Poikiloderma of Civatte

Poikiloderma of Civatte:

  • Appears as red-brown discoloration
  • Usually affects the sides of the neck and upper chest
  • Sometimes affects the cheeks, side burn area and ears
  • Usually does not affect the area directly under the chin which has been partially shielded by the sun
  • Is caused by sun exposure years or decades prior to the appearance of the changes in the skin
  • Occurs because damage from ultraviolet light causes:
    • Small abnormal vessels to grow
    • The skin to  become abnormally thin
    • Abnormal pigment to form
  • Is not cancerous
  • Does not develop into cancer
  • Is not dirt trapped in the skin

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

What is Intense Pulsed Light?

  • Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) also known as photo-facials, fotofacials, and photo rejuvenation is a state-of-the-art system and the latest technique in photofacial therapy
  • The IPL system delivers high intensity, smooth and powerful pulses of light (not lasers) that greatly enhances the results of your skin rejuvenation
  • For skin therapy, IPL stimulates new collagen growth resulting in smoother, more even, healthier skin

How Does it Work?

  • A highly advanced computer regulates the light pulse to a specific wavelength range, which in turn heats a portion of the skin
  • This removes the unwanted tissue or pigment, while it spares or avoids the surrounding healthy or “normal” tissue
  • The penetration depth and degree of heat is highly controlled to minimize complications
  • With IPL  fotofacial rejuvenation, the light pulses are directed at, and improves:
    • Brown freckling
    • Enlarged pores
    • Sun damage
    • Skin collagen
    • Redness caused by broken capillaries
  • All of these lead to smoother, younger looking skin and reduced redness at the same time
  • IPL-Fotofacials can be combined with a medication called Levulan in a procedure called Levulan PDT-Photodynamic Skin Rejuvenation
  • Levulan-PDT is the ideal treatment for moderate to severely sun-damaged skin
  • Also, if you have pre-cancerous skin lesions (Actinic Keratoses), Levulan-PDT is an excellent way to improve your skin

How can you prevent Poikiloderma of Civatte?

  • Wear a hat with a broad brim and protective clothing (e.g. long sleeves)
  • Avoid the outdoors when the sun is strongest between the hours of 10 am to 3 pm
  • Use a sunscreen year round with an SPF of at least 30
  • Wear a sunscreen which resists water and sweating and which protects against both UVA and UVB
  • Reapply sunscreen every hour if you are in water or sweating heavily
  • Wear sunscreen even if you are in the shade, it is still possible to burn
  • Avoid tanning beds
  • The ultraviolet light from tanning beds causes skin cancer

Sun Damage (Poikiloderma) – Neck – Treatable with IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

Poikiloderma – Neck and Face

Poikiloderma of Civatte – Back of Neck

Sun Damage can be treated with IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Fotofacials)

Microdermabrasion can boost the effectiveness of IPL treatments

What if you are interested to learn more?

If you would like to learn more please email us or phone the aesthetic centre directly at (905) 549-7873 to book a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable technicians or

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