IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. It is a light energy that is applied to certain parts of the body, so that the target structure - whether it is hair or blood vessels in the skin - absorbs the energy and is destroyed.
IPL is not the same as laser, although there are similarities. One main difference is that laser (Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is a technique of producing light energy of only one wavelength. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) uses white light which contains all the wavelengths of visible light from red to blue. To concentrate the treatments on different structures, filters are used to reduce certain wavelengths that are not needed. The filters will be adjusted by our trained practitioners.
The IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) machine produces a sudden burst of light which is channelled through fibre optic to a hand piece. The hand piece is in contact with the skin at the point where treatment is needed and light energy is transmitted to the skin. The trained practitioner uses a cooling method on the skin. This is very soothing, helps cool the skin down, and decreases the chance of redness.
This explains the Intense Light but not the "Pulsed".
With regards to Permanent Hair Reduction, when aiming for hair follicles, we want to heat the hair up as much as possible with the Intense Light, but do not want to damage the skin. Research has shown that as the hair is darker, it conducts heat generated by the light energy longer than the skin does. Therefore, by giving three pulses of light in quick succession, each pulse lasting a fraction of a second heats the hair follicle up along with the surrounding skin. As skin cools faster than the hair follicle, the gap in-between each light pulse allows the skin to cool down. In this way, by using light pulses, more heat energy can be transmitted to the hair follicle, destroying it while reducing the heat damage to the surrounding skin. This makes IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) more effective with less risk of skin damage.
Different people have different skin colour, different hair colour and also different hair thickness. As such, our trained practitioners will assess your skin, colour of hair and thickness of hair to see what the appropriate settings and power are needed for your IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatment.
Our treatments take place within a specialist laser and light treatment room. How many treatments you will need depends on your skin type, hair thickness and hair colour.
All of our practitioners are qualified Health Care Professionals with a degree in an Allied Health Profession. They have a wide range of knowledge and experience within the field of lasers and Intense Pulsed Light and have successfully treated a substantial amount of clients throughout South Wales.
All of our treatments are confidential.
Fitness Plus Ltd T/A Vitality Hair and Beauty is fully registered with Health Care Inspectorate Wales (Governing Body) to perform these highly specialised treatments.
