Cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons have embraced IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) devices to treat wrinkles, pigment, and other issues that generally fall into the realm of cosmetic medicine.

Intense Pulsed Light Devices differ significantly from lasers in the way that they deliver energy into the dermis (IPL = bell curve / laser = light switch) providing a feathering of the treatment area and less painful treatments for the patient.

IPLs are a preferred technology for many skin pigment and coloration treatments by cosmetic dermatologists, plastic surgeons, aesthetic physicians and medical spas.

Intense Pulsed Light Devices (IPLs) are a non-laser flash lamp light source that emits broad spectrum, high-intensity visible and infrared (IR) light and is used by a physician or under physician oversight to treat a wide number of conditions including hair reduction, mild to moderate acne (Including PDT), Rosacea, dyschromias, telangiectasias, and related treatments of wrinkles and creases. Depending upon the manufacturer, treatment wavelengths are chosen by selecting a particular filter or attaching a specific treatment head or hand piece that is configured with the filter already attached.

When treated with IPL, the amount of visible improvement in treating wrinkles and creases is usually less remarkable than an ablative laser; but, there’s less pain and recovery time and significant improvement when treating dyschromias and erythema generally results in overall patient satisfaction.

Visible, shorter wavelengths are used to target hemoglobin (blood) and melanin (pigment) with longer infrared wavelengths targeting water in the skin. Since these devices operate with a ‘pulsed’ light instead of a high-intensity focused beam like a laser does, they emit more scatter (feathering) and are considered to be less selective than a laser. With IPL, there are often more treatments needed to achieve optimal results than with a laser.

Intense Pulsed Light Devices (IPLs) are not perfect and don’t treat many cosmetic dermatological conditions but for a growing number of plastic surgeons, dermatologists and medical spas, they’re a important tool.

Technology providers of IPL Intense Pulsed Light devices include Palomar, Cutera, Lumenis and Sciton although there are a number of other manufacturers.