Various techniques have been used for the improvement of cutaneous changes seen with photoaging. These include dermabrasion, chemical peels, and ablative and nonablative lasers. Another option is the use of broadband light devices, which provide a treatment modality for skin rejuvenation with minimal or no downtime. In contrast to ablative rejuvenation laser procedures (CO2, Er-YAG), which can result in protracted edema and erythema lasting for several weeks as well as pigmentary changes and scarring, broadband light devices induce a dermal healing response without notable injury to the epidermis and also diminish pigmented lesions on the skin such as lentigos. By heating the dermis and dermal vasculature, these broadband devices result in dermal remodeling through fibroblast stimulation and collagen reformation and also allow for reduction of erythema and telangiectasias.

Broadband light devices include a family of light devices known as the intense pulsed light (IPL) systems. The main uses of IPLs as a nonlaser light source include removal of pigmented and vascular lesions, rejuvenation and skin tightening, and removal of unwanted hair. The IPL systems utilize high-intensity pulsed-light sources that emit noncoherent, noncollimated polychromatic light from 515 to 1,200 nm. The mechanism of action of IPL systems is that of selective photothermolysis. Because main chromophores of the epidermis and dermis have specific absorption coefficients, the effective wavelength(s) of light are chosen that would most selectively destroy the target of interest, while sparing surrounding tissue.