About Intense Pulse Light (IPL)

IPL (intense Pulse Light) is a treatment which delivers the cosmetic benefits of light technology and is suitable for the face and body, helping to give you an even skin tone and younger looking skin.

Am I suitable for Unwanted Hair removal treatment with IPL?

All IPL is not the same. Medical grade IPL gives superior results over low energy IPL and SPL systems. Research supports high energy is required for permanent reduction. Low energy treatments may only result in temporary epilation - see our warnings section for more information.

IPL has many advantages over other forms of hair removal. Shaving, waxing, depilatory creams and electrolysis can be very time consuming and are not suitable for everyone. As IPL only uses light, many of the skin problems associated with other forms of hair removal are eliminated.

Black hairs are most easily treated by IPL due to the large concentration of melanin in these hairs, which gives an optimal absorption of energy. Grey and white hair has almost no melanin and cannot be effectively treated.

The upper layer of skin, the epidermis, also contains melanin and the concentration increases when the skin is exposed to UV light.

It is therefore recommended that sun tanning be avoided during treatment, and sun screen should be worn. Fake tan should not be applied 2 weeks prior to a treatment.

How Many Treatments will I Require?

This will depend on a number of factors such as skin type, hair colour, growth cycle of the hair and the amount of reduction you require. During your consultation these factors are assessed and discussed in detail.

Understanding the growth cycle of the hair treatment.

IPL hair removal involves the use of light to destroy hairs in such a way as to inhibit their re-growth for as long as possible. In order to understand this process it is important to understand the normal hair growth cycle, which occurs in three distinct phases as shown below.

Anagan – the stage at which hairs are in active growth and attached to the papilla at maximum depth within the dermis.
Catagen – the stage at which the hair growth is arrested but the hair continues to be nourished from the papilla.
Telogen – the stage at which the hair growth ceases altogether, the hair detaches from the papilla and contracts to almost one-third its original depth. The hair then falls out and the process begins once more with early anagen phase.
The percentage of hairs in each stage of the cycle, as well as the duration of each phase will vary for different body sites and for different people.

The most important phase for IPL hair removal is early anagen, as the hair is connected to and nourished by the papilla, which is still relatively close to the surface.

At this time it is possible to deposit sufficient energy into the hair shaft, the papilla and the hair bulb to cause permanent damage, which will delay or prevent future hair growth. Hairs in the catagen stage will also be affected by the treatment and will grow back much finer.  Most people will notice a significant reduction in thickness after each session. Sessions continue with the volume and thickness of the hair reducing until the desired reduction is obtained.

Before IPL treatment

After 3 IPL treatments with Erazer.

Is it safe?

The visible light is completely safe so no special precautions are needed apart from glasses for the brightness. During your no obligation consultation any short term and possible long term side effects will be disused in detail.

Our machine is registered with the TGA (therapeutic Goods Administration).

As everybody responds differently a test patch may be carried out before we proceed with treatment so we can observe your individual skin reactions.

We offer and informative, free no obligation consultation where your skin can be assessed and any concerns you have addressed. An accurate written quote, which is valid for six months, is also given so you can make an informed decision regarding any treatment you may undertake.