Why do you have to wait weeks between IPL hair removal session? Is it dangerous to do it every week or just not effective?

Our office has many different treatments for the skin and scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.

Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Hair grows in three stages, and laser hair removal is most effective when the hair is in the anagen phase, when melanin in the hair follicle is darkest. If the hair follicle is treated in the wrong growth phase, it will not be effective. This is why laser hair removal sessions are always spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, depending on the individual and the location of the hair. Doing IPL for hair reduction every week, while not dangerous, would not get you results any faster and you would be paying for an ineffective treatment. 

Hi Ella.  The reason there is 6-8 weeks between a typical laser hair removal is not because the skin needs time to heal.  It is because hair grows in cycles that span form several weeks to several months.  This is why it takes a month or two for hair to reappear after waxing.  If you stack treatments closely together for laser hair removal, you will treat less follicles with each session and therefore pay for more sessions than if you waited 2 months in between.to learn more about the whys and hows if laser hair removal, click the link below.

It is best to give some time between sessions to allow the skin to heal and be prepared for the next treatment.  Pigmentation from treatments occurs weeks after the initial treatment. Best, Dr. Emer.

The Laser Hair Removal process, medically referred to as Photothermolysis, requires that a hair is present in the follicle in order for the light to be absorbed. When the light is absorbed at a specific wavelength, the destruction of stem cells occurs ultimately causing the hair follicle death. The length between cycles is determined by the hair growth cycles specific to area of hair being targeted so there is a stronger chance of the hair being present in the follicle for the laser to target. Hair on different areas of the body grow at different cycles, therefore, laser hair removal performed to the face requires a 4 week waiting period, whereas the hair removal to the bikini/legs is 6 weeks. *Disclaimer: none of the above is intended as medical advice. If you have a medical concern, please consult your doctor or primary care provider*