IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Hair Removal

How does IPL hair removal work?

A very powerful flash tube delivers a photon emission 10-20 times larger than a typical epilation laser (in diameter at 180 j/cm2). This light energy is carefully filtered with precision optics.  The heat is removed from the energy with a Schott KG1 Filter, then all wavelengths above 800 are removed with a MgF2 coated lens.  The photons are sent through Ruby, Sapphire or a BK7 Glass condenser (depending on requirements). 

The end result is a safe, usable, high-density photon emission with performance equal to (or greater than) that of an ordinary laser.

Power Comparison

Standard laser epilators produce CW or pulsed output power around 1-50 Watts. An IPL typically produces 300-800 Watts. This allows for a much larger treatment diameter, which equates to far greater speed and efficiency for the technician.

Instructional / Demonstration Video:

View this five minute video on usage of IPL systems.

Discomfort and Client Reaction

Remarkably, the sensation felt with an IPL treatment is no more intense than that of a laser (although much more total energy is being delivered to the tissue). The first two pulses from the IPL generally are not felt by the client. The third (if the technician chooses to deliver that many) begins to feel like a snap of a rubber band (as the tissue absorbs and retains the energy). Five or more pulses in less than one second may be uncomfortable for some clients. The use of a topical desensitizing spray or pre-treatment cold pack will alleviate most sensation.

How many treatments are required?

Like laser epilation, IPL is a progressively permanent procedure. This means that improvement will be noted over a series of treatments. Due to hair growth cycles and a variety of other factors, an investment of 6-10 treatments over 90 days is normal.

Client Pre-Qualifications:

Like laser, the best candidate for IPL hair removal has fair skin with dark terminal hairs. Skin typing for exposure to ultraviolet light can be categorized by the Fitzpatrick classification, developed by Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick of Harvard Medical School.

• Skin Type I: Never tans, always burns (extremely fair skin, blonde hair, blue/green eyes)
• Skin Type II: Occasionally tans, usually burns (fair skin, sandy to brown hair, green/brown eyes)
• Skin Type III: Often tans, sometimes burns (medium skin, brown hair, brown eyes)
• Skin Type IV: Always tan, never burns (olive skin, brown/black hair, dark brown/black eyes)
• Skin Type V: Never burns (dark brown skin, black hair, black eyes)
• Skin Type VI: (black skin, black hair, black eyes)
  

Types 1 through 4 are outstanding candidates. Type 5 will have excellent results as well but care must be taken to assure that the IPL will not burn the skin.

IPL vs. Laser: Some considerations

As fantastic as IPL is, it cannot be used for actual “laser shaving.” This is a procedure in which a laser is used to vaporize hair above the skin for immediate cosmetic improvement, but providing only gradual (or progressive) permanency.

The reason is very simple. The IPL energy emission exit port (Ruby, Glass or Sapphire optic) is in direct contact with the skin during the treatment. The reaction that occurs when the radiation strikes a hair is very intense heat (about one million degrees). It would cause pits and burns in the optic as well as potentially burn the patient's skin which is in direct contact with the vaporizing hair.

IPL must be used on shaved (or waxed) skin. The tissue being targeted is about 1/8 to 1/4 inch below the skin (the follicle and papilla). Although laser shaving looks impressive at the time of the treatment, overall the results are less than that of a deep tissue penetrating treatment such as IPL.

Many technicians prefer to have both types of machines (laser and IPL) at their disposal for clients who prefer laser shaving.

IPL Treatment: Deep Tissue Thermolysis With Follicle Extraction and Carbon Dye

The treatment protocol for IPL hair removal is remarkably similar to deep tissue (long pulse) laser epilation. Before applying treatment, remove all hair from the area by tweezing or waxing. IPL hair removal is most effective when applied to an empty follicle shaft. Most human hair does not normally have enough pigment to allow for sufficient heat exchange to cauterize, desiccate and necrotize the cells which produce hair. To compensate for this lack of quantitative and qualitative photon targets, it will be necessary to place a high-density carbon dye inside the follicle prior to treatment.

Using a cotton-tipped applicator, completely cover the treatment area with the special dye included in your kit. Massage the dye into the follicle pore with a firm downward circular motion. Repeat 2-3 times to saturate the follicle pore. Use an ethyl alcohol based wipe (isopropyl alcohol will not dissolve the dye) to lightly clean the excess from the surface of the skin. At this point, you will have all desired follicles visibly highlighted with a dark spot (as seen above) and are ready to power up your IPL for treatment.

Place the IPL head on the skin. Activate on single pulse setting (the unit will deliver one photon burst when the trigger is pressed). Move the IPL and repeat. You should give no more than three (3) pulses per area on the first treatment to determine the patient’s reaction.

After treatment of the desired area has been completed, apply a cold pack. This will cool the dermis and soothe any uncomfortable neural activity. Apply the post-treatment gel and advise the patient not to pick or scratch the area. The dermis will show some trauma in the form of eurythmia (reddening) which may last 12-24 hours.

Schedule the patient for their next treatment in three weeks. By then, some of the new anagen hairs will be surfacing. Hair growth activity will diminish substantially after each application.

Important Considerations for Safe IPL Treatment

Treatment Around or Near the Eyes: Great care must be exercised when working near the eyes. The IPL emission is powerful enough to actually penetrate the eyelid and permanently damage the eye. Having the patient close their eyes is not satisfactory protection. The use of a dark-colored damp wash cloth which is folded over four times will deflect the harmful radiation; however, only IPL protective eyewear is recommended.

