IPL Hair Removal: Compare IPL and Laser Hair Removal (2024)

FAQs

IPL Hair Removal: Compare IPL and Laser Hair Removal? ›

Intense pulsed light (IPL) utilizes a broad-spectrum light, allowing it to cover larger treated areas more swiftly than LHR. Compared to a laser, which uses a single-spectrum light, IPL gives off light energy that is weaker, more dispersed, and less targeted.

Both IPL and lasers are effective in hair removal. IPL often requires more treatments and may not achieve the same final hair reduction as a laser can. Due to this, hair removal using a laser usually produces faster results. IPL is effective in not only hair removal, but also treating rosacea and facial flushing.

The Key Difference Between Laser and IPL

“The key difference between IPL and Laser is the type of light. Laser light is monochromatic, non-divergent and targets very specific concerns. IPL produces a broadband spectrum of white light, producing a mixture of many different colours.

Neither treatment is permanent permanent, but the results for both IPL and laser hair removal can last for months, and both devices are FDA-approved for reducing the amount of hair regrowth over time. The IPL treatment might save you some discomfort compared to laser, though.

While IPL doesn't get rid of every follicle of hair on your body at the same time, it can progressively deliver permanent hair reduction. As hair grows in stages, not all follicles will be 'full' with hair when you undergo an IPL treatment.

IPL produces a broad bandwith of light wavelengths, whereas laser produces a single band of light. Laser is more specific to a given target than IPL, and therefore is more effective than IPL and has fewer side effects and complications. Different lasers can be used for different skin types in laser hair removal.

Studies consistently show that alexandrite laser devices can eliminate a greater percentage of hairs compared to other machines. Alexandrite is proven safe and highly effective for Fitzpatrick skin types 1-3, but those with deeper skin tones will do better with a different laser, such as the Nd:YAG.

In some cases, more serious IPL side effects such as burning, blistering or scarring have been reported. When present, these side effects are typically more common in patients with darker skin.

The main difference is the 'kind' of light they produce. IPL machines produce 'broad spectrum light' (all the colours of the rainbow). It is very bright, but not focused, so it does not target things very specifically. Laser machines produce a 'single' wavelength (one tiny part of that rainbow).

Can I use IPL on pubic hair? ›

IPL hair removal is a progressive treatment that offers full body hair removal - but you can use IPL to treat separate areas, such as your arms, legs, or pubic area, depending on your individual needs. When using IPL, you'll hold a flashgun device that delivers a spectrum of light to the skin.

After a single session of laser hair removal, some hair will grow back. However, it will be finer and lighter than before. For optimal results, patients usually undergo multiple sessions. Each session leads to a greater reduction in hair regrowth.

The IPL Laser Hair Removal Handset and clinical laser treatment have the same end result of gradually reducing hair growth over several treatments until you get a permanent reduction in hair growth.

IPL is most effective while your hair is in the growth phase –if you treat your skin multiple times a week, your hair can become dormant and IPL treatment won't work as well. Additionally, while IPL is a gentle treatment, too much of it can be a bad thing. If you use IPL too frequently, you can irritate your skin.

Most areas that clients have treated are influenced by hormones that drive growth. Therefore, it is inevitable that the hair will come back because hormones change. In conclusion, stopping treatments prematurely will decrease hair growth but won't get you maximum results.

If you forget to shave, the effectiveness of your treatment may diminish. The laser, instead of focusing on the follicles, might target surface hair. This can lead to heightened discomfort, potential stinging, and a risk of burns. Surface impurities like dirt and oil can also reduce efficacy.

No, IPL hair removal is typically less painful than professional laser treatments in-clinic because it uses lower-intensity light.

Nd:YAG Laser Hair Removal is the most advanced type of laser hair removal system. It works at wavelengths of 1064 nm in a double frequency mode, which creates green light at 532nm wavelengths. It is effective on all skin types, including Asian and dark skin tones.

Effective treatment of light coloured fine hair requires a laser with a high attraction to melanin such as the Alexandrite 755nm laser. Darker thicker hairs will respond better to the diode 810nm laser or Nd Yag 1064nm laser.

Conclusions: Both laser and IPL are efficient, safe, and tolerable procedures in treating PCOS-related and idiopathic facial hirsutism, and both have been shown to have a low rate of side effects. However, the Alex and Nd: YAG lasers guaranteed better hair removal results.