Does IPL Laser Treatment Work?

Intense pulsed light or IPL laser treatment is one of several non surgical laser procedures.  It focuses concentrated beams of broad spectrum light on a highly specific area of skin for a short period of time. While often compared to other types of laser therapy like laser skin tightening or lipodissolve, IPL laser treatment technically does not use lasers, but regular light. It has similar applications, however, and it is generally believed to be both faster and cheaper than standard laser therapy. While IPL treatment can cause irritation of the skin, swelling and red bumps that can last up to four days, side effects are usually not serious. Additionally, application wands contain filtration systems that remove UV rays that could damage the skin.

The most common use for IPL laser treatment is photoepilation, or the removal of unwanted hair. IPL treatment works by using either a wand or a mechanical arm to focus light on the surface of the skin. The light, and the heat it produces, travels through the skin to the hair follicles, which are instantly vaporized by the intense heat. The heat also destroys papilla, which aid in hair growth, making it difficult for hair to grow back. Contrary to popular belief, IPL treatment does not permanently remove hair. While it does have lasting effects, it is considered by dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons to be a reduction technique, meaning that it will result in fewer, finer hairs. It will not permanently remove all hair.

Less effective than laser treatment, which can remove hair permanently, photoepilation has gained popularity due to the speed at which it works and its cheaper cost. While traditional lasers may require a dozen separate treatment sessions and cost hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. IPL laser therapy can work in as few as three sessions and may cost only a few hundred dollars. Additionally, there are a number of home treatment products currently available on the market. Tools such as the Viss IPL Hair Removal System, or the Home Skinovations Silk’n HPL, can be used at home for easy hair removal, although they do offer some long-term hair reduction. Home IPL machines are much less powerful than the state-of-the-art equipment used in spas and salons and they are neither as effective nor as lasting as a professional IPL lasers. Nevertheless, most can be bought for less than $200 and can be used as many times as needed.

IPL laser treatment is also used in a process called photo rejuvenation. In this process, IPL beams are used to wound some skin cells, leaving healthy skin cells between. This promotes the growth of new healthy cells and it can be used to treat any number of unsightly skin conditions such as scars, stretch marks, sun damage and spider veins, with varying degrees of success. Most commonly, however, it is used to remove unwanted wrinkles caused by aging or as the result of a cosmetic surgery such as liposuction.

In the last few years, many spas and clinics have started using laser and IPL laser treatment for cellulite reduction. While studies investigating its effectiveness are still ongoing, IPL cellulite treatment seems to work best when used in conjunction with roller or suction massage therapy. That said, results are far from conclusive, with patients having drastically different results. One 2008 study found that no product or treatment currently on the market is consistently successful in complete cellulite removal.

While primarily used for cosmetic purposes, IPL laser therapy can also treat some medical skin conditions, using the same process used for wrinkle removal and other types of photo rejuvenation. Dyspigmentation and vascular changes caused by sun damage, broken capillaries, Poikiloderma of Civatte, and vascular or pigmented birthmarks can all be treated with IPL laser therapy. Additionally, IPL treatment is the only treatment that has proven effective in diminishing the appearance of rosacea.