What’s the difference between IPL for hair removal and IPL for broken capillaries?

Question

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hello enrgyturtle.  Excellent question.  Lasers and other light based devices like IPL (not a laser) work by selectively targeting different parts of the skin.  For example, one wavelength of light (810 nanometers, a Diode laser) is very effective at targeting the melanin in the hair follicle so is excellent for permanent hair removal.  Another wavelength (532 nanometers, KTP laser) is excellent for targeting small blood vessels.  So each type of laser light is preferentially absorbed in one part of the skin.  It's called "Selective photothermolysis" and it's the way lasers work :).

When using IPL, the practitioner will use different "filters" to capture only the type of light for that particular treatment.  That's how it's different, using different light.  With that said, IPL is not very effective for permanent hair removal and we would recommend a Diode or Alexandrite laser if you are light skinned and a Yag (Nd:Yg) laser if you are dark skinned.  These technologies will produce much more permanent hair removal than IPL.  Best of luck.

Lillian Schapiro, MD · Answer

IPL stands for intense pulsed light. For laser hair removal, the light targets the base of the hair follicle, preventing regrowth. Count on needed 6-8 treatments, but some people need more. For broken capillaries, the light seals off the capillaries and the blood and your body then clears it. This can be quite variable in number of sessions.

What’s the difference between IPL for hair removal and IPL for broken capillaries?

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What’s the difference between IPL for hair removal and IPL for broken capillaries?

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Everything you need to know about IPL

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.