Banish Summer Skin Damage With ILP Therapy

Summer in Colorado brings beautiful, sunny days, but it also leaves behind stubborn sun damage, dark spots, and redness. At Salida Dermatology, our team—including Dr. John M. Strasswimmer, MD, PhD, and founder Sheree Beddingfield, PA-C—helps patients restore their skin's natural radiance. With convenient locations in Salida and Gunnison, Colorado, we provide advanced cosmetic services tailored to your unique skin needs. If you're looking to banish summer skin damage with ILP therapy, you're in the right place.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)—sometimes called Intense Light Pulse or ILP—is a highly effective, noninvasive treatment. We use these specialized laser treatments to target sun spots, broken capillaries, and uneven texture, helping you achieve a clear, refreshed complexion.

How does ILP therapy banish summer skin damage?

ILP therapy works by using selective photothermolysis, a process in which targeted light energy breaks down unwanted pigment in your skin. The device emits broad-spectrum light that is absorbed by the excess melanin (brown spots) in your skin. This light converts to heat, safely fragmenting the pigment so your body can naturally exfoliate it away.

The results are clinically proven. According to a study in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (2019), IPL therapy achieved a 74.6% absolute clearance rate for facial sun spots and a 90% clearance rate for hand pigmentation just one month after treatment. Whether you want to clear up freckles from summer hikes or diminish stubborn age spots, this therapy offers a powerful path to clearer skin.

Can ILP therapy treat redness and rosacea?

Yes, ILP therapy is exceptionally effective at clearing facial redness, broken capillaries, and rosacea symptoms. The light energy targets the oxyhemoglobin in your blood vessels, causing the gentle collapse and dissolution of dilated capillaries.

Research supports its superior ability to calm vascular issues. A meta-analysis in Health Science Reports (2024) found that IPL achieved a 77.78% absolute rate for high-level (greater than 75%) clearance of facial redness and rosacea. Furthermore, a study in Skin Research and Technology (2026) demonstrated that undergoing six or more sessions reduced the average area of facial redness from 640 mm² to 372.4 mm², while also significantly improving overall skin texture. 

If you struggle with summer breakouts, we can also use this technology to clear stubborn red marks left behind by acne.

Is ILP therapy right for your skin type?

A common myth is that you can't get light-based treatments during the summer. In reality, you can safely receive ILP therapy year-round, as long as your skin isn't actively tanned. When you have a fresh tan, the extra melanin in your skin acts as a competing target for the light energy, increasing the risk of burns or hyperpigmentation.

Because of how light interacts with melanin, patient selection is incredibly important. Standard ILP is highly safe for lighter skin tones, but it carries risks for darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick types IV–VI) due to the higher concentration of natural pigment. If ILP isn't the safest match for your skin tone, our expert team will recommend alternative treatments to ensure you get beautiful, safe results.

Ready to restore your skin's healthy glow and banish summer skin damage with ILP therapy? Our experienced providers at Salida Dermatology are here to design a personalized treatment plan just for you. Whether you visit us in Salida or Gunnison, we'll help you achieve the smooth, even complexion you deserve. Schedule a visit with us today to get started on your skin rejuvenation journey.