Treatment FAQ

what is the side effects of intense pulsed light hair removal treatment

by Aletha Connelly Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Potential Side Effects of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy

  • Redness and Excessive Swelling Accompanied by Bruising or Blistering. IPL therapy is categorized as a non-ablative technique or a non-invasive surfacing technology. ...
  • Pigmentation-Related Problems. Intense Pulsed Light Therapy doesn’t induce an immediate effect on the skin tone. However, the intense heating used during the treatment does promote some level of superficial improvement.
  • Problems with Inked/Tattooed Skin. Though the light pulses used in Intense Pulsed Light Therapy aren’t known to induce a reaction with inks or stains on the human body, there is ...
  • Infections. This is more applicable for people seeking Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for hair removal. ...

What are the side effects of IPL treatment?
  • Redness.
  • Swelling.
  • Light bruising.
  • Itching.
  • Peeling.
  • Scabbing.

Full Answer

What is intense pulsed light therapy for hair removal?

This is more applicable for people seeking Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for hair removal. During hair removal application, the light pulses are aimed at strategic points in the skin to neutralize the natural growth cycle of hair. However, if the heating is exceeded, there is a potential risk to stimulating a dormant infection in the hair follicles.

What are the side effects of intense pulsed light therapy?

Potential Side Effects of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy 1 Redness and Excessive Swelling Accompanied by Bruising or Blistering. 2 Pigmentation-Related Problems. Intense Pulsed Light Therapy doesn’t induce an immediate effect on... 3 Problems with Inked/Tattooed Skin. Though the light pulses used in Intense Pulsed Light Therapy...

What are the side effects of laser hair removal?

Side effects are minor and include: Pain during treatment (reduced by contact cooling and if necessary, topical anaesthetic) Skin turning pink and a little sore immediately after the procedure. Sensation of a mild sunburn (redness, peeling, swelling) that may last a few days after treatment.

How does a light burst hair removal treatment work?

This is why the light burst targets that specific spot. This light is then converted into heat, this heat energy which vaporizes the hair follicle (and most of the hair itself) is believed to also destroy the cells that cause hair growth, allowing you to get a permanent hair reduction over time besides a good probability of permanent hair removal.

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Does IPL hair removal have side effects?

Unbearable pain, discomfort or tenderness. Red skin that may last for some time. Crusting, blistering, bruising or swelling of your skin. Lightening or darkening of your skin.

Is intense pulsed light treatment safe?

IPL is safe when done by a trained technician. But the treatment could cause hormonal brown spots to flare up. You could have other unwanted side effects.

Is IPL laser hair removal safe?

IPL-based technology is generally considered a safe procedure as potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation is typically filtered by blocking wavelengths below 500 nm, although there are unwanted effects associated with the treatment.

What are the dangers of IPL?

Health risks Reported injuries have included burns, blistering, scarring, keloids (thickened, overgrown scars), increased or decreased skin pigmentation and eye damage (damage to the retina [back]or uvea [front] of the eye).

Can IPL damage your skin?

There is very little risk of damaging your skin from IPL treatments, also known as photofacials. A photofacial is a non-invasive treatment that saturates the surface of your skin with light to target problem areas and reverse both signs of damage and aging.

Can IPL burn your skin?

In most cases, the burn from an aesthetic laser or IPL is a first degree burn. A second degree burn is unlikely but can also occur from laser/IPL treatment. Third degree burns are extremely rare. In most cases it is not necessary to make a trip to A&E.

Can IPL make hair growth worse?

Answer: IPL can rarely cause a paradoxical increase in hair growth. It happens very rarely and more often in patients with some hormonal abnormality, like polycystic ovary syndrome, but not necessarily just under those circumstances.

Does IPL have long term effects?

Intense Pulsed Light is a technology that has been in use since 1996 for hair removal. Over time, no serious side effects or damage from long-term use have been reported.

What happens if you IPL too much?

