IPL Laser Risks & Safety

This type of technology has been around since the early 1990's. I'm guessing but I'll bet there have been 100,000's of treatments. I do not know of any reports of this technology causing cancer. The technology is designed to block out harmful light energy. Most patients receive a limited series of treatments so "chronic" use should not be an issue. So far, this technology has a lot of up sides and no evidence of causing cancer.

Lasers have been used for the past 2 decades very safely by dermatologists. At this time there are no studies which have been conducted relating IPL to skin cancer. The UV rays from the sun and tanning salons pose far greater risks for skin cancer. 

As dermatologists, using light treatment to treat a variety of skin diseases, this question comes up frequently. However, our worries are with the ultraviolet light spectrum not the visible light wavelengths in which the IPL devices are found. Thus, we worry about UVA and UVB light when we utilize it for treating psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo etc. These wavelengths certainly do cause skin cancer and we weigh the benefits of light treatment against the risks. Cosmetic uses of such light... more

There is no evidence to suggest that IPL is carcinogenic. IPL typically uses wavelengths of scattered light that are between 500-1500 nm, out of the spectrum of typical UV A and B light.

I am NOT aware of any studies that have reported an association between IPL and skin cancers. Part of the reason may be that when performing IPL or BBL (by Sciton) we use filters that specifically allow only certain wavelengths through based on the targets in the skin we want to reach and most of these targets are in the Yellow to Red visible spectrum NOT the Ultraviolet spectrum associated with skin cancers.