IPL is a semi-permanent hair removal method that is becoming increasingly popular. Shaving and hair removal simply removes hair from the surface of the skin, while IPL treatments use focused light energy to destroy hair in the follicles. This long-lasting treatment can make the skin look better, but it cannot stop future aging. To protect the skin from sun damage, it is important to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher daily.
By choosing IPL to remove unwanted hair, you can experience permanent results. Other home treatments only provide temporary results, and you will soon return to where you started. This cycle will continue until you take the first step and choose a treatment that will give you permanent results. Permanent hair reduction using laser and IPL (intense pulsed light) has become increasingly popular in recent years.
Laser and IPL machines were first used commercially for hair removal in the nineties. Since then, the techniques and efficiency of the machines have improved tremendously. The number of treatments needed varies, but usually 6 or more treatments are needed for optimal results. After about 6 sessions, 70% of hair is usually removed permanently.
The law does not allow IPL manufacturers to claim that hair removal is permanent. Studies have shown that areas of the skin targeted by the IPL procedure experience temporary hair removal, but not total or permanent removal. IPL only acts on active hair while it is in the Anagen phase of growth. If you want clear, youthful-looking skin, maybe it's time you experienced the incredible benefits of IPL treatment.
IPL uses multi-spectrum lights, while the laser uses single-spectrum light, “which means that IPL energy is scattered and is a lot less powerful than laser energy. Some treatment providers simply reduce the heat from their IPL machines to prevent damage to the skin, but this avoids any results. As mentioned above, IPL is a well-established hair removal treatment that has been tried and tested for many years. If you use depilatory creams but have scheduled an IPL laser treatment, you should wait at least six weeks after using one of these creams to undergo your treatment. IPL treatments in salons are much more affordable for the general public today than they were in the past, and not just for the wealthy elite. Experiments were conducted to measure the effectiveness of IPL for hair removal with the first IPL hair removal system approved for use in the United States in the mid-90s.
Most certified IPL providers aim to provide 80% reduction of hair on hairs present at the start of treatment. This makes IPL a gentle and effective treatment for those suffering from rosacea and facial redness, as well as for hair removal. Dr. Johnson reiterates that, unlike laser treatments that emit a specific wavelength, IPL works by emitting scattered wavelengths of light. Originally, IPL was developed and used only for medical and cosmetic purposes, until it was observed that, in addition to benefiting the patient's skin condition, it left them with reduced amounts of hair in the treatment area.