What happens if I use the Philips Lumea Prestige more frequently than every two weeks? It is not harmful; however, it won't improve the results due to the natural cycle of hair regrowth, and I therefore wouldn't recommend it. * Adherence to the treatment plan; detected at the legs after the third treatment.

Is laser hair removal cancerous?

Can laser hair removal cause cancer? It's a myth that laser hair removal can cause cancer. In fact, according to the Skin Care Foundation, the procedure is sometimes used to treat certain forms of precancerous lesions. Different lasers are used to treat sun damage and wrinkles.

Why is IPL not working on my face?

What often happens, is the provider, simply changes the settings on their IPL/Laser to reduce the heat, therefore reducing the chance of burning or scarring, but also making the treatment practically ineffective. Please check with your technician that the machine they are using is actually able to treat darker skins.

Can laser hair removal cause darkening?

Laser hair removal might darken or lighten the affected skin. These changes might be temporary or permanent. Skin lightening primarily affects those who don't avoid sun exposure before or after treatment and those who have darker skin.

What to expect before IPL?

Before the procedure, don’t: Tan in the sun, in a tanning bed, or with tanning creams for 4 weeks before you go. Wax, or get a chemical peel or collagen shots for 2 weeks before. Wear perfume, makeup, deodorant, or any skin irritants.

How well does IPL work?

How well IPL works can depend on what you want the treatment to fix. Redness: After one to three treatments, light therapy can get rid of 50%-75% of broken blood vessels for most people. They could completely go away. While treated veins don’t come back, new ones might show up later.

What Is IPL Treatment?

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, aka photofacial, is a way to improve the color and texture of your skin without surgery. It can undo some of the visible damage caused by sun exposure -- called photoaging. You may notice it mostly on your face, neck, hands, or chest.

How many sessions of IPL for acne?

Acne: IPL may help if you have acne or the scarring it causes. You may need about six sessions to notice a difference. Research is continuing.

What does IPL do?

IPL uses light energy to target a certain color in your skin.

How long does it take for a sunburn to go away?

It may feel like you have a sunburn for 4-6 hours after you’re finished. Ice packs or a cool washcloth can help you feel better. Your skin may be red or bruised for a day or two. Some of your brown spots may get darker, but they should peel off within a few weeks.

What is the difference between chemical peels and laser peels?

Chemical peels. This is similar to a microdermabrasion, except it uses chemical solutions applied to your face. Laser resurfacing. This removes the damaged outer layer of the skin to promote growth of collagen and new skin cells. Lasers use only one wavelength of light in a concentrated beam.

How does intense pulsed light hair removal work?

While laser technology emits light with a single wavelength, this one delivers light with multiple wavelengths.

What is pulsed light?

Intense pulsed light, also known as IPL, is a cosmetic hair removal treatment. People undergo it to minimize age spots, freckles, birthmarks, varicose veins, rosacea, and – of course – to remove unwanted hair.

How many square inches does a laser hair removal shot cover?

Each shot covers an area of 2 square inches. This is a large area compared to lasers that only cover specific points. Thus, it removes more hair in a shorter amount of time.

How does a hair technician work?

In both cases, a technician uses light to heat the hair follicles and prevent regrowth. The procedure begins with preparation, which consists of avoiding stimuli such as sunlight, tanning, chemical peeling, manual hair removal, collagen injections, creams, or products containing vitamin A and blood-thinning medications.

Is pulsed light hair removal effective?

Intense pulsed light (IPL) hair removal is an effective treatment in many cases, but it's important to consider all options and consult a dermatologist before making a decision .

Is IPL permanent hair removal?

This is one of the three methods classified as permanent hair removal. The other two are laser hair removal and electrolysis. However, IPL doesn’t offer permanent results, only fairly long-lasting ones.

Can you use pulsed light to remove hair?

It also takes into account the skin and hair properties. This treatment doesn’t necessarily require a specialist and people could do it at home but it isn’ t recommended.

What are the side effects of IPL?

You can use IPL to minimize or remove: 1 age spots 2 sun damage 3 freckles 4 birthmarks 5 varicose veins 6 broken blood vessels on your face 7 rosacea 8 hair on your face, neck, back, chest, legs, underarms, or bikini line

What to expect before IPL?

