Do you know the difference between IPL and laser? Most people don’t, and even a lot of professionals think they’re the same. They’re actually quite different, in terms of what they can do to your skin and their associated risks.

Light devices are very confusing. I think that’s partly because they appear to do more or less the same thing if you believe all the marketing claims! And perhaps it’s because light physics isn’t an easy subject to grasp.

There’s a lot of confusion over what these devices are used for and how they stack up against one other.

Why is one type of device preferred over another? 

This is a big topic! I will try to help you answer these questions. But first, I think what would be helpful is to lay out some basic background before diving into the pros and cons of different treatments. That way, you will be better prepared to ask the right questions and have more realistic expectations. 

Special Offer

After reading this article and you feel you're ready for a single full face IPL photo- rejuvenation treatment from the best operators in Toowoomba, we have a special offer for you. Buy one photo rejuvenation treatment and receive 1 Laser hair removal treatment free of charge. Can't be used with any other offer. To book call us on 0499383821  Check out our Google Reviews here or our Facebook Reviews here and have a terrific day!

What Does Light Do For Skin?

Why are light devices used to improve the appearance of skin? What is it about the light that makes it possible to remove excess hair, unwanted pigmentation, wrinkles, and even fat? These are such different issues, how can light do all of this?

Light is a form of energy. For example, the light energy from sunlight powers photosynthesis in plants, which becomes a source of energy to us when we consume it as food.

Light energy can be directed at skin too. Different types of light do different things to skin.

Some types of light energy are highly destructive to skin. The ones with the shorter wavelengths (gamma rays, X-rays, UV rays) are the most harmful. They produce a type of radiation, ionising radiation, that can alter DNA and damage the deeper layers of skin.

The sunlight that reaches Earth, which is composed of UVA and UVB rays, is a type of ionising radiation that causes the familiar sunburn as well as the typical signs of skin ageing (wrinkles, sagging, spots) and skin cancer.

Some forms of light are therapeutic and healing to the skin (e.g. red visible light used in LED light therapy).

And some forms of light selectively remove things in the skin that we don’t want (e.g. infrared light and parts of the visible light spectrum).

Light Is Attracted to Chemical Targets In Skin

Light devices function as sources of light. They emit light energy.

Light energy is converted into thermal energy (HEAT) inside the skin.

This thermal energy has different effects on the skin:

• Heats up and destroys a specific target
• Activates a chemical in skin that destroys a target
• Stimulates something in skin (e.g. a fibroblast, which makes collagen & other dermal components; blood circulation)

The goal of a light device, such as IPL or laser, is to direct light energy to chemical targets in skin.

These targets are called chromophores. The light is attracted to these chromophores because they possess a certain colour.

Examples of Targets:

• melanin (pigment in skin and hair)
• blood – specifically oxyhemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that gives blood its red colour)
• ink (in tattoos)
• water (in the dermis layer of skin)
• P. acnes bacteria (the porphyrin proteins that they form)

Light Targeting Can Treat A Variety Of Skin Issues

To reiterate, light is converted into heat (Photothermolysis) once it hits a target in skin. This heat causes a reaction which ultimately helps achieve a certain goal.

So for example, targeting:

• melanin pigment – reduces hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and hair growth (the light destroys the pigment in the hair follicle)
• oxyhemoglobin – reduces redness and vascular lesions (e.g. visible capillaries, spider veins, varicose veins)
• ink – removes tattoos
• water – causes the removal of skin (at high heat, the water in skin boils, vaporising skin) This is a very invasive procedure and can only be done by an experienced Dermatologist only.
• P. acnes bacteria – kills bacteria and reduces acne breakouts

The process of targeting chromophores in the skin and selectively destroying them is called selective photo thermolysis.

Reaching the intended target successfully depends on the wavelength of the light and the depth that it travels into skin.

The depth that light will travel depends on its wavelength and what it encounters along the way (is there anything blocking its path or slowing it down?).

• A wavelength is a measurement of light. Light devices are often labelled and called by their wavelength. For example, the Nd: YAG laser is sometimes called “1064” because its wavelength is 1064 nm.
• The “nm” is an abbreviation for nanometer, a measurement of distance. One nanometer equals one-billionth of a meter. So it’s very, very, very small!

