Is there any chance of IPL causing skin cancer or other problems in 10 or 15 years?
IPL Laser Risks & Safety
Doctor Answers 11
IPL devices have been around for 22-23 years. I did the original research studies on them. They are safe and will not cause cancer.
IPL is not radiation therapy, in fact its light that is focused with different wavelengths. In fact, in some cases, having IPL with very sundamaged skin can help us diagnose skin cancers. How? IPL can remove brown discolouration and uneven skin texture, and help uncover or unmask skin cancers hiding under the sundamage.
Dr Davin Lim
Laser Dermatologist
Brisbane, Australia
Dr Davin Lim
Laser Dermatologist
Brisbane, Australia
Sciton® BBL technology treats sun-damaged and
aging skin effectively. The light energy delivered by the BBL will gently be
absorbed by the unwanted melanin responsible for pigmented lesions in the upper
layers of the skin. Over the next few days the pigmented lesions will darken
and fall off. Pigmented lesions can be removed by full-face or spot-treat
superficial resurfacing. Red veins will simply disappear!
Gentle cleansing without harsh products for a few days is recommended as well as a broad spectrum sunscreen.
#ScitonBBL #BBLtreatsspots #IPLBBL
Gentle cleansing without harsh products for a few days is recommended as well as a broad spectrum sunscreen.
#ScitonBBL #BBLtreatsspots #IPLBBL
Web reference: http://www.pacificcenterplasticsurgery.com/skin-treatments-newport-beach/sciton-laser/
You might also like...
IPL Pictures
Photos from the community
IPL
treatments have been studied for many years and there have not been any studies
to indicate that IPL causes cancer. The
light from IPL is different from sunlight in that IPL does not contain UVA or
UVB light rays which are associated with increased risk of skin cancer. IPL treatments are primarily utilized to treat
sun damage by reducing brown spots, broken blood vessels and improving skin
tone and texture.
Web reference: http://www.drchapin.com/plastic-surgery-philadelphia/laser-skin/facial-treatments/intense-pulsed-light-ipl/
Great question and the answer is NO! IPL does not cause nor can it cause skin cancer. Let me answer why. IPL or Intense Pulsed Light, is broad band light or BBL. This is a mixture of yellow, green and blue light, but there is no ultraviolet light at all in IPL. Therefore, DNA within cells is not damaged. This is the scientific answer, but there is another answer. IPL has been used in treatment for now over 20 years so we have the long test of time as well.
Web reference: http://www.keylaserinstitute.com/procedures/ipl.cfm
The Sciton Broad Band
Light (BBL™) provides patients with a state-of-the-art laser system, which is
able to treat multiple aesthetic concerns, while being safe, non-invasive with
no downtime. Patients benefit from effective results and quicker recovery time
than other more intensive laser treatments. For those who can’t afford the
downtime or cost of CO2 lasers or similar, the Sciton BBL is a good alternative.
Its broad range of wavelengths allow targeted treatment for many skin conditions and the flexible Finesse Adapters enable treatment of hard to reach areas, producing evenly treated skin.
#BBLlowrisk #BBLsafety #BBLsideeffects
Its broad range of wavelengths allow targeted treatment for many skin conditions and the flexible Finesse Adapters enable treatment of hard to reach areas, producing evenly treated skin.
#BBLlowrisk #BBLsafety #BBLsideeffects
Web reference: http://www.pacificcenterplasticsurgery.com/plastic-surgery-procedures-newport-beach/
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 to obtain a tan, shows no medical benefit at all and this is the reason we wail against tanning beds.
Visible light has no carcinogenic properties that we know of. Otherwise we would be recommending our patients become cave dwellers.
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.
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.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
You might also like...
Related Content
IPL Laser Side Effects - When do They Go Away?
8 doctor answers
Why Are So Many Complaining of Fat Loss with IPL? I Had 2...
3 doctor answers
IPL Laser Recovery
35 doctor answers
IPL Hyperpigmentation
28 doctor answers
Ask a Doctor
Get personalized answers from board-certified doctors. For free.
IPL Pictures
Photos from the community
