Has IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) permanent hair reduction always been on your “someday” list, but you’ve had a lot of questions like – is IPL painful? How many sessions are you in for? Is your skin too dark for IPL permanent hair reduction?
If this hair-removal method is something you’re considering, read on for everything you need to know about it.
what is IPL?
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light and is a type of light treatment that uses strong pulses of light to stimulate or treat various issues within the skin, including pigment and vein removal, rejuvenating the skin, and is also commonly used as a permanent hair reduction tool.
how does IPL work?
The laser uses high-intensity light sources, which emit light extending from visible (515 nm) to the infrared spectrum (1200 nm), which is absorbed by the skin tissue and then converted to destructive heat. Wavelengths can be customized for different skin targets.
Typically the infra-red spectrum is used to target the hair follicle. Once the laser locates the germ cell in the hair follicle root, the laser then converts from light energy to a burst of heat that destroys the cell. The hair root dies, and the hair falls out.
what should I do before my treatment?
You’re going to need your follicle roots intact for the laser to do its job, so avoid waxing, tweezing, threading, or anything else that removes hair at its root. We ask our patients to please shave about 24 hours before their appointment.
Avoid the sun and any form of tanning (natural, spray tan or tanning lotion) two weeks before your appointment.
For effective results, it’s important to be as close to your baseline skin colour as possible.
does IPL permanent hair reduction hurt?
There is some discomfort during the procedure, the laser is likened to a hot zap. Most patients find this to be mild and tolerable. The IPL device works so quickly, you’ll barely have time to register the sensation.
results will vary.
Using the eMax by Syneron’s IPL handpiece, we can achieve permanent hair reduction in eight to twelve sessions. Multiple sessions are advised as it differs from person to person and depends on a variety of factors. Your hair has cycles just like your skin does. Your hair has a growth phase, a rest phase, and a shedding phase. One of the main reasons why you need to do repeat treatments with IPL is because at each session we’re targeting a percentage of the hairs at a different growth cycle. Lasers including IPL can only destroy hair follicles in the growth stage.
what should I do after my treatment or in-between sessions?
Try to avoid sun exposure and use a SPF 30 or higher. It’s essential you avoid tweezing or waxing prior to the IPL session, as the laser targets the pigment of the hair follicle itself, so if it’s gone the laser won’t be effective.
can all skin types be safely treated with laser hair removal?
IPL permanent hair reduction can treat men and women safely and effectively except darker skin tones. Darker skin contains more melanin than fair skin and the IPL can’t differentiate between the pigment in the follicle versus the skin.
caution
As with all light-based treatments it can make you more sun sensitive, so we recommend having the sessions during the winter months and avoid sun tanning while undergoing the treatments.
what you can expect post-treatment
After the treatment a little pinkness, stinging and swelling is normal, although this usually disappears within a couple of hours. Rarely laser hair removal can cause blisters, scabbing, scarring or other changes in skin texture. If this happens they tend to be superficial and heal quickly.