IPL hair reduction is not only an easy way of removing hair, but it does so with long term results – meaning that investing in a course of treatments can save you hours of shaving and waxing for years to come. Many don’t opt for IPL purely to reduce hair in a certain area. If you’re susceptible to ingrown hairs that aggravate your skin then it can help to eliminate this issue too. The options for hair removal and reduction are endless. From waxing to threading and shaving to tweezing. However, IPL is one of the few options that offers a more permanent approach to getting rid of body hair long term.
How does a course of IPL hair reduction work?
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light, which sends pulses of light into the hair follicle, targeting the melanin – the pigment responsible for giving the hair and skin its colour. The light damages the hair follicle at the base of the root and ensures that it cannot regrow again in the future, giving IPL hair reduction its long term benefit. IPL therapy also boasts a series of benefits outside of hair reduction, including the treatment of freckles, age spots, sunspots, and varicose veins. In the cases of pigmentation and vascular lesions, the pulses of light heat up the specific structures that cause the imperfections, without heating the rest of the skin. This heat causes damage to the structure, and this alerts the body to remove it, using its own, natural, healing response. For pigmentation, the body flushes away the unwanted melanin pigment, leaving behind your natural skin tone, while for vascular lesions; it’s the broken blood vessels. In the case of hair removal, IPL permanently inhibits the hair follicle’s ability to produce hair, and for acne, it reduces the activity of the oil glands, allowing the skin to regain balance and letting the pores unclog. As for scarring and anti-ageing, IPL tricks the body into thinking the skin has been damaged; this stimulates collagen production, leading to wrinkles and pitted scars being replaced with plumped, smooth skin.
IPL isn’t painful
IPL sends pulses of light that are absorbed by the pigment in the hair. This energy converts to heat, damaging the hair follicle so it can’t produce a hair. The IPL system used at Koren’s Beauty has a cooling cryo-handset which makes the whole process infinitely more comfortable. IPL is Safe and effective. The SkinBase IPL technology meets CE European regulations which is only granted to treatments that are clinically tested and proven to be safe and effective.
What does it feel like?
IPL feels a bit like your skin is being lightly flicked with an elastic band. SkinBase IPL handsets use unique cryo-cooling technology to cool the skin and reduce sensitivity before the treatment – this helps to make it far more comfortable than traditional light-based treatments.
How many treatments will I need?
IPL isn’t instant and you will require a course of treatments to get the full result. Hair follicles are all at different stages of their growth at any one time. Regular treatments ensure each one has a chance to get zapped. I offer a course of treatments to give the best results, depending on the area and reason for the hair growth you may need 6-10 sessions to reach your desired results. The exact number of treatments you need depends on a series of factors including the density and colour of your hair, your skin colour, and the area of the body you are targeting. Some clients benifit from a booster session to target any stray or reactivated follicles where as some clients wont need to. Over time, and after a series of treatments, the number of hair-reducing follicles will diminish drastically, leaving you with smoother skin for longer.
This depends on what you are being treated for – if you are having IPL for acne, you may only need 1-3 treatments, whereas if you’re having it for hair removal you’ll generally need between 6-10. We will talk through a treatment plan together before you begin.
What can it be used for?
IPL is excellent for treating acne, pigmentation, sun damage, thread veins and other vascular lesions. It is also a popular hair removal method, and it can be used to help reduce scarring too. IPL is also a great anti-ageing treatment. For each of these skin concerns, IPL targets a different structure within the skin – in the case of hair removal, it is the hair follicle, for pigmentation, IPL targets the unwanted melanin, and for anti-ageing and scarring, IPL stimulates collagen production.
How do I prepare for IPL treatment?
The most important thing to make sure you do before IPL is to start protecting your skin from the sun. Use SPF 30 every day for at least a month before treatment, and continue to use it every day during, and after treatment too. You should also make sure you aren’t using any skincare with Vitamin A, or Retinol in it for at least 60 days before treatment, as this ingredient has a photosensitising effect and can also make your skin extremely reactive. I will be able to go over the more in-depth requirements for IPL treatment, to make sure that it’s the right treatment for you, and ensure that you know exactly how to care for your skin to get the best possible effects.