Intense Pulse Light (IPL)

Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Light. Laser light is composed of a single wavelength. The wavelength is determined by the medium that the light passes through. Lasers can be very specific in their target due to this.

Intense Pulse Light (IPL) is not a laser. The light it emits has a wide range of wavelengths and uses cutoff filters to narrow the spectrum of wavelengths to allow it to target specific chromophores in the skin (water, hemoglobin, melanin).

BBL is a brand of IPL. All IPL’s emit broad band light.

Intense pulse light is beneficial for patients looking to delay skin aging and rejuvenate the skin. It can treat sun damage, rosacea, visible blood vessels, acne, and reduce pore size.

It is not advisable to undergo IPL treatments if you have a recent sunburn or are heavily tanned. It is not advised for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. IPL can reactivate cold sores (herpes) on the face and so you may be advised to take antiviral medication prior to and after your procedure to prevent this.

Intense pulse light (IPL) can be used for hair removal or to target pigment and vascular lesions in the skin. It can also be used to rejuvenate the skin by reducing pore size and wrinkles. Examples of common conditions that are treated with IPL include sunspots, freckles, facial redness, rosacea, acne, small, dilated blood vessels in the skin, small hemangiomas and stretch marks.

Intense Pulse Light (IPL) can be used for the face, neck, decolletage, hands and arms to remove unwanted pigment and redness. IPL can also be used anywhere on the body to remove unwanted hair in lighter skin patients with dark hair.

Immediately after the treatment sunspots will appear darker. This is a normal part of the healing process. Over the next 5-7 days the darker sunspots will exfoliate away. It may take 4-6 weeks to see the full results of IPL treatment.

Intense Pulse Light (IPL) results are long lasting, but are not permanent due to ongoing aging, and chronic skin conditions such as rosacea, and sun exposure.

There is a mild degree of heat and pain during Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatment. The sensation is like an elastic band snapping on the skin. Most IPL machines have a built-in cooling system which helps to reduce pain and prevent overheating of the skin.

Intense Pulse Light (IPL) is a safe and effective way to treat both pigmented and vascular  disorders in the skin. IPL devices can cause tissue damage if incorrect setting and safety  protocols are not followed. It is important to ensure that you see a trained professional using a Health Canada approved IPL device for any skin rejuvenation procedure. Safety eye protection must be worn during the procedure to prevent damage to the eyes.  

Intense Pulse Light (IPL) is safe when the correct settings and proper patient selection occurs. Most patients will experience mild swelling and redness which may last a few days. There may be transient redness and darkening of pigment spots that improve as they exfoliate off in 7-10 days.

When not used properly IPL can cause skin burns, blistering, changes in pigmentation of the skin and scar formation. If pigment is lost from the skin due to IPL it may be permanent. It is important to follow all pre and post instructions to avoid any unwanted side effects.

It is imperative that you avoid sun exposure and tanning beds for at least 2 weeks prior to your treatment.

Avoid applying self-tanner to the treatment area for 2 weeks prior to treatment. Do not use any retinol products (products containing tretinoin), acids (glycolic, lactic, salicylic, vitamin C) or exfoliants on the area to be treated for 5 days prior to treatment. Photosensitizing medications including doxycycline and minocycline should be discontinued three days prior to the treatment.

If you are having hair removal, then you need to shave the treatment area on the day of the procedure.

Do not use any retinols (tretinoin), acids (glycolic, lactic, salicylic, vitamin C), scrubs, exfoliants, or have chemical peels performed on the areas treated for 5 days after the treatment. Avoid direct sunlight on the treated area and use a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater for 4 -6 weeks after your treatment.

Makeup may be applied to cover redness the day of the procedure.

The number of IPL sessions depends on the level of redness and pigment that is being treated. Most patients require 3-5 treatments at monthly intervals. Maintenance treatments at 6–12 month intervals are recommended to address future aging concerns and pigment from sun exposure. More frequent maintenance treatments may be required for patients with facial redness and rosacea due to the chronic nature of these conditions. Small vascular lesions such as hemangiomas and dilated blood vessels can oPen be cleared with just one treatment. Hair removal may require 6-10 sessions every 6-12 weeks.

Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatment to the face is called a photofacial. It involves using specific filters on the IPL to target unwanted pigment or redness on the face. It can also be used to treat small, dilated blood vessels, rosacea, and facial flushing.

Long term IPL use has been shown to slow down skin aging and has not been shown to cause skin cancer. IPL devices do not emit light in the wavelengths that have been shown to cause skin cancer (UV light).

Intense Pulse Light (IPL) cannot be used on patients with Skin types 5 and 6 because there is a risk of burning the skin due to the high melanin content in darker skin.

There is minimal if any downtime for most patients. There may be some mild redness and swelling that lasts 1-2 days. Treated pigment will initially darken before it exfoliates off in 7-10 days.