The-difference-between-ipl-and-laser-hair-removal
The Difference Between IPL and Laser Hair Removal
removal and intense pulse light (IPL) has been the ‘go-to’ method for hair removal for many years. Health Centre states: "In the 1990s, it was proven that intense pulsed light was an effective method of hair removal, and IPL machines were developed and marketed for this purpose." Since then, with technology,…
By Mary Basiadima, 12 January 2023
and has been the ‘go-to’ method for hair removal for many years. states: "In the 1990s, it was proven that intense pulsed light was an effective method of hair removal, and IPL machines were developed and marketed for this purpose." Since then, with , it has been much easier to achieve long-lasting with laser and IPL than with any other . to new studies, the woman spends during their for hair . While unwanted excess hair is such a problem, many of us are looking for long-term solutions.
When it comes to choosing the right the most common are:
Is IPL and laser hair removal the same?
Many people confuse laser hair removal and IPL. IPL is not a laser. They both use light but that is where the end. Not many people know there is any difference between laser vs IPL removal technologies. If you are trying to decide between treatments, we’ve prepared a comparison guide for you to help you make your .
. The element in laser hair removal is matching specific of light and pulse duration to the hair target. The hair target is the melanin found in the hair follicle. Melanin is a naturally occurring pigment in our skin and hair is associated with colour. for safety and comfort, the laser energy is and only into the follicle, thus avoiding the skin tissue area.
The works by the hair root. This prevents blood flow to the follicle, disabling the hair growth long-term.
IPL technology, also known as intense pulsed light technology, is not a laser . Compared to laser hair removal, it uses a broad of light with . This means it has more unfocused energy around the hair and skin area. The light is like the flash from a camera which spreads over a large area, which is vastly from a focused beam of light from a laser.
That’s why at London Laser Clinics, we do not use IPL technology for hair removal treatments, as it is not as or effective as laser hair .
What is the difference between IPL and Laser Hair Removal?
Both laser and IPL use light to remove unwanted hair. However, key mean IPL often doesn’t final results as impressive as a laser can. These include the of light, the technology used, capable precision, the number of needed to see results, and more. Let’s explore the laser and IPL comparison in greater detail:
As mentioned, the main laser and IPL is the type of light.
IPL: Not as powerful
LASER: More powerful and effective
When the light enters the skin, it is by the melanin pigment in the hair follicle. The of the light heats the hair follicle and interrupts the hair growth cycle. light in the laser finds the target and shoots the hair follicle. With effective direct light, only the hair gets struck by the laser. On the other hand, while IPL shoots with a broader and light, the critical temperature for the hair follicle cannot be reached as easily. The majority of the energy is by the smaller, more targets.
IPL: wide area targeted
LASER: focus on hair follicle
IPL using scattered light also causes the surrounding tissue to absorb the light. While the light is not as as a laser, to heat deeper targets, IPL higher energy levels. This energy is also absorbed by the surrounding tissue. It can lead to skin damage such as burning, , blistering and . With laser, as only one wavelength is used, deeper penetration occurs. The energy directly targets the hair and it is not absorbed by other chromophores in the path of the beam, so the surrounding skin is .
IPL: Hair and surrounding skin damaged
LASER: Only hair damaged
Hair grows in different cycles and laser and IPL can only treat the hair follicles at a certain stage called the anagen phase.
As the laser cannot which hair is at which stage in the cycle, the laser can only 10% of the current hair follicles. Hence, it is to have 6–8 sessions of laser hair for the best results.
IPL works with weaker and scattered light. It doesn’t as precise target shooting as the laser.
Hence, fewer hair can be at each session, you with the need for more sessions.
IPL: More sessions
LASER: Fewer sessions
As the light beam used in laser treatment is highly and targeted; one shot with a laser at the area is enough for the results. The IPL feature a larger pad for the and it might seem like the can be completed as the machine’s head is bigger. Because the light is weaker, the practitioner often needs to treat the same area more than once. Which leads your to take longer than laser.
IPL: Quicker sessions – longer to notice results
LASER: Longer sessions – to notice results
Laser requires more advanced and the machines are more expensive, up to £100,000 at 2020 prices. However, as we’ve mentioned, IPL usually requires more sessions for good results and you are more likely to end up more for IPL in the long run.
IPL: Cheaper but requires more sessions
LASER: More expensive but sees results quicker
As the laser uses a stronger beam of light, you might think the IPL is safer. However, the laser only the hair and unlike IPL, it doesn’t affect the surrounding skin tissue. IPL is not as strong as laser, so will need more sessions. This puts your skin under more stress, and it will spend more time healing. One shot over the area might seem to make it safer than a laser but as mentioned to get the same results you need to treat the same area more than once, your skin to be exposed to more light than a laser. At Premier Laser & Skin we use which are also being used in . So you are definitely in safe hands.
IPL: Skin more exposed
LASER: Skin less exposed
On the technical level, the more concentrated the light, the stronger you can feel it. Hence, IPL may seem to cause less pain. However, modern laser are to be as as possible for the client. They are built-in with a cooling system that blows cool air to the skin where the laser is being processed. So it significantly decreases the pain level. Most clinicians also use wet wipes to clean the area. When your skin is damper, the air works much stronger.
Many of our report they don’t feel any pain during their laser . If you have low pain tolerance, you can also always ask your clinician to use numbing cream.
IPL: Less painful
LASER: more painful
Both laser and IPL are highly to skin colour and melanin. Which means that it is hard to treat dark skin. However, our FDA lasers are on the . And can be used on brown and dark skin as well.
IPL: Damage to skin and on darker skin means avoid IPL
LASER:
If you are about IPL or laser hair removal, Premier Laser Client Tihan shared her experience with us when she visited the for laser hair removal. She visited our clinic after experiencing results with IPL elsewhere.
"I came to this Clinic after my disappointing experience with IPL. I had over 10 sessions of IPL and I still have a lot of hair and have to shave. I also have patches and there were no real improvements in my last few sessions so i decided to look into laser hair removal.
From the start, my experience with the Clinic has been great
Alex provided me with all information as well as answered all of the questions I had. Transparency was crucial for me to decide whether to take a treatment with them or not, because of the lack of transparency that I had in another place where I started (but haven’t finished) my IPL package.
I am still doing laser at the Clinic, and I expected some results after one-two sessions, but that is an understatement.
The results are incredible.
I do not know where that is because of my skin type, but I am so happy with the results already, and cannot wait for the final result. So happy with my choice!"
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