Introduce to Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), is a method of hair removal from the body involving the use of a specially constructed xenon flash lamp and focusing optics.

The Intense Pulsed Light hair removal process has become very popular due to its cheaper and faster procedure compared to laser hair removal, which is often more costly, painful, and time consuming. The comparison of effectiveness between Intense Pulsed Light and Laser Epilation is debated by scientists, equipment manufacturers and practitioners but is generally accepted to be equivalent results. IPL is generally advertised as "permanent hair reduction" as opposed to "permanent hair removal" (these phrases are misnomers when applied to laser or IPL hair removal).

Hair removal mechanics: The focused, broad-spectrum light is applied to the surface of the skin.  The intense light travels through the tissue of the skin until it strikes the hair shafts or the bulb (root) of the hair. The bulb is usually where the highest concentration of melanin is located, as opposed to the rest of the hair shaft. The light is converted to heat energy. The bulb and most of the hair shaft is instantly vaporized. The intense heat radiated by the hair also destroys the hair-producing papilla or the entire hair follicle.

IPL technology is also employed in the treatment of medical disorders of the skin including sun damage induced dyspigmentation and vascular changes; poikiloderma of Civatte; acne Rosacea; broken capillaries/telangiectases; vascular and pigmented birth marks. Such treatment is best administered by a specialist dermatologist. This new technology incorporates 'dual mode filtering' and other important advances which result in safer and more effective treatment than the older systems; which were initially designed for simple processes such as hair removal.

The pulses of light produced by IPL equipment are very short in duration, so discomfort and damage to non-target tissues is minor. Most people who undergo IPL epilation only experience slight irritation similar to that of a minor sunburn though under certain circumstances, blisters may occur. Depending on the instrument settings and intensity, treating sensitive areas such as the chest and face can result in pain comparable to waxing the same areas; however this pain dissipates immediately. The light that emanates from the IPL wand is filtered to remove any ultraviolet components, eliminating the possibility of UV skin damage.