What is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)?
Intense Pulsed Light, also known by its acronym IPL, is a light technology capable of eliminating the marks left on our skin by the sun, stress and the passage of time. With this treatment, the skin of the hands, neck, neckline and face will look younger.
Likewise, IPL allows the removal of the annoying facial hair, whether it is blond or dark, with the only difference that the latter will need more sessions for its total elimination. As it is a non-aggressive treatment, it is possible to perform as many sessions as the patient requires.
What does it consist of?
The treatment must be performed with completely clean skin, without makeup, creams or hair. A cold gel is applied to the patient over the area to be treated to protect the thinner layers of the skin, while facilitating the transmission of the light energy. The specialist and the patient must wear eye protection to prevent the light beams from the device from damaging their eyesight.
Intense pulsed light through a broad band of light acts on:
- Pigmented spots
- Veins
- Rough skin texture
- Hair
- Collagen formation
The energy of the light gradually improves the texture and tone, eliminating enlarged pores, hair, redness, spots and small wrinkles in the deeper layers of the skin.
The duration will vary according to the size of the area to be treated, ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour. After the session, the patient can apply make-up if desired and return to their normal routine.
As for the number of sessions, it is variable depending on each person and the type of IPL used. Generally, 4-5 sessions are needed every 30-45 days, although depending on the type of hair or the patient’s needs, the number of sessions may be increased. In addition, some people may need maintenance sessions 1-2 times a year, approximately.
Advantages of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
- It works with different wavelengths offering versatility in relation to the characteristics of each patient.
- It is a customizable treatment, since after an initial study of the patient’s skin and hair, it is adjusted to his or her needs.
- All hair types can be treated with the same device.
- Effective against both fine and coarse hairs
- Each shot of light covers a surface area of 5 cm2
- Concentrates light power on a single spot, significantly shortening sessions
- It allows to treat large extensions of skin, which is ideal for men as well, since they have dark hair on multiple areas of the body.
- It is a completely painless technique
- It produces hardly any adverse effects such as reddening of the skin, heat sensation, etc.
Disadvantages of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
- It cannot be used on dark or tanned skin.
- Not guaranteed effective on all hair types.
- Does not remove gray, blond or red hairs
- Less precise than lasers
- Requires one or two maintenance sessions per year
Results
Results are evident from the first session, although improvements are perceived progressively. First, spots and redness disappear, allowing the skin to recover a much more uniform tone. Later, as the treatment progresses, a general improvement in the skin’s luminosity is noticed.
Which specialist performs the treatment?
The medical professional indicated to perform an intense pulsed light treatment is a specialist in Aesthetic Medicine.