Hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing and depilatory creams only remove surface-level hair growth; thus resulting in rapid regrowth. IPL may offer an easier alternative:
IPL treatments use light energy to target melanin pigment at the root of hair roots, creating long-term results but require regular touchups for smooth, silky skin.
What is IPL?
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Therapy) is a laser-like light therapy treatment that utilizes light energy to target pigmented areas of skin and destroy hair follicles, making it a popular cosmetic procedure to remove unwanted hair as well as treat acne or tattoo removal. A medical professional typically targets multiple wavelengths of light on the treated area in an IPL session to damage cells within that area and prompt your body to naturally repair itself by naturally expel it out through natural processes. IPL treatments are painless and safe, with most people opting out due to pregnancy or blood thinner usage being advised against.
An IPL treatment may leave your skin slightly uncomfortable. Depending on your pain threshold, cooling gel or an ice pack may help alleviate discomfort during the procedure. You should also wear goggles during this procedure to protect both eyes.
After receiving IPL treatments, your skin may appear sunburnt for several hours following treatment; however, discomfort should be minimal and most people find it no worse than a mild heat burn. Therefore, it’s recommended to avoid products which could irritate it further such as perfume, soaps and cleansers that contain fragrance.
IPL treatments at a salon or clinic may lead to permanent hair reduction; however, results can differ depending on each individual and you may require regular top-up sessions to keep your skin hair-free.
Contrary to more powerful laser machines, IPL does not permanently eliminate hair. Instead, it only affects active anagen growth phase hairs – meaning any resting or shredding phase hair won’t be affected by IPL treatments.
How does IPL work?
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) targets pigment cells responsible for freckles, sun damage, rosacea and other skin conditions. By heating and destroying them using laser light energy, intense pulsed light allows your body to naturally clear away unwanted marks on its own. IPL can also target hair follicles to stop new growth resulting in permanent hair reduction although multiple treatments may be required to achieve it.
IPL treatments are quick and straightforward. In many cases, no topical anesthetic may be required depending on your pain threshold; many have described the experience as similar to an elastic-band flick or splashing hot oil – although new technologies have reduced sensation further still.
Results of IPL can be seen within just a few treatments, yet maintaining regular treatments will produce even greater effects. Doing this ensures that any active hairs still in their growth phase are destroyed while new, finer, less visible ones begin to grow in its place.
If you are contemplating IPL treatment, be mindful of plucking or waxing the area beforehand as this will prevent IPL from targeting hair follicles effectively. Furthermore, tanning or any other skin treatments could reduce results significantly.
With so many IPL devices now available for home use, selecting an IPL unit with an increased flashes per second (FSP) count can yield better results. Prices, performances and usabilities of devices vary significantly so do your research before settling on one – speaking to your doctor may also help in selecting an effective home-based IPL device to suit your individual needs.
How long does IPL take?
As with other treatments, IPL treatments usually need to be spaced out at least monthly to produce effective results. The duration and number of sessions depend on your skin tone and hair color as well as any previous conditions you might have had. Your initial IPL session may be the most intense; but subsequent treatments become less noticeable as time progresses.
IPL works by targeting pigment in skin cells to convert them to heat and destroy unwanted pigment, lightening darkened skin areas and hair follicles that don’t grow back again – helping restore an even complexion with younger-looking hands and faces – typically the first signs of aging.
IPL therapy is also effective at treating scars. It can help flatten hypertrophic scars (raised scars), as well as reduce redness and swelling associated with keloids. Although it’s best not to use IPL on keloid scars as this could increase their likelihood of thickening after treatment.
Procedure is quick and noninvasive: your dermatologist or technician will apply a gel to your clean skin before applying a handheld device with which they apply pressure using handheld instruments. Some experience pinching sensations during treatment that some compare to having elastic bands snap onto them; you may request topical anesthetic for added comfort if desired but it usually isn’t needed.
Before and after treatments, it is essential to wear high SPF sunscreen on the area being treated, apply an SPF 30+ sunblock and limit sun exposure as much as possible. You should also avoid waxing or chemical peels in this area; in addition to this, any products containing vitamin A such as glycolic acid or retinol should also be avoided.
Will IPL work on my skin?
If you have dark hair, you know the struggle of trying to remove it can be frustrating. Traditional methods of hair removal like shaving, waxing and plucking only cut away visible parts of it and leave behind thicker growth than before.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is a non-invasive treatment that targets pigment in your skin and hair to provide permanent hair reduction results. A specialist practitioner will first conduct an assessment to make sure IPL will work for your individual circumstances and skin tone/hair color combination.
Older laser devices were not suitable for darker skin tones, while new IPL machines can adjust light intensity according to your skin tone and also include built-in filters to protect it.
As you undergo treatment with the handheld device, it may cause an uncomfortable pinching sensation as pulses of light are sent directly into the targeted area. Some have likened this sensation to that of elastic bands snapping over their skin. Therefore, it is highly advised that any necessary numbing cream be worn.
IPL light therapy can do much more than reduce hair growth; it can also mitigate sun damage and minimize fine lines and wrinkles on your face – especially useful as this area often shows the first signs of ageing first.
IPL treatments can also help treat broken capillaries, rosacea and pigmentation spots on the skin. Prior to your IPL appointment it’s essential that you refrain from sunbathing or tanning bed use for several weeks as this will impede achieving the best possible results from your specialist. You should also avoid applying perfume, astringents and exfoliators on any areas being treated – these could interfere with results obtained.
Will IPL work on my hair?
No matter your goal–reducin the appearance of freckles, fading scars or getting rid of unwanted hair–IPL can deliver stunning results. Unlike lasers which use one colour of light going in one direction to form their beam that passes over your skin, IPL uses multiple wavelengths of light which penetrate your skin and are absorbed by pigment cells either in hair or skin cells to produce heat – either destroying them to clear spots or killing off their follicles to prevent future growth.
IPL treatments will cause your skin to turn red or pink for 4-8 hours after treatment, which may feel similar to having a mild sunburn. Swelling may occur around the area treated; this should subside within several days. For best results, avoid wearing any makeup on this area until any discomfort subsides.
At least six treatments spaced one month apart will be necessary to achieve your desired result, as it takes this long for pigment to break down and absorb IPL energy. Furthermore, treatment may be less successful on very thin or fine hair.
IPL hair removal targets the tunnel-like hair follicle beneath your skin’s surface rather than visible hair shaft. Shaving is recommended before beginning IPL treatments to make access easier for the light beam and target hair roots more effectively.
There are a wide variety of IPL devices on the market you can use at home, but most aren’t clinically tested and some won’t work on darker skin tones. Furthermore, some machines cannot distinguish between dark melanin pigment in your hair and melanin on your skin, therefore rendering treatment ineffective.