How to prepare. Before your IPL procedure, your skin care specialist will examine your skin and let you know what to expect. Let them know if you have any skin conditions that might affect healing after your treatment, such as inflammatory acne or eczema. Your skin care specialist may recommend that you avoid certain activities, medications, ...

What is a fractionated laser?

Some Fraxel treatments treat a fraction of the skin and may then be termed a fractionated laser, treating part of the skin in an ablative manner. Fraxel laser can be used to treat sun damage, lines and wrinkles, and acne scars. After the treatment, the skin regenerates itself.

How to use IPL on skin?

Your skin care specialist first cleans the area that’s being treated. Then they rub a cool gel onto your skin. Then, they apply light pulses from the IPL device to your skin. During your treatment, you’ll need to wear dark glasses to protect your eyes.

What is IPL therapy?

What it does. IPL stands for intense pulsed light. It’s a type of light therapy used to treat wrinkles, spots, and unwanted hair. You can use IPL to minimize or remove: age spots.

How much does an IPL cost?

On average, IPL costs $700 to $1,200. You might have to pay more for anesthesia, tests, follow-up visits, or medicines. Because IPL is considered a cosmetic procedure, most health insurance plans won’t cover the cost.

How does heat affect freckles?

Pigment cells in your skin absorb the light energy, which is converted into heat. The heat destroys the unwanted pigment to clear up freckles and other spots. Or, it destroys the hair follicle to prevent the hair from growing again.

What to expect when you get light therapy?

What to expect. A medical professional will use a handheld device to deliver light therapy. During the procedure, people may feel a pinching sensation . Some individuals have described this as a feeling similar to an elastic band being “snapped” on the skin.

What is pulsed light?

Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a cosmetic skin treatment. People may use it to reduce the signs of aging or remove unwanted hair. Other uses include reducing the appearance of scars, lightening darker patches of skin, and improving the appearance of spider veins. IPL works in a similar way to laser therapy. The difference is that where laser therapy ...

How does IPL work?

IPL uses light energy to target accurately and remove pigmented or damaged skin cells or hair follicles. Using a handheld device, a medical professional will target multiple wavelengths of light onto the skin. This light heats cells in the skin and breaks them down. The body then removes the damaged tissue naturally.

What are the uses of IPL?

Uses. People may choose IPL as a treatment for a range of skin issues. These include: acne scars. birthmarks . rosacea, a condition that causes redness of the face. hyperpigmentation, including liver or age spots and freckles. melasma, a condition causing brown or gray-brown skin patches. scars.

What is the difference between laser and IPL?

The difference is that where laser therapy delivers a single wavelength of light energy, IPL delivers multiple wavelengths. This means that IPL can treat a larger area of skin in a shorter time than laser therapy. This article will explain how IPL works and what people use it for. It will also examine its safety and effectiveness and look at ...

How long does it take for a sting to go away after IPL?

Immediately after the procedure, the treated area may look red or pink. This tends to last for between 4 and 8 hours. People may also notice a stinging sensation in the 4 to 6 hours after IPL. This feeling may resemble that of having a mild sunburn. A moist cloth or cool pack can help ease the stinging.

How long does it take to see results of IPL?

The length and number of sessions needed will depend on each individual’s treatment plan. It is worth noting that it can take anything up to several weeks to notice the results of IPL treatment.

How does intense pulsed light therapy work?

IPL systems are different to lasers in that they deliver many wavelengths (or colours) in each pulse of light instead of just one wavelength. Most IPL systems use filters to refine the energy output for the treatment of certain areas. This enhances penetration without using excessive energy levels and enables targetting of specific chromophores (these are skin components that absorb light).

What are the side effects of IPL?

Side effects of IPL are minor and include: Skin turning pink and a little sore immediately after the procedure. A sensation of a mild sunburn (redness, peeling, swelling) that may last a few days after treatment. Rarely, skin pigment may absorb too much light energy and blistering can occur.

