How Does IPL Hair Removal Work? | Dr Davin Lim (2024)

In today’s article, we’ll discuss IPL hair removal with the New Ulike Air3 hair removal device. IPL hair removal method is safe, faster, cost-effective, and more convenient compared to other hair removal methods. Most dermatologists (* Ulike entered into a commercial arrangement with 2-3 dermatologists, which provided positive reviews) do recommend the IPL hair removal technique because its results are long-lasting. If you want your unwanted hair to stop regrowing using this method, treat the skin 4-6 times at least twice per week.

IPL hair removal works by heating up the hair follicle until it’s damaged. Once damaged, hair regrowth is retarded and the little that regrows is thin and weak.

To achieve the best IPL results, observe a strict treatment plan and shave the area to be treated 12-24 hours before treatment. As a precaution, consider the thickness of your hair when selecting the IPL hair removal device to use.

What is IPL?

How Does IPL Hair Removal Work? | Dr Davin Lim (1)IPL stands forintense pulse light. It’s a type of light treatment that uses intense pulses of light to stimulate or produce heat within tissues and within the skin. When the light is absorbed by the melanin in the hair follicles, it turns into heat destroying the hair follicles and setting the hair root dormant.

Hair follicles surround the hair root and hair strand. It’s the hair follicles that are responsible for hair growth.

Basic science and clinical heavens have been published to confirm the efficacy and the technical safety of the many laser and home-use IPL devices for hair removal. Similar to lasers, the basic principle of IPL devices is more or less selective further than the lasers – in other words, selective damage of the tap tissue.

IPL is a safe and very effective treatment for at-home hair removal. When looking for an IPL at-home hair removal device, ensure it’s FDA-cleared, and SGA-tested like the IPL devices fromUlike.

The New Ulike Air3 has over 30 international safety certifications and is FDA-cleared. Not only is it Safe, but it’s also suitable for sensitive skin and ideal for the whole body including the face and bikini area.

Does the Air3 really hurt? The cooling tip feels quite nursing to the skin. This is because it’s nearly painless and it doesn’t mean it’s ineffective.

How Ulike Air3 Cooling System Works And How It Improves Efficacy.

How Does IPL Hair Removal Work? | Dr Davin Lim (2)Light absorption by melanin causes epidermal damage. That is, it damages the uppermost layer of the skin. This minimizes the maximum fluence or energy in theIPL hair treatment procedure. The cooling effect protects the uppermost layer which is called the epidermis. And this permits higher energy levels to be emitted to the skin. The cooling is done with state-of-the-art Sapphire Crystal Technology.

The Ulike Sapphire Air3 and the Air+ Sapphire Crystal large window are in full contact with the treatment area. This provides the much-needed cooling effect throughout the hair removal treatment process. This technology protects your upper layer of the skin and ensures a comfortable user experience when performing effective hair removal.

Science Behind IPL Hair Removal

How Does IPL Hair Removal Work? | Dr Davin Lim (3)With all forms of energy hair removal devices, we would like to heat up the hair root and stem cells which lie in a particular area and a particular depth of the hair follicle itself. Whether using the IPL or the laser, a contrast in pigment is essential. For example, hair that is darker than the surrounding skin.

The IPL device delivers light that uses light in a broad spectrum. Light produces heat which is transferred from the stem of your hair follicle to the hair bulbs where the stem cells live. When this happens, the heat destroys the germ cells and the hair is long-lasting reduced.

Not all hair follicles are in the hair-growing phase. In fact, only 20 percent is in the growth stage and hence the requirement to use IPL hair removal devices at regular intervals. To get the best results, dermatologists recommend using IPL for months rather than weeks.

Difference Between Ulike Air+ and Ulike Air3

Given the choice to choose between the Ulike Air + and the Ulike Air3, you might be surprised what really is the difference. Besides the new look in theUlike Air3, it now has an auto glide feature. With the new auto glide window, you can now glide across the skin and the light will automatically flash.

