IPL is an abbreviation for Intense Pulsed Light. It’s a sort of light treatment that’s used to get rid of wrinkles, spots, and unwanted hair.
Intense Pulsed Light can be used to decrease or remove:
Spots of age
The effects of the sun
Freckles
Birthmarks
Varicose veins are a kind of vein that is seen in the legs.
Your face has broken blood vessels.
Face, neck, back, chest, legs, underarms, or bikini line hair
The difference between IPL and laser therapy
IPL therapy is comparable to laser treatment. Lasers, on the other hand, focus just one wavelength of light on your skin, whereas lasers, like a picture flash, fire light of many distinct wavelengths.
IPL light is less concentrated and more dispersed than laser light. Intense Pulsed Light technique penetrates the second layer of skin (dermis) without harming the top layer (epidermis), resulting in reduced skin damage.
Your skin’s pigment cells absorb light energy, which is then transformed into heat. Heat dissolves undesirable pigment, allowing freckles and other spots to be removed. Or it kills hair follicles to inhibit hair growth.
IPL may be used anywhere on the body, however it may not function well on uneven surfaces. It is not advised for those who have thick, elevated keloid scars or have dark skin. It is also less effective on light hair than it is on black hair.
How to prepare
A skin care specialist will analyze your skin and tell you what to expect before your IPL procedure. Inform them if you have any skin problems, such as inflammatory acne or eczema, that may interfere with healing following therapy.
Certain activities, medicines, and other items may be advised to be avoided for two weeks before to the treatment by your skin care specialist.
What to expect during the operation
The skin care specialist begins by cleaning the area to be treated. They next apply a chilly gel on your skin. The IPL equipment is then used to provide light pulses to your skin. You will need to wear dark glasses during the treatment to safeguard your eyes. The waves have the potential to sting your flesh. Some individuals compare it to being struck with a rubber band. The treatment should take 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the section of your body being treated and the size of the region.
Three to six sessions may be required to get the desired outcomes. These treatments should be spaced one month apart to give your skin time to recover between them. 6 to 12 sessions are required for hair removal.
How well does it work
For some cosmetic procedures, such as fading blood vessels in the skin, modern IPL equipment operates in conjunction with laser treatments. IPL technology works better on thick, dark hair than fine, thin hair for hair removal. Several treatments may be required to obtain the desired effect.
The potential risks
After the treatment, most individuals feel minor redness or swelling. This generally goes away within a day or two. In some circumstances, you may encounter:
Bruising
Skin color change Infection
What do you expect next
You should be able to resume your normal activities immediately. For a few hours, the treated region of skin will be red and sensitive, just like a sunburn. It is also possible that your skin could expand somewhat. Your skin will be sensitive for a few days following the treatment. You should avoid putting hot water on it until it has healed.
IPL alternatives
IPL is not the sole option for removing unsightly wrinkles, spots, and hair. You also have the following options:
Laser: A laser removes undesirable hair, wrinkles, sun damage, and other areas by emitting a single, concentrated wavelength of light. A laser therapy is termed radical if it eliminates the top layer of skin. It is termed non-ablative if it warms the underlying tissue without harming the top layer. Laser treatments need fewer sessions than IPL and may be utilized on darker skin.
Fraxel laser therapy is a non-surgical treatment since it penetrates beneath the skin’s surface without harming the top layer. Some Fraxel treatments target a portion of the skin and are known as fractional laser treatments because they treat a portion of the skin by excision. Sun damage, creases, wrinkles, and acne scars may all be treated with the Fraxel laser. The skin regenerates after therapy.
Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion technique sands the top layer of your skin softly using an abrasive instrument. It can be used to lighten age spots and dark spots on the skin. It can also help to decrease the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles.