IPL vs Laser Hair Reduction: What's the diff?

The standards of our society dictate that women are more attractive if their skin is smooth and hair- free particularly in the upper lip, armpits, legs and bikini line. An evidence of this is the sudden surge in the number of waxing salons and the popularity of promo deals on the internet.

Women (and some men) are starting to ask: What is IPL? What is Laser? Why are

some deals so cheap and some kind of expensive?

The answer is, the machines being used vary in quality and cost.

To help you gain more knowledge about the topic. Here are some frequently asked questions:

Q: What is the difference between IPL and LASERs for hair removal?

In hair removal, the target to destroy the hair is Melanin, the dark pigment found in hair. Both IPL and Lasers emit wavelengths of light that can target this pigment and destroy unwanted hair.

IPL or intense pulsed light is a flashlamp. IPL emits a wavelength of 500-1200nm. Lasers particularly the Diode laser emit 800 or 810nm.

Q: Should I expect 100% removal of hair after the procedure whether Laser

or IPL?

These procedures are more aptly called Permanent Hair Reduction procedures. After a number of sessions some fine hairs may still be present but are very manageable.

Q: How many sessions does it usually take to reduce the hair? and how far

apart should the sessions be?

It varies from person to person. It can go as low as 5 sessions to 10 sessions. It

depends on the thickness of the hair in the area, how dark the hair is and how long

it takes for your hair to grow. It is best to schedule a consultation with a

Dermatologist in order for him/her to determine the right schedule and number of

sessions for you.

Q: What are the common side effects?

There is some pain during treatment, like small rubberbands snapping on the skin but this should be tolerable and never hot enough to burn the skin. Right after the treatment there is slight redness that goes away in an hour or two. Side effects such as darkening of the treated areas are more common in dark skin and are usually transient.

Here are some tips from our Board Certified Dermatologists in considering the right hair reduction treatment for you:

Tip #1: Ask what kind of machine they will be using on you.

Before you spend your hard earned money, you must know that hair removal machines can vary from

and results can also vary from

We don't want to scare you but it does happen. So do your homework. Be wary of overly discounted deals. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Above anything else, remember, safety first.

Tip #2: Go to a respectable laser center/ dermatology clinic. Make sure a trained Dermatologist performs the procedure on you.

Schedule a consult with your Dermatologist, choose someone you are comfortable with so you can ask questions and so he/she can thoroughly discuss the procedure with you. Also having the procedure done by a board certified Dermatologist ensures your safety and any of the side effects can be treated promptly.