So, if you’re looking for an IPL device that will save you time when treating large body areas like the legs, arms, and stomach, Ulike Air3 is the device to use. This means you can treat your whole body for about 10 minutes. Comparatively, you’ll take less time compared to salon hair treatment which often takes 45 minutes to one hour.

You only need to use Air3 three times a week for the first 4 weeks, then 2 times a week for 2 months. Next, you’ll just need a top-up once every three months. Within the first three weeks, you should be able to see results such as smooth skin, and a noticeable hair reduction after only 4-5 times of treatment (* refers to a decrease in hair count within 3 weeks, sourced from third-party laboratory testing reports. Individual results may vary).

Also Read:Ulike Air3 vs. Air+ IPL Device: Which Should You Buy?

Other Ways of At-Home Hair Removal

Besides IPL, there are many other hair removal methods. To treat your skin for long-lasting hair removal, you have laser and IPL hair removal methods. In most cases, the laser technique is done at a salon or in a dermatologist’s clinic.

The major hair removal methods include shaving, IPL hair removal, waxing, laser hair removal, electrolysis, depilatory cream, and epilation. The common drawback in epilation, laser, and electrolysis hair removal methods is the painful experience. Depilatory creams, waxing, and shaving though still used by many, these methods aren’t long-lasting.

1.Shaving

How Does IPL Hair Removal Work? | Dr Davin Lim (4)Shaving as an at-home hair removal technique has been used for ages by both men and women of all ages. Although not painful and cheap, hair regrows fast within a short period. Anyone can shave him/herself and it takes a short time to do the shaving.

And while other options like laser are limited to the body areas you can remove hair, shaving takes care of every part of the body. The risks associated with shaving are cuts, irritation, razor burns, and nicks. Ingrown hair is the major disadvantage of using the shaving hair removal method.

2.Waxing

How Does IPL Hair Removal Work? | Dr Davin Lim (5)Waxing hair removal was adopted largely in the 1960s and is today used by many worldwide. The different ways you can use to wax the hair on your legs, arms, underarms, stomach, and face are strip waxing, hard waxing, sugar waxing, and fruit and chocolate waxing.

Pulling out the hair with wax is painful. For a less painful experience, trim the hair to about ½ – ¼ inch. With proper waxing, it takes 3-4 weeks for the hair to regrow.

3.Laser Hair Removal

With laser hair removal devices available for home use, you can now long-lasting remove any unwanted hair from your body. Since laser light energy is strong, it’ll take you at least 6 months to remove unwanted hair long-lasting.

Due to the strong beam of light used to destroy the hair follicle, one is likely to experience minimal pain or incur burns if the laser device is used by an inexperienced person.

4.Epilation

Epilation is a cheap and easy hair removal technique anyone can use at home. Epilation devices are available everywhere, cheap to buy, and simple to use. This method entails using an epilator to pull out the unwanted hair from the body.

Epilation is among the most painful hair removal technique. However, as one continues to epilate, the painfulness decreases.

Also Read:Waxing vs Shaving: Is Waxing Better than Shaving?

Conclusion

Remember you have to go looking for home-consuming treatment devices and yet you can get the Ulike Sapphire Air3 at a discounted price. The ergonomic and elegant style makes this portable at-home hair removal handset your most convenient device to use when at home and during travel.

How Does IPL Hair Removal Work? | Dr Davin Lim (2024)

FAQs

How Does IPL Hair Removal Work? | Dr Davin Lim? ›

IPL stands for intense pulse light . It's a type of light treatment that uses intense pulses of light to stimulate or produce heat within tissues and within the skin. When the light is absorbed by the melanin in the hair follicles, it turns into heat destroying the hair follicles and setting the hair root dormant.

How does the IPL hair removal system work? ›

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light - it works by concentrating a beam of light onto hair follicles, heating them up and stunting regrowth. One of the best things about IPL devices is that they are easy to use at home and can cut down on trips to the salon.

Does IPL hair removal work permanently? ›

Neither treatment is permanent permanent, but the results for both IPL and laser hair removal can last for months, and both devices are FDA-approved for reducing the amount of hair regrowth over time. The IPL treatment might save you some discomfort compared to laser, though.