Treatment Around or Near Mucus Membranes: IPL radiation will severely damage the tissues inside the nose and ear canal. Treatment should be avoided in these areas altogether.

Treatment Around or Near the Genitals: IPL hair removal is safe for application to the pubic regions, including the reproductive organs of both sexes. Care must be taken in these areas due to the increased level of neural sensitivity. The patient may find the process uncomfortable without a topical desensitizing spray.

Treatment Around or Near the Aureola (nipple): IPL hair removal is safe and effective on hair growth which occurs from the aureola of both sexes.

Post-Treatment: The skin surrounding the treatment area will experience short-term erythmia (reddening) which will subside within 12-24 hours. Should the treatment area show signs of excess scabbing, you may wish to reduce the overall treatment time or intensity. The application of a post-treatment cooling and healing gel (such as Aloe) is encouraged to speed healing and reduce sensitivity. Instruct the patient to refrain from applying cosmetics or sunbathing for at least 24 hours.

IPL Benefits

One of the greatest benefits of the IPL, over that of the laser, is the difference in cost. The typical "price per watt" of a standard laser is $1,000–$2,000, whereas the price per watt of an IPL is roughly $100–$200.

Additional benefits of Intense Pulsed Light systems include:

• Larger areas can be treated at one time. A typical man's back would require about 60-90 minutes with a long pulse diode laser. The IPL600 would do the same job in about 10 minutes.
• IPL works on persons who are outside of the acceptable limit for the Fitzpatrick skin pigment grading scale. A type 6 could be treated safely (with skin bleaching).
• No hair is vaporized, so there is much lower risk of pitting around the hair follicle itself (from intense heat).
• IPL gives added benefits as a result of the hair removal treatment. Improved tone, texture, and vitality of the skin is commonly noted.
• Average life expectancy of the flash tube is over one million pulses. This equates to 3-5 years of reliable service, nearly the same as a long pulse diode laser. The flash tube is easily serviceable when it comes time for replacement and costs around $300-$500 (depending on unit).

Deluxe IPL Hair Removal System

Get the latest technology for epilation and tattoo removal!

Salon owners and beauty professionals, you can now have the latest and most advanced technology for hair removal / epilation, general dermatology and tattoo removal procedures. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is here!

This IPL system is the absolute best – the perfect machine for the busy salon or dermatologist / doctor's office.

More power for the professional salon user:

The IPL800D produces an industry-leading output of 220 J/cm2 energy density at 410-800 nm (broad based light), with a pulse duration of 0.1 seconds. Pulse frequency is user-adjustable from 1-7 emissions per second. It has the ability to treat more aggressively than the SPL300 or SPL600, giving the extra punch for those very stubborn hairs. It will also effectively treat light inks (flesh tones), whereas the SPL300 cannot.

Cutting edge technology:

The IPL800 is the most advanced and sophisticated system on the market due to the addition of Photon Absorption Feedback Metering. This feature makes the delivery of massive amounts of photon energy safe, even for novices. The IPL800 actually monitors the total energy which makes it through the skin, and limits that energy to a pre-set value. For example, the SPL300 produces a full 180 Jcm2/sec., but due to a variety of conditions (from skin pigment to skin condition), only 110 Jcm2/sec. may actually make it to the desired tissues.

With the IPL800, this emission will continue until the pre-set Jcm2/sec level is reached. The system will beep and stop when that fluence is achieved. This virtually eliminates any risk of over-treatment.

This system is also excellent for general dermatology procedures, age spot removal, wrinkle reduction, laser resurfacing and more. May be used for tattoo removal on most inks.

The High Output Intense Pulsed Light Deluxe is specifically designed to deliver highly concentrated photon energy directly through the skin, thereby targeting hair follicle melanocytes or photo-reactive dyes.

Each power pulse has an effective treatment area of 2.0 cm2 and feels like a rubber band snap.

The IPL has a very comfortable and versatile hand piece. A powerful 15cfm positive displacement internal fan keeps the flash lamp cool during usage; thereby increasing the power, performance and overall life-expectancy of the system.

The flash lamp is rated for 1,200,000 pulses, which equates to roughly 3-5 years of average daily use for a salon.

The IPL instrument is light (under 2 pounds), durable, and of very high quality.

IPL800D system features:

• IPL hand piece
• 220 Jcm2/sec. energy density (fluence)
• Key lockout safety switch
• Laser 'enabled' system status LED
• Adjustable intensity
• 2 quantity of protection eyewear
• 150 ml carbon dye
• Tweezers and instructions

Average safe and effective values for output intensity (fluence) and pulse frequency are included in the instruction material for various skin photo types.

NOTE: If you are using cosmetics on the area to be treated containing retinoids (retin a, tretinoin, altinac, avita, trans retinoic acid, vitamin A acid, tazorac, adapalene, differin), or AHA (alpha hydroxyl acids, glycolic acid), stop using the cosmetic at least two days before the laser treatment. If you have been taking Accutane (isotretinoin), you should be off of it for two to six months before IPL treatment. If you have had a micro-dermabrasion on the area to be treated, it is best to wait seven to ten days before laser treatment.

More IPL Systems:

SDPL Hybrid Laser / IPL