment. A course of three to five sessions is recommended for progressive improvement in skin tone, texture, and vascular concerns. Available under physician supervision at the Jackson Square location.

The IPL PhotoFacial at Aura Skin Spa San Francisco uses the Lumenis One system — a medical-grade broad-spectrum intense pulsed light platform equipped with a sapphire cooling tip for epidermal protection and enhanced patient comfort. Unlike single-wavelength lasers, IPL emits a range of light wavelengths (typically 515–1200nm with cutoff filters) that are simultaneously absorbed by both melanin and haemoglobin, allowing a single treatment to address both pigment and vascular irregularities. The most common indications for IPL PhotoFacial at this clinic include: age spots (solar lentigines) on the face, chest, and hands; diffuse sun damage presenting as mottled hyperpigmentation; rosacea-associated facial redness and flushing; broken capillaries (telangiectasia) on the nose and cheeks; enlarged pores; and fine surface lines. Patients with predominantly pigment concerns tend to see the most dramatic per-session results — dark spots often darken immediately after treatment before flaking off within five to ten days, revealing clearer underlying skin. Each session at the Jackson Square clinic takes 20–30 minutes with no downtime required. Some patients experience mild flushing or temporary darkening of spots for a few days, but most return to work immediately. The clinic recommends three to five treatments spaced three to four weeks apart, with each subsequent session building on the clearance achieved in the prior one. Many patients choose annual maintenance sessions to manage ongoing sun exposure effects. Contraindications include active tan, isotretinoin use within the past six months, and certain photosensitising medications — all reviewed during a pre-treatment consultation at Aura Skin Spa. The physician-supervised clinical team assesses each patient individually to confirm that IPL is the most appropriate modality for their specific skin concerns and Fitzpatrick type. Cherry financing is available for patients who prefer to pre-pay a multi-session course. Conveniently located at 118 Columbus Ave, serving San Francisco's Financial District, North Beach, Russian Hill, and surrounding neighborhoods.