What does the intense pulsed light procedure involve?

Prior to the procedure your specialist practitioner should explain the process to you and clearly define your expectations of the treatment. They should be able to tell you whether or not the results you are looking for will be achievable using this method. It is important that the correct diagnosis has been made by your doctor prior to treatment.

What is IPL therapy?

Intense pulsed light (IPL) or flashlamp therapy is a non- invasive and non- ablative treatment that uses high-intensity pulses of visible light to improve the appearance of the following skin problems:

What is IPL treatment?

Freckles and age marks. Facial lines and wrinkles. Removal of unwanted dark hair. The procedure of rejuvenating aged skin is referred to as photorejuvenation and requires a series of IPL treatments. IPL may also be helpful for mild to moderate acne and stretch marks.

How long does an IPL treatment last?

Treatment sessions usually last about 20 minutes. A course of 4-6 sessions every 3-6 weeks may be needed to achieve desired results.

What is the purpose of light pulses?

Light pulses targeted at the melanin in the skin’s surface which heats and destroys melanin to remove the discolouration. For the treatment of unwanted hair. Light pulses targeted at the hair follicle causing the hair to fall out and prevent further growth. Generally ineffective for light coloured hair.

How does light hair removal work?

As described above, light hair removal devices use the pigment in the hair follicle to remove hairs from the root. It becomes pretty clear that the lighter the hair is, the harder it’ll be for the machine to take action on it. If you’re considering to try an IPL machine on your facial hair, you just need to verify that those tiny hairs are “dark ...

How Do I Know if I Can Use Intense Pulsed Light Devices?

Although being for both men and women, intense pulsed light hair removal products are not for everybody, you must make sure to have the right type of skin and hair before choosing one of these tools. The skin must be healthy, not too sensitive and have the right levels of melanin otherwise the treatment wouldn’t be effective. In fact, too light or too dark skin types must carefully pick the right product and there might not even be a product for their needs. The same goes for the hair color, different products might work best for different types of hair. That said, a little research is much needed if you’re not sure your hair and skin colors can be treated. If you have red or very pal hair, IPL devices won’t probably be suitable for you.

What is a Typical IPL treatment like?

Most common IPL therapy sessions are simple, fast and most likely painless. More people reportedly experience a “snap” feeling and some redness in the area after the treatment, but the overall process is pretty much pain free and most importantly, it can be done everywhere you want in your home

How much does IPL cost?

The average prices for IPL portable devices go all the way from $150 to $500, numerous options and brands are available, it all just depends on your specific needs. Some devices have more unique features like intensity setting adjustment, others are specific for certain skin or hair types and most of all, some are high quality, tested and FDA cleared while others are not. What’s obvious about this, is that IPL is way cheaper than traditional laser treatments where each session could cost you half your paycheck. That said, we know intense pulsed light devices are not cheap either, but they should be considered more like an investment, which is going to save you money on the long run.

What is the difference between IPL and laser hair removal?

What’s the difference between IPL and Laser Hair Removal? Both type of devices use light to destroy the hair root , so substantially the difference lies in the technology. Lasers only use one specific wave length (1 color) and target only one chromophore (the dark spots such as melanin), whereas IPL machines, as mentioned before, ...

How much hair can you remove in a hair removal session?

The first session should be able to remove around 20% of the hair and as much as 95% can be accomplished with 6 to 10 sessions, this may vary if you’re a woman or a man obviously and according to your skin and hair type it might take less or more.

Can IPL be used for hair removal?

Who Can’t Use IPL hair Removal Devices. A few medical conditions such as acne or eczema can make IPL machines off limits for you for their duration. You can’t also use laser hair removal if you’re pregnant or suffer from diabetes and should avoid treatment on areas with cuts, lesions or burnt skin.

How long does laser hair removal last?

Each lamp of this laser features about 350,000 flashes which is enough for 3 years’ lifespan. The results after the treatment may last up to 15 years. It depends on the skin and hair color of the person. This laser light hair removal provides the best results on dark hair and light skin. It is a decent device for light hair color (not blonde light).