What is the science behind IPL hair removal? ›

What's the science behind IPL hair removal systems? “The light is absorbed by the dark pigment present in the hair, melanin, and as a result the follicle heats up to about 60 degrees Celsius. At that temperature the protein in the follicles stops growing hair.

Does IPL work on grey hair? ›

Unfortunately the answer is no when it comes to grey/white hair and laser hair removal.

How does the hair come out after IPL? ›

After IPL hair removal

The hair will appear to grow (though very slowly) for 2 to 4 weeks and should then fall out; this is the treated hair being pushed out of the follicle, not new growth. Any hair that does not fall out was either too fine, too light, too deeply rooted or possibly wasn't treated.

Does IPL work on pubic hair? ›

In addition, with IPL, you can achieve long-term results, provided you repeat the treatment regularly. This is ideal if your aim is permanent pubic hair removal, and it's also why using IPL in the bikini area or for intimate area hair removal is such a popular option.

Is it possible to remove 100% of hair with IPL? ›

“I will NEVER EVER have any hair after IPL hair removal”

We cannot promise 100% permanent hair removal. We can also only treat active hairs (in the 'anagen' cycle).

Will pubic hair grow back after IPL? ›

After a single session of laser hair removal, some hair will grow back. However, it will be finer and lighter than before. For optimal results, patients usually undergo multiple sessions. Each session leads to a greater reduction in hair regrowth.

Does IPL eventually stop hair growth? ›

Many people report they achieve permanent hair reduction after just a few treatments. However, some people may require touch-ups every few years to keep those hair bulbs from sprouting out new follicles. IPL hair removal treatments are a great way to achieve long-lasting results without the hassle of shaving or waxing.

Does IPL work if you don't shave? ›

If you don't shave before your laser hair removal session, the light energy may not penetrate the hair follicle, resulting in an ineffective treatment. In addition, if the hair is too long there is a risk of uneven coverage which can cause patchy results. Yes, you can shave up to an hour before your IPL treatment.

Do home IPL devices work? ›

Efficacy. Long-Term Reduction: Home IPL devices offer long-term hair reduction. With consistent use, they can significantly reduce hair growth over time. Traditional methods provide temporary results, requiring frequent maintenance.

Do brown spots come back after IPL? ›

Sometimes a specific brown spot that resolved with IPL treatment may come back months or years later. This does not mean the treatment did not work, but rather, the treatment worked and the spot returned due to aging and lifestyle factors, and it should respond well to another treatment.

What happens if you use IPL too often? ›

You can overuse at-home IPL. If you use your device too often, you won't speed up your hair removal treatments and could set yourself up for side effects. Like nearly everything in life, IPL works best when following the recommended treatment plans. That's typically twice a week over 8 weeks, for starters.

How long does IPL take to permanently remove hair? ›

After completing a session of 12 weeks, the hair growth will reduce completely, providing you with silky, smooth skin for a longer time. However, you may have to continue touch-ups as needed. It is most effective on darker coloured body hair, as the melanin absorbs the light.

How long does IPL hair removal take to work? ›

After completing a session of 12 weeks, the hair growth will reduce completely, providing you with silky, smooth skin for a longer time. However, you may have to continue touch-ups as needed. It is most effective on darker coloured body hair, as the melanin absorbs the light.

How effective is the IPL hair removal device? ›

IPL treatments, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology, show that people get 83.3% less hair growth after one month and 78.1% less after three months. Results can last for years or even permanently. This makes IPL an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy long-lasting smoothness.

Does IPL completely stop hair growth? ›

The hair will grow back over a long period of time – so it's not 100% permanent, but the expensive, long-lasting hair removal treatment offers almost-permanent hair removal after a series of repeat visits. So how does it work? Laser hair removal safely sends light pulses from laser to growing body hair.

How long does IPL results last hair removal? ›

IPL is semi-permanent and does need maintenance. Maintenance could be a yearly treatment or even 3-5years down the track, depending on the individual.

References

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