What Is Intense Pulsed Light? (IPL)
Natasha Salt Sheds Light On Intense Pulsed Light Therapy
I have been at several salons lately with my work, and continually hear IPL bandied about but no one is setting light to me as to what it is and what it does and why it is so wonderful.
I have managed to pin down Natasha to shed some light on it and in a later article, I will also consult with some other beauty therapists to get some more opinions.
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy – Effective For Skin Rejuvenation
IPL is used for rejuvenation (making older skin and wrinkles etc fade away) decreasing red veins, but mainly for decreasing pigmentation in the skin and for hair removal.
*Skin rejuvenation (wrinkles)
*Pigmentation and age spots
*Spider veins and redness
*Stretch marks and scars (fresh)
*Large pores and more
IPL uses different light spectrums and different wavelengths of power which are attracted to different colors. So if you have dark pigmentation or dark hair, the more heat that the IPL light will produce, so the light is more effective. This means also that blondes will have a less effective result.
However, some salons, have IPL machines with radiofrequency as well which can be activated and the IPL current directs the direction down the hair shaft and the radio frequency creates the heat. Radiofrequency is a similar current to electrolysis.
How Does IPL For Skin Rejuvenation Work?
Intense pulsed light systems release precisely controlled strong pulses of filtered light that stimulate the fibroblast cells within the skin that produce collagen and elastin. This improves the irradiancy and tightness of the skin, controlling enlarged pores, and giving a more uniform complexion.
IPL Pigmented Lesion – How Does IPL Work For Pigmentation?
Intense pulsed light systems release precisely controlled strong pulses of filtered light that are absorbed by the melanin in freckles, sun spots or liver spots. The pigmented area absorbs the light and is heated, and is removed by skin renewal. Following treatment, the pigmented area turns darker and may crust. Over the following weeks, the pigmented area will gradually flake away from the skin leaving little trace of the original mark.
IPL For Hair Removal
Intense pulsed light systems release precisely controlled strong pulses of filtered light that are absorbed by the melanin in freckles, sun spots or liver spots. The pigmented area absorbs the light and is heated, and is removed by skin renewal. Following treatment, the pigmented area turns darker and may crust. Over the following weeks, the pigmented area will gradually flake away from the skin leaving little trace of the original mark.
How Does IPL For Hair Removal Work
Intense pulsed light systems release precisely controlled strong pulses of filtered light that are absorbed by melanin, the pigment in the hair. This heats up the hair and destroys the cells responsible for hair growth, to achieve long term hair reduction.
How Do I Prepare For Treatment?
Patients should avoid tanning 1 month ahead of the treatment and immediately after treatment the skin is particularly sensitive to UV light and strong sunlight should be avoided for 4-5 days.
Does It Hurt?
As the light energy is absorbed by the pigment melanin, the discomfort depends upon the concentration of melanin in the epidermis and the hairs combined. Consequently, there will be more sensation in dark-skinned people and those with dense dark hair. No anesthesia is required and most patients describe the pain as moderate and acceptable (“as if a hairbrush has been tapped against the skin”)
Does The Client Need To Shave Prior To Treatment?
Ideally, hairs should be 1 to 2mm long when the patient comes in for the treatment so it is possible to mark out the treatment area. Long hairs take up the energy and prevent all of it reaching to the hair root; therefore transmission of the energy. If the hair is normally shaved and can be seen when shaven then patients can shave right up to the day of treatment. Although plucking and bleaching should not be done. Any other form of depilation and waxing 4 weeks before the treatment ensure as many follicles as possible contain hair thus can be destroyed by the light.
How Many Treatments Are Necessary?