IPL and laser devices are designed with different wavelength settings. When you get an IPL or laser treatment, the clinician must choose the most appropriate modality (What device? What wavelength? What energy level?) for your desired goal.

The choice of light settings is crucial for delivering the right amount of heat without destroying the surrounding tissue. If the wrong settings are chosen, things can go very wrong, such as burning the skin or causing too much injury to the skin, which brings me to my next point.

Choose Your Provider Carefully

It’s very important that you obtain your light treatment from an experienced clinician who is legally permitted to perform these kinds of procedures and has enough training and experience to do it successfully. Knowing which IPL or laser settings to choose requires experience with many different patients – seeing what works and what doesn’t in different types of skin and situations.

The laws surrounding the operation of IPL and lasers vary widely from state to state. Some states require no licencing for IPL and Laser and some do.

At Skin Sensations, we have licenced Dermal Therapists and have been doing IPL and Laser treatments for 15 years treating thousands of clients for photo-rejuvenation, hair removal, spider veins and redness, tattoo removal and laser photo facials.

There are more and more physicians who don’t specialise in dermatology or plastic surgery that are offering light cosmetic procedures and operating IPL/laser machines. The choice is up to you as to what kind of therapist, doctor (specialist)  you want performing your light treatment. In my opinion, the most important consideration should be experienced, and specifically volume. Just because you have a degree doesn’t necessarily make you a good driver. 

How many procedures (treatments) like this, has this person done before? The more the better. Ideally, you want someone who has done it many times. Just like you’d want the eye surgeon performing your cataract surgery to have done it many, many times before.

Special Offer

After reading this article and you feel you're ready for a single full face IPL photo- rejuvenation treatment from the best operators in Toowoomba, we have a special offer for you. Buy one photo rejuvenation treatment and receive 1 Laser hair removal treatment free of charge, can't be used with any other offer. To book call us on 0499383821  Check out our Google Reviews here or our Facebook Reviews here and have a terrific day!

What are IPL and Laser, and How are they Different?

IPL and laser are Class 3 or 4 medical devices. The class is a TGA classification that refers to how aggressive the device is and whether it requires a physician or nurse under the supervision of a doctor to operate it. 

Because IPL and lasers are medical devices, you can’t buy them to use at home. They are only available as in-office treatments.  LED Light Therapy is the most gentle and least risky type of light treatment.

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light.

Laser is also an acronym. It stands for Light Amplification Stimulated Emission Radiation.

IPL and laser both emit light energy. The key difference between them is how.

LASER

When you think of a laser, what comes to mind? Do you remember Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker’s light sabre in Star Wars? That’s a good example of a laser.

A laser is a straight, focused, concentrated beam of light.

The key word is beam. It’s one beam. That beam of light is just ONE WAVELENGTH of light. That means, it has only ONE COLOR.

Laser points at a small area. Think of a laser pointer used by a speaker in a slide presentation.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

Unlike a laser, IPL is NOT one beam of light. IPL consists of MULTIPLE WAVELENGTHS of light.

IPL light shines over a larger area. Think of a flashlight. The light from a flashlight is broader and more diffuse.

Because the light is more spread out, IPL delivers LESS ENERGY than a laser. This makes IPL gentler but it can still burn and cause bruising to patients. 

IPL treatments typically present no or little downtime. Lasers are much more invasive and therefore often require a little to a lot of downtime.

So why would you ever want to use a laser? Why not just get IPL? Because there are trade-offs. The main trade-off is how fast you want to see results. If you want instant gratification, faster results usually require more downtime (and risks). Many people don’t want to spend a week or two with their face looking red or covered in dark spots or ugly sores.

So, while IPL may be gentler, it requires a longer treatment period – typically, a series of treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart.

Of course, the choice of IPL or laser will depend on your problem – many conditions can be treated by both. But one will usually be better than the other, depending on the colour of your skin or your Fitzpatrick skin type (Look at

Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale), the nature and severity of your problem, your time horizon, how much downtime is acceptable to you, and your tolerance for pain.

A laser can also travel deeper into the skin than IPL. So, certain goals (resurfacing skin, removing deep dermal pigment) can only be done by a licensed physician.

Which ones to choose? Ultimately the choice is yours and there are so many differing opinions it can be mind boggling. Remember that ultimately this is a business and the person trying to sell you a treatment could be biased to their treatment. It could be the only method they offer. I’ve seen articles about Laser hair removal where the person who offers only laser treatments is calling IPL, (Intense Pulse Light) not so intense and a poor option compared to laser. I’ve seen other articles quoting scientific journals saying. Some current IPL systems have proven to be more successful in the removal of hair and blood vessels than many lasers. At our practice, we have found that often a combination of IPL and Laser works extremely well.

Where to from here?

Make sure that whoever you go to is an experienced operator with thousands of treatments performed and is giving you honest answers and options. If the price is your only consideration then you may end up eventually paying more than what you originally thought.

A poor hair removal operator even with a good machine could end up stripping the pigment from the hair without removing it. This means no pigment to attract the laser or IPL light and the hairs are there for life. Your only option then, that I’m aware of is electrolysis, which is a needle inserted into each individual hair follicle and blasted with an electrical charge. One hair at a time, for large areas it’s just not practical. 

As Vin Diesel’s Character in the “Fate of the Furious” said, “The only thing that matters is who is behind the wheel.” 

Social media can help here, look for good reviews on Google or Facebook. Phone the practice and ask for the names and numbers of 5 satisfied customers about their experience. If that is a problem then you have your answer about what kind of service they will provide and the results possibly could be questionable. If they’ve nothing to hide it won’t be an issue. If you'd like to check out our Google reviews here and our Facebook reviews here.

If you’ve made it this far, hopefully, you have a better idea now of how light can change skin and what treatment method could be good for you. That’s a lot to cover, and hopefully, this has cleared up some of your questions or doubts. If you're still unsure give us a call and we would be more than happy to talk to you and clear up any lingering doubts you may have.

Special Offer

After reading this article and you feel you're ready for a single full face IPL photo- rejuvenation treatment from the best operators in Toowoomba, we have a special offer for you. Buy one photo rejuvenation treatment and receive 1 Laser hair removal treatment free of charge, can't be used with any other offer. To book call us on 0499383821  Check out our Google Reviews here or our Facebook Reviews here and have a terrific day!

Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale

The Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale is a popular skin type classification system. It measures the skin’s tolerance to sunlight - specifically, the skin’s tendency to tan or burn.

The Fitzpatrick Scale is used by dermatologists, aestheticians, and scientists to determine potential reactions to products or treatment procedures.

There are 6 Fitzpatrick skin types. The chart below shows those 6 types along with three additional characteristics of skin: Skin Cancer risk, Hyperpigmentation risk, and Scarring risk.

Can you identify which type you are?

Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale

Readers with DARKER SKIN TONES (Fitzpatrick Types 3-6) including: 

• Asian skin
• Black skin
• Hispanic skin
• Indian skin
• Middle Eastern skin
• Native American skin
• mixed race/ multi-ethnic skin

I’d like to draw your attention to 2 risks.

HYPERPIGMENTATION RISK

Your skin is very vulnerable to hyperpigmentation (dark spots, dark patches, or other discolorations) induced by the sun.

You are especially vulnerable to post-inflammatory pigmentation from these kinds of situations:

• a healing pimple or cyst (i.e. acne scar)
• a wound or injury to the skin
• an area that was irritated or inflamed
• after a chemical peel with a strong Alpha Hydroxy Acid
• using Retinoic acid (tretinoin) – retinol is a safer alternative (see forms of Vitamin A)
• a lightening treatment that uses Hydroquinone
• laser hair removal treatment, Laser tattoo removal or IPL treatment

Therefore, you must be extra vigilant about wearing sunscreen when you are in the sun, and especially if you are healing from a wound. Post-inflammatory pigmentation is difficult to treat, and it takes a while to fade

SCARRING RISK

You have a high risk of scarring from treatments or trauma (wounds). The scar can get discoloured and/or become larger or raised.

Therefore, whenever you get a wound, take extra care to keep that wound moist while it’s healing. If it gets dried out while healing, the skin will scar more easily.

Antibacterial ointment (e.g. Bacitracin, Neosporin, etc.) or petroleum jelly will keep the wound moist and sticky. It decreases the chance of hypertrophic scarring, which is excess scar tissue, or a keloid scar (a type of raised scar).

Limitations of the Fitzpatrick Scale

The chart above may seem dated in its lack of inclusion of certain races. The Fitzpatrick Scale was developed in 1975 by Dr Thomas Fitzpatrick, a Harvard University dermatologist. Our society has changed quite a bit since then.

One of the challenges of skin typing is that we are becoming increasingly multi-racial and multi-ethnic. Therefore, the colour of our skin alone cannot determine reactivity to products.  For example, we typically associate sensitive skin with very fair, thin, delicate skin. But black skin can be sensitive too. What happens to skin if it is multi-racial? It certainly makes it more challenging to correctly predict how skin will respond.

Nevertheless, the Fitzpatrick Scale is still a useful tool for predicting how skin will react to the sun. The colour of your skin is correlated with the amount of melanin in your skin. The more melanin you have, the more inherent protection you have against UV radiation, and the less likely you are to burn.

IPL Skin Rejuvenation

Does IPL work?

There are over 60 different models of IPL machines currently in operation in Australia. 

However only 6 of these models are actually approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA is the governing body in Australia that sets out guidelines and safety practices which we must abide by to ensure all safety aspects are met. IPL machines range anywhere from $5000 to $200,000 to purchase, and it is important to note that you are paying for high quality IPL therapy, which in turn will have a bearing on your safety and ultimately the end result of the treatment. So in answer to your question Does IPL work? The answer is YES! You need to choose the provider of your IPL treatments carefully.

 
Before and After Sun Damage

After researching different IPL therapies over many years, we found the Lumenis M22 IPL to be the best because the results are predictably excellent. Our machine suits our clients needs and gives the results promised. Lumenis M22 offers two outstanding features that make it one of the most effective hair removal and sun damage removal systems to date.

• A refrigerated handpiece and patented cooling gel, which allows maximum energy delivered with minimum discomfort.
• The handpiece can be recalibrated daily, which means you get the same amount of energy delivery for the entire life of the handpiece.

  
Before Skin Redness- After 1st Treatment - After 2nd Treatment

What is IPL laser and what does it treat?

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology is a treatment breakthrough that can correct a variety of benign skin conditions, such as facial skin imperfections, the signs of aging, collagen and elastin, fine lines and wrinkles, broken capillaries, skin discoloration, age spots, freckles, mottled pigmentation, open pores, dull complexion, the symptoms of rosacea and unwanted hair. The same treatment can be used effectively on the neck, chest and hands.

It offers a safe, non-invasive solution that can be tailored to your individual concerns and skin type, providing superior cosmetic results and outstanding satisfaction. This new procedure is called photorejuvenation.

Before Hands - After First Treatment

How is the IPL laser treatment performed?

The area is first cleansed and then a cool soothing gel is applied. The smooth glass surface of the IPL in-built refrigerated handpiece is gently pressed onto your skin and pulses of light are dispersed. You will feel a slight sting, like the snapping of a small rubber band. Immediately after treatment ice packs will be applied to reduce stinging, redness and swelling. The skin will feel like moderate sunburn and this generally lasts for about an hour. For optimal results several treatments will be required to provide excellent long-term results, minimal adverse effects and high satisfaction. Each treatment takes about twenty minutes.

 
Before & After Wrinkles

Why are multiple IPL treatments necessary?

Depending on the number of concerns you are treating, and the severity of each individual concern, a discounted course of treatments is highly recommended to achieve optimal results.

 
Before Pigmentation - After Pigmentation

 
Before Freckles - After Freckles

What do I need to know?

It is important to minimise sun exposure before and after treatment. After treatment you may experience some, none or all of the following skin changes, i.e. swelling, bruising, darkening of freckles/pigmentation and age spots, pigment striping and blistering. These temporary changes can last anywhere from 4-14 days depending on how well you heal and the amount of sun damage on the skin prior to treatment. For quicker healing you are required to use our prescribed aftercare treatment products. This treatment is not advised should you have any special occasions to attend within the healing period. A thorough consultation prior to any treatment is compulsory. You will be rebooked for your next treatment in a minimum of 4 weeks time.

 
Before Freckles - After Freckles

 Symptoms of Rosacea

Rosacea is a skin disorder that leaves people red-faced from dilated blood vessels and chronic flushing. Rosacea can also cause pimples and/or blisters on the nose and cheeks. IPL can successfully treat dilated blood vessels and redness without injuring the surrounding healthy skin, while greatly reducing the episodes of flushing with long-term effectiveness.

How Does IPL Work?

IPL Skin rejuvenation can treat a variety of benign skin conditions.

