IPL Laser Hair Removal
If you are looking at laser hair removal you might have heard the term IPL (or Intense Pulsed Light) bandied about quite a bit. IPL laser hair removal does not use an actual laser but it is a very similar process with similar results.
A laser machine gives out a strong beam of light in a single wavelength whereas in IPL laser hair removal you are treated with light of varying wavelengths. With IPL the wrong wavelengths are filtered out so that the right wavelength reaches you to treat your unwanted hair.
Both systems aim to destroy hair follicles with heat. The super-strong light causes the melanin in hair to heat up at a rapid rate while the surrounding skin stays relatively cool. This is why it is easier to treat fair skin and dark hair than any other type of coloring. If the hair is not heated enough the follicle is not destroyed and if the skin is heated too much it is damaged so a fine balance has to be achieved.
With IPL the light comes in flashes (or pulses) allowing the skin to cool more easily between flashes and this means that more hair can be treated more quickly without damaging the skin.
Because of the variations in light in an IPL system some machines can be calibrated to treat darker skin and fairer hair although any hair without melanin can not be treated by this method. Blond, white, gray and red hair is very difficult indeed. Even dying the hair does not work as it is the root of the hair below the skin surface which needs to be treated to destroy the follicle and when you dye your hair only the part above the surface is affected. The hair on the surface would burn up better leaving all the roots in place ready to grow again.
If you have skin and hair coloring which is not ideal for IPL treatment get some advice from a specialist laser hair removal center and one which will spell out your chances of success rather than just try to sign you up for treatment.