How long does it take to remove hair with Lescolton laser?

This Lescolton laser hair removal can be used on the whole body. It is very simple to use it and the treatment of the whole body is done in less than 30 minutes. It can be used on arms, underarms, bikini line, legs, back, and chest. It is suitable for men and women.

How Does A Light-Laser Work?

Lasers for permanent hair removal emit wavelengths of light. The energy from the light emitted is transmitted to the skin and melanin (hair pigment) which destroys the hair cells. The skin contains melanin too, so before the treatment, people must shave all hair from the area they want to use the laser on.

What To Do After The Treatment?

After the treatment, which is by the way very quick, you should avoid saunas, hot showers, or any artificial light. The warm environment and artificial light provide an ideal environment for the multiplication of bacteria.

What is Braun Silk Hair Removal Laser?

It was approved by dermatologists and it was clinically tested for permanent hair reduction. It is designed to remove hair from the face and body. It is a high-quality product and the price is high too.

How many flashes does a Deess laser light have?

It comes with a detachable lamp. Additional skin rejuvenation or acne lamps may be purchased separately. The Deess light laser produces 25 flashes per minute and requires about 8-10 minutes to treat a leg or arm.

How long does a Braun laser treatment last?

It is safe to use on delicate parts too. It comes with the precision mode that helps you with removing thinner hair such as those from the upper lip. The treatments last a maximum of 8 minutes.

How effective is laser hair removal?

Laser Hair Removal delivers a targeted and concentrated energy to small individual hair follicles using a monochromatic light source, making them highly effective in treating specific problem areas. Like IPL, it is important to keep in mind that each laser treatment will only target hairs currently in the anagen or growing cycle, meaning multiple sessions are necessary for complete hair removal in any area.

What is IPL Hair Removal?

IPL is a hair removal method which uses a high output light source to deliver a broad spectrum of visible wavelengths of light to remove unwanted hair. These wavelengths are concentrated at the end of a flashlamp and delivered to the skin as light pulses. This light source is then absorbed by the melanin (the substance that provides pigment) in black and brown hairs causing thermal injury to the hair follicle. Injury of the follicle prevents the production of future hair. While IPL treatment is a light energy based therapy, it is a broad spectrum of pulsed light, whereas laser treatment is far more concentrated and specific.

What is the difference between laser and IPL?

While IPL treatment is a light energy based therapy , it is a broad spectrum of pulsed light, whereas laser treatment is far more concentrated and specific. This difference between laser and IPL hair removal can be easily seen if you simply imagine holding a very bright flashlight next to a laser pointer. A flashlight will illuminate ...

What is the difference between a laser pointer and a flashlight?

A flashlight will illuminate a much larger area of space, while the beam of a laser pointer will be concentrated to a pinpointed area. This means that IPL treatment is applied to broader, general areas and results in a less concentrated application of the light therapy.

Why do you need more rounds of IPL?

You may choose IPL because it has a lower price tag, but you will need significantly more rounds of IPL to achieve optimum results. Various filters can be used to make Intense Pulsed Light more specific to the target but it will never be as specific as a laser beam.

How long does it take for hair to grow back after a hair transplant?

Because we are limited by human physiology and the hair growth cycle, the process is a long one. We generally have 5-7 growth cycles and it’s best to wait 6-8 weeks in between treatments so I tell people to not expect final results for about a year. But it’s so worth it!

Is laser hair removal more effective than other treatments?

When all is said and done, laser is both a more effective hair removal treatment with fewer sessions and is more cost effective. State of the art laser technology can treat all skin colors safely.

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Redness and Excessive Swelling Accompanied by Bruising Or Blistering

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IPL therapy is categorized as a non-ablative technique or a non-invasive surfacing technology. This means that it has the ability to penetrate deep within the skin without targeting the outer layers. This helps to induce deep-seated heating that further stimulates collagen formation and promotes widespread healing of the ski…
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Pigmentation-Related Problems

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Problems with Inked/Tattooed Skin

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