The Technology and Application of Intense Pulse Light
One thing in common about women and swimmers is that they remove their body hair. For women, hair removal is mostly for hygienic purposes and for swimmers, whether male or female, to reduce water resistance. Shaving is the traditional method but, after a few days, body hair grows back. For permanent hair removal, many people turn to intense pulse laser light (IPL) technology, a more affordable and more popular option than laser hair removal. IPL technology is not just used for beauty treatments, however.. It is also used by doctors to treat certain sun-caused dyspigmentation, acne, broken capillaries, pigmented birth marks, and other skin disorders.
IPL employs the use of focused, broad-spectrum light generated from a xenon flash lamp. The lamp is connected to capacitors which enable the bulb to produce short bursts of high-intensity, high-energy light. The IPL apparatus is housed in a hand-held wand or an articulated arm that is moved slowly over the patient's skin. As the device is moved, the light goes through the skin and reaches the bulb, or root, of the hair shaft. Upon striking the bulb, the light is converted into heat which burns the bulb and the hair shaft itself. In addition, the heat also kills the hair's papilla and follicle, eliminating the chances of new hair to grow.
During treatment, the patient only feels minor discomfort akin to that of a light sunburn or a slight irritation. At worst, the pain could be similar to that of having his or her hair waxed. In addition, the light that emanates from the IP wand is filtered so that it does not produce harmful ultraviolet rays that can damage the skin.