Many people have experience, and possibly not so fond memories, of shaving, waxing, applying cream or using an epilator to remove unwanted hair. While they all work to some degree, they can be messy and uncomfortable at best, and actually painful at worst.
It’s no wonder then that IPL, or intense pulsed light laser therapy, is capturing people’s attention.
IPL stands for intense pulsed light which is a type of light therapy that can be used to treat, amongst other things, unwanted hair on the face, neck, back, chest, legs, underarms, or bikini line.
Unlike laser treatment which concentrates one wavelength of light and is used, for example, to correct vision or destroy unwanted tissue, IPL releases light of many different wavelengths in a less focused and more scattered way. This means that it doesn’t harm the top layer of skin as it targets the second layer. That light energy is converted into heat which destroys hair follicles – so the hair in the targeted area doesn’t regrow.
During IPL treatment, dark glasses protect the eyes, and the aesthetic practitioner applies a cooling gel to the area being treated then targets the pulses of light from the IPL device to them. Although it may sting a little, once the follicles are removed, unlike waxing or epilation, the process is permanent.
Obviously, everyone is different in the amount of hair they would like to be removed but depending on where and how large the area is, each treatment should take around 20 to 30 minutes. The final results are usually achieved between 3 and 6 treatments, and it tends to work very well for thicker, darker hair.
It is possible that after a treatment there might be mild swelling, redness, a bit of sensitivity or very occasionally a tiny amount of blistering, but this usually fades within a couple of days and normal activities can be resumed straight away.
IPL works quickly, there’s no skin damage, very few side effects and very quick recovery times. Nevertheless, it’s worth considering that a few sessions are usually necessary to get the desired results and it tends to work better on lighter skin than dark, and on darker hair than light.
If someone thinks that IPL may provide a solution to the removal of their unwanted hair, it’s very important to see a fully qualified specialist in facial aesthetics. A facial aesthetics expert will always want to discuss a client’s skin prior to treatment so that they know about any conditions like acne or eczema.
They may also provide advice on how to prepare for treatments, such as which over the counter medications or other aesthetic procedures to avoid (chemical peels, collagen injections, tanning beds, waxing and even strong direct sunlight) for a certain length of time before the IPL.
An experienced, professional aesthetician will always provide the best advice for their clients so it’s important to find a practitioner who is fully qualified to perform the procedures they are offering.