What is the difference between IPL and Laser Hair Removal?

Both IPL and Laser Hair Removal treatments have been available commercially since the mid 90’s. They involve producing light energy which is then absorbed into the dark pigment of the hair to ultimately cause damage to the hair follicle. Hair growth is then reduced without damaging the surrounding tissue.

IPL and lasers both work by sending intense light energy into the hair follicles. Once the light is absorbed in the hair follicle (chromophore), the light converts to heat and destroys the hair follicle. The main differences between Laser and intense pulsed light, used as a hair reduction treatment, mainly lie in the technology that each use to generate the light, as well as the different properties of the light being used.

Laser machines produce a single wavelength of light (pure light consisting of one single colour and form), which has a very concentrated beam and specific target (the melanin in the hair follicle). The type/colour of your hair and skin will determine the tuning settings of the machine and will be discussed with you during your test patch consultation. lazer hair removal machines are tuned to emit the exact wavelength required to treat your hair.

Laser machines create more heat directed at the hair follicle than IPL systems, hence achieving better results. Because the heat is absorbed by the follicle, and not the skin, there is a decreased risk of burning when using Laser machines. This also makes Laser a safer option for darker skinned individuals.

Laser technology is simply much more effective, and achieves substantially better results that IPL. Ninety percent of patients have permanent hair loss after 3-5 sessions.Lasers are far more precise, and can selectively target dark, coarse hairs while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. Each laser pulse takes a fraction of a second and can treat several hairs at a time. laser hair removal can be used to treat larger body areas. Laser settings can be adjusted to suit your specific skin tone and hair color. Lasers are safe for all skin colors.

It is often mistaken that IPL and lasers are the same. IPL is an Intense Pulse Light that treats using a full spectrum of light with different scattered wave lengths, while a laser uses one specific wavelength of light.

IPL’s are not lasers. The machines produce a broad spectrum of wavelengths (like a light bulb) and cannot be focused to a concentrated beam. Because a range of different wavelengths are dispersed at a variety of depths only some of these will be effective for hair reduction. A more shallow penetration in comparison to laser means that deeper, thicker hairs are not treated effectively. In addition, some of the light can be absorbed into the surrounding tissue as well, leading to heating of the pigment in the skin. This is why there is more of a risk of burns for a darker skin type. intense pulsed light hair removal can cause burns on darker skin tones.

IPL’s have an important place in treatment of the skin. The non-specific nature of an Intense Pulsed Light is what makes the treatment so effective when we are targeting skin problems, such as superficial pigmentation and fine blood vessels.

On average, IPL treatments are cheaper. They can also treat larger skin portions at a time, so areas like the legs and back can be treated in a fraction of the time required with standard lasers. Laser hair removal has proven to be much more effective and less painful than IPL hair removal. Laser targets strictly the hair follicle as opposed to the pigment surrounding the hair follicle resulting in less collateral skin damage and happier patients.