The broad spectrum of light used in IPL Skin Rejuvenation treatments is absorbed by the target tissue, and is then removed by the body’s natural processes, providing dramatic improvements in the appearance of age spots, sun spots, sun damage, freckles, rosacea and more.

Is IPL laser treatment right for you?

IPL Photorejuvenation skin treatment may be the ideal treatment option if you:

• want to improve the appearance of redness and rosacea
• want to improve the appearance of brown pigmentation and age spots
• want a procedure that has very minimal down time

What is IPL Photorejuvenation?

IPL Photorejuvenation skin treatment is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that improves the appearance of photoaged skin, removes age spots, most benign brown pigments and redness caused by broken capillaries. IPL Photorejuvenation can be tailored to your individual condition and skin type, providing superior cosmetic results and high satisfaction.

How does IPL work?

A broad spectrum of light is transmitted with the IPL handpiece through a small, smooth, transparent lightguide which is gently placed over your skin. The light penetrates the tissue and is absorbed by either the blood when treating vascular lesions or the melanin when treating pigmented lesions damaging them. The body’s natural processes then remove the injured tissue giving the skin a more even tone and texture, and a more youthful appearance.

A broad spectrum of light is transmitted with the IPL handpiece to provide improvement in the appearance of age spots, sun spots, sun damage, freckles, rosacea and more (pictures right).

Where on the body can IPL Photorejuvenation be used?

IPL Photorejuvenation can be used to treat any area of the body. The most common areas are the face, neck, chest and hands.

What is an IPL treatment like?

IPL Photorejuvenation is typically performed in a physician’s office. First, a cold gel is usually applied to the area to be treated, and you may be given dark glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from the bright light. The pulses of light are applied to your face, and you may feel a slight stinging. Each treatment typically takes about 20 minutes. Treatment is generally administered in a series of four to six sessions, and you will see gradual improvement that yields excellent long-term results with very low risk and very minimal downtime.

Red blemishes from broken blood vessels and brown spots of pigment from sun damage respond to Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). The light is changed to heat energy as it reaches to the level of the collagen beneath the skin surface.

Who can get an IPL treatment?

Most people can safely receive an IPL treatment. However, always consult with your physician to find out if IPL treatments right for you. Be sure to also ask your physician about all the other benefits of IPL treatments!

The IPL Skin Rejuvenation Facial

The IPL Skin Rejuvenation Facial will change your appearance in just one treatment, with its groundbreaking technology there isn't anything that comes close.

It reduces skin pigmentation, sun damaged skin, broken capillaries, age spots and freckles, as well as helping improve fine lines and open pores. Although you will start to see results after just one treatment, we recommend a course of six treatments for optimal results.

Prescribed for the following skin type or concern

The WOW IPL Skin Rejuvenation facial treats sun damaged skin broken capillaries, Rosacea, redness, freckles, ageing, brown age spots and unwanted dark hair.

Results

• Removal of broken capillaries
• Lightens or removes pigmentation
• Lightening  freckles and brown spots
• Clearer complexion
• Brighter smoother skin
• Plumper healthier looking skin
• Helps to smooth open pores and refine texture

Treatment includes

• Visia Photo Analysis
• Cleansing
• Patented Cooling Gel Therapy
• Intense pulse light therapy
• Cooling therapy
• Moisture Sealing
• Home care recommendations

 
Before IPL Treatment - After IPL Treatment

IPL Skin Rejuvenation Before & After

• Improves rosacea and mottled pigmentation and small red vessels
• Reduces sun spots, age spots, freckles and sun damage
• Stimulates collagen formation

Visible Improvements

In just 3 treatments we have helped our client reduce Enlarged Pores, Raised Capillaries, Rosacea, Aged Spots and Sun Damage. The IPL Photo Rejuvenation Treatments have also helped improve the skins texture and firmness. 

IPL Skin Rejuvenation Before & After

How amazing are the results on our clients hands? These results were achieved after 4 treatments. Ipl photo Rejuvenation has helped this client remove aged spots, sun damage, Freckles and skin discolouration.

IPL Photorejuvenation is an advanced skin rejuvenation treatment which effectively targets and removes unwanted blemishes such as pigmentation, redness and acne scarring. As these before treatment and after treatment photos show the change after 2 treatments is amazing.

IPL Skin Rejuvenation Clinical Results