Intense Pulsed Light is a new and revolutionary method developed for aesthetic and medical applications such as hair removal. Hair removal is accomplished by the penetration of pulsed light into the melanin. The melanin then converts the light energy to heat energy. The heat energy will burn, damage and destroy the hair and the entire skin follicle.
Intense Pulsed Light is relatively dissimilar from laser. The latter can release a single-color or single-wavelength light at a time; while the former can release hundreds or thousands of color or wavelength of light at a time. In addition, the Intense Pulsed Light can make use of selective filters to release the desired wavelengths. These wavelengths can also be modified to reach the target skin, hair or body parts.
Tips for Prior to Intense Pulsed Light Treatments
Before the actual ipl treatments for hair removal is done, it is advisable for the patient to apply a thin layer of transparent gel to the skin. This will ensure the optimal light transmission from the equipment to the skin. This will also serve as a cooling agent that makes the treatment more comfortable. An anesthetic can also be applied. Protective eye goggles must also be used. It is also recommendable to shave the hair 2 days before the treatment. Tanning should not be done before the Intense Pulsed Light treatment. This is to avoid excessive pain and discomfort from light absorption.
Intense Pulsed Light Treatment is Best for Dark Hair
Intense Pulsed Light treatment is most effective in removing black hair. This hair has high concentration of melanin. Therefore, it would provide better light absorption and light-to-heat energy conversion. On the other hand, fairly black hair has less amounts of melanin and it would end up to less light absorption and low light-to-energy conversion. Thus, less hair elimination will take in as an effect. Gray and white hair has almost no melanin; hence, the treatment would be ineffective. Patients that have dark skin; with dark tan skin; and those that are susceptible to hypo pigmentation, hyper pigmentation are non-ideal for the ipl treatments. The ideal patient will be the light-skinned one with black hair.
It usually takes up to 15 minutes in treating the facial hair using this method. Treatment of legs or entire back requires an estimated 2 hours of operation. There is only rarely occurring side effects. These could be changes in skin color, which can last up to a few weeks or months. The change could be lightening or darkening. If there is any sign of skin burn during first Intense Pulsed Light treatment, the operation can be postponed. In such case, the patient is usually given topical steroid creams and ibuprofen. Ice or ice bath can also be used on the burnt skin.
Only growth phase-hair is treated during the Intense Pulsed Light operation. This phase constitutes 10% to 70% of the total amount of hair. The duration of the hair growth cycle also changes. The reduced hair is relatively significant after the first treatment. It is recommendable to undergo Intense Pulsed Light treatment every 4 to 6 weeks. The total number of intense pulsed light treatment session needed is generally up to 12 times but the best results appear after 6 sessions.