IPL Hair Removal

IPL (intense pulsed light) is a broad-spectrum light that is distributed throughout the skin to help with permanent hair reduction. It directs light at the hair follicle’s melanin (the pigment that gives skin/hair its colour) to destroy the root and help to disrupt the regeneration cycle.

If you want to save time and money on other hair removal methods, IPL hair removal treatments are well worth the price. This form of laser hair removal therapy can help you feel confident at all times, especially for those last-minute plans that require smooth, soft bare skin.

How does it work?

IPL treatment is very familiar to that of laser treatment. A laser targets your skin with only one wavelength of light whereas IPL is like a camera flash used when taking a photograph as the light it produces is of many multiple wavelengths.

IPL produces more scattered and less concentrated light than a laser. IPL penetrates to the second layer of your skin (dermis) without causing damage to the top layer (epidermis) thus resulting in reduced skin damage. The light energy is absorbed by pigment cells in your skin, which is then transformed to heat. It destroys the hair follicle, preventing the hair from growing again. Furthermore to hair removal the heat from IPL can target and destroy the undesirable pigment to clear up freckles and other unwanted spots.

What areas can be treated?

At Selina’s we use intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy to remove or minimize the following:

hair on your face, neck, back, chest, legs, underarms, or bikini line
freckles
age spots
birthmarks
sun damage
varicose veins
broken blood vessels on your face

IPL can be used anywhere on the body, however uneven areas may not respond as effectively. It is not suggested for persons with darker skin tones or those who are prone to thick, elevated keloid scars. We find that it also doesn’t work as well on lighter hair as it does on darker hair but this can be different on an individual basis.

Is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment safe?

As the light from IPL doesn’t damage the top layers of skin (epidermis) there are far less side effects associated with this treatment than with a laser or dermabrasion. The sessions are also quicker and recovery is much faster.

At Selina’s our practitioners are qualified to specialise in skin care therefore prior to your IPL treatment we will check your skin and explain what to expect. Please ensure to tell us of any skin conditions you may have such as inflammatory acne, eczema or psoriasis as these may affect your healing following your treatment. We will openly and honestly discuss with you all of your options including the benefits, risks, and costs, to decide whether IPL or alternative treatment will work best for you as we aim to focus on realistic results.

After the treatment, most patients suffer slight redness or swelling. This is quite common and usually goes away within a day or two. In some instances, you may experience side effects such as infection, blistering, bruising or change in skin colour but these are usually rare.

What to expect?

Our skin care practitioner will begin by cleaning the treatment area. After that, they apply a cool gel on your skin. The IPL machine is then used to provide light pulses to your skin. If your eye’s need shielding you may be asked to wear dark glasses during your treatment.

You may feel a stinging sensation which some people compare to that of being snatched by a rubber band.

The treatment normally takes 20 to 30 minutes however this is dependent upon the body area and size being treated.
Following your IPL treatment you should be able to resume your normal activities immediately.

For a few hours, the treated area of skin will remain red and sensitive, as if sunburned. It’s possible that your skin may also be swollen as well thus for the first few days after treatment your skin will be quite sensitive. In this case, you should avoid the use of hot water until it heals.

How many Treatments are needed?

For hair removal, IPL works better on thick, dark hair than on fine, light hair therefore several treatments may be needed to achieve your desired result. The treatment works well to fade lines and spots you may even notice a difference after just one treatment but this is dependent upon individual skin type.

Price from £

Need more Information? Contact us for a free Consultation

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