IPL the Same Thing As Fraxel?

Intense pulse light (IPL) is a technology that utilizes a broad spectrum of scattered light to address sun spots, broken blood vessels, unwanted hair, and some degree of skin tightening. Fraxel is a fractionated laser (there are erbium and CO2 variants) which means a single wavelength of collumated light frequency is used so that a selective portion of skin is treated, leaving intact surrounding skin to promote healing. Fraxel is designed to address wrinkles, achieve skin tightening, and... more

There are major differences between IPL and Fraxel, mostly involving physics. Basically, Fraxel is a type of laser which means all the wavelengths are the same. It is monochromatic and coherent in laser parlance. If you traced one wave length it would have the same amplitude and frequency as all the other wavelengths. They all look exactly alike. IPL on the other hand is a spectrum of wavelengths. Filters are placed to take out the less helpful ones for the given purpose, be it removing... more

Hi Gnorton, The fundamental difference between an IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and a Fraxel is that the IPL is NOT a laser and a Fraxel is. That in and of itself will not determine which one is more appropriate for you (if any) and that is determined by your skin type and the condition you are treating. What it does tell you is that the power and precision of the Fraxel is greater than the IPL simply because it is a laser and not an IPL (very big flashing lamp). The particulars of what... more