Only hair in the growth phase can be treated. The number of hairs in this phase varies from 20% to 70% depending on the body site. The lengths of the growth cycles also vary from 6 to 24 weeks depending on the body site. For most patients, three to five treatments are sufficient to clear an area of hair. After the first treatment most patients get a significant reduction in hair density also new grown hairs tend to become finer. It is important to know that the first treatment is believed to synchronise the anagen (growth) phase of the non-anagen hairs. This may cause what seems to be regrowth but actually just sleeping hairs start to grow at the same time (new growth). This, in turn, makes next treatment(s) more effective.
Why Do Hairs “Grow” After Treatment?
Unlike other light depilation treatments, hairs are not vaporized by the ECO IPL treatment. The heat kills the hair roots 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 renews itself. During this period it will seem that the hairs are growing a little faster as the epidermis pushes them out.
How Can You Tell If The Treatment Has Worked When The Hairs Are Not Removed Immediately?
Various Indications such as a colour of hair become charcoal and expanding in size or a Red ring around each follicle is often seen a few minutes after the treatment. These are good indications that sufficient heating of the follicles has taken place. Unfortunately, this is not always seen and we have seen many patients with successful treatments results without the post-treatment signs.
What Are The Side Effects?
The visible light is completely safe so no special precautions are needed apart from glasses for the brightness generated from the flash lamp. The skin of some patients is quite red immediately after treatment and very rarely small blisters as from excessive sun exposure can occur. However, most patients experience no side effects at all and the described skin reaction as above usually disappear within hours to a few days.
Is It Permanent?
Most authorities would agree that using current laser and IPL technology, it is possible to permanently remove hair. Histology studies have found destroyed and denatured hair follicles cells in post-treatment. A recent study showed that the percentage reduction in hairs after treatment using IPL systems are well above 80%.
IPL For Acne
How Does IPL For Acne Work?
The Intense Pulsed Light system releases yellow, green and red light that is emitted in a series of short pulses. The yellow/green light destroys the bacteria that live in the skin and cause acne, while the red light directly targets the overactive sebaceous glands that cause outbreaks of pustules. This targeted eating deep in the skin causes shrinkage of the inflamed sebaceous glands and helps to prevent over-production of excess sebum.
How Does IPL For Red Vein Removal Work?
Intense pulsed light and laser systems release precisely controlled strong pulses of filtered light that are absorbed by the blood vessel, heating it to a point where it is destroyed. Following treatment the vessels quickly clear and are re-absorbed by the body, leaving little or no trace f the original lesion.
Which Types Of Veins Can Be Treated?
Facial thread veins, Rosacea, Spider Naevi, Port Wine Stains and Legs veins up to 3mm diameter (by laser).
Frequently Asked Question About Intense Light Therapy
I Keep Hearing About People Getting Burned Or Stripes?
- The machine cant differentiates between hair and skin, so you need to shave the hair so the hair is not lying against the skin.
- You cant use a fake tan or have a suntan before IPL because it cant differentiate colour so it could burn because it would create heat on the brown.
- Darker colored people would need more sessions at a lower frequency so they don’t burn.
Why Specifically Do You Get Stripes Though?
If you are over-treated, the specialist goes over the area too much or if it’s for pigmentation and you are doing a whole face, the first time you hold the machine one way across the face, and in the next session you would go the other way, and that would fix the stripes. Although sometimes the stripes can be burnt.
I Was Asked To Buy $200 Worth Of Creams Before I Could Be Treated? Is It Necessary?
Unless your skin is highly dehydrated requirements for particular skin products are a ploy. It is true that you do get better results if you use better products but it is NOT necessary to use clinic products to get IPL no matter how fabulous the machine.
The Client Tells Me This Is A Special MEDICAL GRADE Machine, Does This Make It Better Than Any Other IPL Machine?
Doctors or medical staff should only really use these. They include a laser that hurts more-it’s a higher form of IPL and can cause more damage if not operated properly. For hair removal or pigmentation, you get just as good a result without the pain of the medical-grade laser with a beauty therapy IPL machine.
At Beautiphi we now have a Neogenplasma Machine. Even more amazing than IPL machines.