Medical Spas, cosmetic dermatologists, and plastic surgeons have found Intense Pulsed Light devices (IPLs) to be effective in treating a variety of cosmetic conditions, from acne, to pigment and age spots.
IPLs deliver energy in a burst of light that differs from a laser. (Think of IPL as a bell curve and laser as a light switch.) This gives the dermis a longer time period to absorb the energy, resulting in a less painful treatment and some 'feathering' of the effects.
The functions of IPL devices have secured their position as one of the most preferred devices for nonablative therapy in many plastic surgery and dermatology clinics.
The IPL is a non-laser flash lamp light source which has the ability to emit a broad spectrum, high-intensity visible and infrared light and is used to treat a wide variety of conditions from hair removal/reduction, to Rosacea and acne therapy, removal of dyschromias and telangiectasias, and softening of facial lines and creases. The desired wavelength is chosen by either selecting a particular wavelength filter or attaching a specific treatment head or hand piece that is configured with the filter attached.
When treated with IPL, the amount of visible improvement in treating wrinkles and creases is usually less remarkable than an ablative laser; but, there's less pain and recovery time and significant improvement when treating dyschromias and erythema generally results in overall patient satisfaction.
Shorter wavelengths in the visible spectrum are used to target hemoglobin (red conditions like acne and Rosacea) and melanin (brown spots). Longer infrared (IR) wavelengths target water in the skin and can treat other conditions. Since IPL devices use a 'pulsed' light instead of a high-intensity focused beam like a lasers do, IPLs emit more scattered light (feathering) and are less selective in an absolute sense than a laser. With IPL devices there are often additional treatments needed to achieve optimal results than with lasers.
IPL devices can't deal with all cosmetic dermatological conditions but they're an important tool in any medical spa or cosmetic medical practice.
Technology providers of IPL Intense Pulsed Light devices include Palomar, Cutera, Lumenis and Sciton although there are a number of other manufacturers. - 16004
IPLs deliver energy in a burst of light that differs from a laser. (Think of IPL as a bell curve and laser as a light switch.) This gives the dermis a longer time period to absorb the energy, resulting in a less painful treatment and some 'feathering' of the effects.
The functions of IPL devices have secured their position as one of the most preferred devices for nonablative therapy in many plastic surgery and dermatology clinics.
The IPL is a non-laser flash lamp light source which has the ability to emit a broad spectrum, high-intensity visible and infrared light and is used to treat a wide variety of conditions from hair removal/reduction, to Rosacea and acne therapy, removal of dyschromias and telangiectasias, and softening of facial lines and creases. The desired wavelength is chosen by either selecting a particular wavelength filter or attaching a specific treatment head or hand piece that is configured with the filter attached.
When treated with IPL, the amount of visible improvement in treating wrinkles and creases is usually less remarkable than an ablative laser; but, there's less pain and recovery time and significant improvement when treating dyschromias and erythema generally results in overall patient satisfaction.
Shorter wavelengths in the visible spectrum are used to target hemoglobin (red conditions like acne and Rosacea) and melanin (brown spots). Longer infrared (IR) wavelengths target water in the skin and can treat other conditions. Since IPL devices use a 'pulsed' light instead of a high-intensity focused beam like a lasers do, IPLs emit more scattered light (feathering) and are less selective in an absolute sense than a laser. With IPL devices there are often additional treatments needed to achieve optimal results than with lasers.
IPL devices can't deal with all cosmetic dermatological conditions but they're an important tool in any medical spa or cosmetic medical practice.
Technology providers of IPL Intense Pulsed Light devices include Palomar, Cutera, Lumenis and Sciton although there are a number of other manufacturers. - 16004
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