Intense Pulsed Light Therapy has recently become popular on social media due to its medical applications. But does it work?
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Therapy) can be effective when used correctly. This therapy is ideal for hair removal, dry eyes, sun damage, and more.
Today, we will learn more about pulsed light therapy and other methods.
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy: How Does It Work?
- IPL uses a broad range of light to target specific pigments in the skin. The main difference is that IPL emits light in multiple wavelengths instead of just one.
- The light penetrates the skin and is captured by melanin and hemoglobin. When these substances absorb light, they are converted into heat.
- The heat destroys the pigmented or vascular cells, and the skin replaces them with new cells.
- Removing these cells prompts the human body to remove them and produce a new collagen layer.
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy For Different Skin Conditions
Redness and Rosacea
Treating facial redness and rosacea is the most common application of IPL in modern dermatological practice. The vessel or pigment that appears so turbulent is destroyed, causing it to drop dramatically.
This has led to breakthroughs in reducing redness. You can get results within 1-2 weeks.
Sun Damage and Pigmentation
Sun damage often appears as brown spots and uneven skin tone. This is another area where IPL can excel. The sunlight penetrates the melanin in these spots and disrupts their structure. This, in turn, causes your body to lose pigment cells and leave little to no trace of sunspots.
Hair Removal
IPL is the most popular and commonly used hair removal method. It mainly targets the pigment found in the hair follicles. This pigment absorbs the light and heats up, which damages the hair follicle. For many people, the hair will never grow back.
However, intense pulse therapy is only effective for people with fair skin and dark hair. If you have very fair skin, IPL may be unable to tell the difference between your skin and your hair.
Those with very dark skin should know that IPL light can penetrate deep into the skin and cause burns. Multiple treatments are necessary for the best results. However, most people who have had numerous sessions report long-lasting results.
Dry Eyes
IPL is also used for chronic dry eyes, often first treated with eye drops or lifestyle changes. If this does not help, IPL can help reduce the patient’s symptoms by targeting the meibomian glands in the eyelids.
Comparisons With Other Treatments
IPL and Laser Therapy
IPL and laser treatments can have comparable effects on their respective skin conditions. However, they differ in their mode of action and intensity.
Laser treatments use a wavelength of light that is focused enough to target the skin and is, therefore, more powerful. Thus, the patient will need fewer laser treatment sessions to see more significant results.
However, the recovery time is also longer. IPL is a gentler and less targeted method: it uses many wavelengths of light to treat various conditions simultaneously. Therefore, the patient will need more sessions to see similar results from the laser.
IPL and Microdermabrasion or Chemical Peel
Microdermabrasion is a process that exfoliates the skin using a stream of tiny crystals, while chemical peels use an acid answer to achieve the same effect.
Both procedures leave the skin with a smoother surface and improve acne, texture, and tone. However, both methods are more superficial compared to IPL. With IPL, the light can penetrate deeper into the skin, targeting pigmentation and blood vessels. This makes IPL better suited for these issues.
What To Keep In Mind When Getting Intense Pulsed Light Therapy?
Here’s what you need to know before getting an IPL treatment.
Is It Suitable?
Not everyone is a candidate for IPL. People with very dark skin may not be a good option, as the light beam will have difficulty distinguishing between skin pigment and hair pigment, which can lead to burns or discoloration.
Pregnant women, people with skin conditions, and people using blood thinners or isotretinoin should consult a doctor before treatment.
Check The Side Effects and Risks
Intense pulsed light therapy is also known to be relatively safe. The most common side effects comprise redness, swelling, and temporary changes in skin pigmentation.
The above changes are expected to disappear within a few hours after the treatment or, at most, within a few days. More serious risks, such as blistering or scarring, are rare and usually the result of improper treatment.
Specialists’ Expertise
Getting this type of therapy from a competent specialist is also essential. You get the maximum result with minimal risk. Such a specialist will be a board-certified dermatologist. Alternatively, you can choose between a more experienced nurse or clinical assistant.
