There are so many different facials and hair removal products on the market. Your news and social media feeds can be overwhelmed with them. The sheer number of options can make it challenging to narrow down what you want to select. If you are interested in a treatment that can provide more than one service, you should consider IPL treatment therapy.
If you have lighter skin and dark hair, you may be weighing hair removal options. IPL therapy can remove hair as well as treat skin texture and scarring issues. IPL uses light to destroy skin imperfections and hair follicles. Many people will have the same idea or concern. Is IPL safe for my skin? The answer is absolutely. If you go to a trained technician, IPL treatment is safe and effective for many problems.
What is IPL?
Intense pulsed light (or IPL) is a type of therapy that can improve the texture and color of your skin. If you have visible sun damage, perhaps you should look into IPL. Prolonged exposure to the sun can leave behind noticeable signs of aging. These signs can include brown spots—called liver or sun spots. IPL can fix many skin texture issues, such as uneven skin tone or redness. Additionally, you can use it to remove unwanted hair.
How Does IPL Work?
The light energy in IPL targets and removes the pre-identified color in your skin that you wish to remove. IPL is suitable for people with lighter skin tones because it may cause unwanted color alteration. IPL will remove darker tones from the skin. So, if your skin is darker, it will alter the entire area rather than just a targeted spot.
As the light heats the skin, the body will remove the targeted cells. For hair removal, the light will heat the hair follicle, destroying it. The pigment in your hair will absorb the light, much like a dark shirt on a hot day. This heat will cause the hair to fall out. The regrowth of the hair will be slowed as well.
You can use IPL for a variety of conditions and treatments. Along with sun damage and hair removal, IPL can treat acne scars or stretch marks. Additionally, IPL is a standard treatment for natural signs of aging, like fine lines or wrinkles. Other skin issues, such as redness from rosacea, are appropriate for IPL treatment therapy
Is It Safe?
IPL is a safe and effective treatment, especially when it is done by a trained professional. With any type of treatment or procedure, there are risks and side effects.
It is possible for hormonal brown spots to flare up or get worse with IPL treatment. Additionally, you can experience swelling or bleeding in the treatment area. While it is rare, you can get some scarring or an infection. If you have any of these side effects, you should contact your dermatologist.
Typically, IPL is a safe treatment that will give you the looks or results that you desire. Furthermore, IPL can even your skin tone and give you a younger-looking appearance
FAQs
IPL hair removal is safe, as it targets the hair follicles and leaves the skin generally untouched.
Are there any risks of IPL hair removal? ›
Although side effects of IPL are typically rare and minimal in severity, the most common adverse events include pain and erythema. Other reported side effects include edema, bullae, hematoma, crusting, hyper- or hypopigmentation, leukotrichia, scarring, keloid formation, and infection.
Are IPL hair removal systems safe? ›
Yes, it is safe! The light pulse resembles a flash, and the heat only lasts for a brief moment. Since you don't treat the same area of skin multiple times in a row, it doesn't irritate the skin on your legs too much. Shaving, epilating or waxing causes more skin irritation because you do it more often.
Is IPL hair removal good for your skin? ›
Takeaways. IPL treatment can be an effective way to treat a variety of skin conditions such as age spots, fine lines, acne, redness, and unwanted hair.
Where should you not use IPL hair removal? ›
However, it is important to mention there are areas of the body on which you should NOT use an IPL device. These areas are directly on the nipples, genitals, or around the anus due to the reason that these areas may have a darker skin color and greater hair density.
Can you damage skin with IPL? ›
Blistering and scarring are rare but potential side effects of IPL treatments, particularly in individuals with sensitive skin. These effects are more likely to occur when higher-intensity settings are used.
Who should avoid IPL? ›
Pregnant women and people who are on blood thinners, for example, should avoid IPL. Other factors that make people unsuitable for IPL treatment include: currently or recently taking the acne drug Accutane. having active acne.
What happens if you use IPL too often? ›
IPL is most effective while your hair is in the growth phase –if you treat your skin multiple times a week, your hair can become dormant and IPL treatment won't work as well. Additionally, while IPL is a gentle treatment, too much of it can be a bad thing. If you use IPL too frequently, you may irritate your skin.
Which is safer IPL or laser hair removal? ›
If you've been looking at treatment options for permanent hair removal then you have probably come across both laser hair removal and IPL and are wondering what the difference is. In short, laser hair removal is safer, more effective, and the only way hair removal should ever be performed.
Can you permanently remove hair with IPL? ›
IPL isn't going to make every single hair on your legs (or bikini line, or wherever) permanently vanish, but both in-office treatments and many quality at-home IPL devices are FDA-approved for permanent hair reduction. You may need a few sessions to see results, though, and IPL treatments aren't for everyone.
Compared to traditional shaving, one of the great advantages of IPL for pubic hair is that it helps you to avoid ingrown hairs. In addition, with IPL, you can achieve long-term results, provided you repeat the treatment regularly.
Who is not a good candidate for IPL hair removal? ›
Who Is Not a Candidate? People with tanned or naturally dark skin are not necessarily good candidates for IPL because there's a risk that the skin pigment could change after treatment. Anyone taking Accutane should not consider an IPL treatment until at least six months after they stop using the drug.
Does hair fall out during IPL? ›
Contrary to other treatments, hairs are not vaporised by IPL treatment. The hair follicles are killed by the heat but the hairs remain in the skin and often become attached to the epidermis. They will fall out after 1 to 3 weeks as the epidermis is renewed.
What are the cons of IPL? ›
Cons of IPL Photofacial
It primarily targets pigment, which makes it less effective for individuals with tanned or darker skin tones. Potential side effects, although rare, can include pain, redness, swelling, blistering, changes in skin color, and even infection.
Can IPL cause hair loss? ›
The short answer is yes, hair can fall out after IPL treatment, but the extent and duration of this hair loss can vary depending on various factors. It's essential to understand the mechanism behind IPL's impact on hair growth and the strategies to mitigate any potential hair loss associated with this procedure.
Does IPL eventually stop hair growth? ›
So, if you are wondering how long IPL hair removal lasts, remember that even though an IPL hair removal treatment can interrupt and kill the hair follicles in the targeted treatment area, hair may still eventually grow back, even at a reduced pace.
