IPL Hair Removal – How Does It Work?
There are various methods available for eliminating unwanted hair, such as shaving and waxing. Unfortunately, however, these solutions only produce short-term solutions.
Women looking for long-lasting hair removal methods may find IPL an ideal solution. Not only is this FDA-cleared treatment capable of eliminating unwanted hair growth, it can also help diminish redness, broken blood vessels and brown spots on skin.
What is IPL?
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), also referred to as photofacial, is a cosmetic procedure that utilizes light energy from handheld flashguns to treat skin discoloration and remove unwanted hair. It’s an alternative method for waxing, plucking and shaving and is frequently used on both facial and body hair removal.
Karma Clinic IPL treatments work by sending a spectrum of light at specific wavelengths through your skin layers to target melanin in your hair and convert its light energy to heat energy that disintegrates it and destroys hair follicles so they no longer produce hair growth.
Some individuals find IPL hair removal treatments aren’t painful; however, this ultimately depends on your pain threshold and how sensitive your skin is. Philips Lumea Prestige underwent extensive clinical tests involving over 2,000 women to ensure it would be gentle enough for all users comfortably – it’s five graded light intensity settings make the device easy for all, plus its SmartSkin sensor makes sure it always targets the appropriate shade of skin!
How Does IPL Work?
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Therapy) is an advanced form of light therapy used to target pigmented skin cells or hair follicles. A medical professional uses a handheld device to administer multiple wavelengths of light energy onto the skin, heating targeted cells so they break down naturally through body processes and are removed naturally by your system.
IPL treatment can also target the dark pigmentation found within freckles and age spots, making them disappear over time. Furthermore, this therapy may improve vascular lesions such as telangiectasias.
Like other skin resurfacing treatments, IPL photofacials leave your skin temporarily more sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, it’s essential that you use broad-spectrum sunscreen and avoid sun exposure before and after treatment with IPL photofacials. After IPL treatments most people experience redness and swelling that resembles having mild sunburn; this usually subsides within 4-8 hours post treatment; additionally it is beneficial to moisturize treated areas for several days afterward so as to promote faster healing times for the treated area.
Is IPL Safe?
IPL treatments are generally safe, though some individuals may experience some discomfort during treatments. Prior to commencing any IPL session, a skin care specialist will clean and apply a cooling gel in order to soothe any potential pain or burning sensations. You should avoid wearing any perfume, deodorant or lotion in the treated area prior to treatment as this prevents the device from recognizing differences between your skin tone and that of hair follicle melanin which could result in burns from IPL treatments.
IPL therapy can be used to gradually fade dark pigment in age spots, broken blood vessels and freckles using multiple sessions – but the melanin within these cells will eventually grow back and you may require multiple visits in order to achieve desired results.
At-home IPL devices are readily available, but these tend to be much weaker than the professional-grade machines used in doctor offices. Furthermore, they have not been approved by the FDA as medical grade IPL devices are. Furthermore, at-home machines may produce more heat that could potentially cause burns if done incorrectly.
Does IPL Work on Everyone?
TikTok may have recently shown you videos showing people using an at-home IPL device to eliminate unwanted hair. While the devices may not have been approved by dermatologists, there’s evidence they work as promised.
IPL treatments can be utilized on most body areas, including legs, arms, underarms, bikini line and face. To maximize results it’s best to avoid sunbathing or tanning prior to treatment and shave the area beforehand in order for hair follicles to absorb light energy as efficiently as possible.
IPL treatments don’t hurt and can be so effective that many people choose IPL on a regular basis for silky smooth legs without pubic or underarm stubble. Philips Lumea Prestige device comes equipped with five light intensity settings as well as the SmartSkin sensor which reads your skin tone continuously to ensure you use the appropriate setting based on both skin color and hair shade.
