Do you want to learn more about IPL and what it can do for you?
IPL or Intense Pulsed Light is a relatively new therapy that can be used cosmetically to provide non-chemical treatments that rejuvenate the skin, reduce or remove skin blemishes and scars. IPL is also very effectively used in the treatment of hair removal.
Effects of Age on the Skin
Photo aging results from exposure to UV rays (such as those from the sun) which break down the collagen and elastin fibres in the dermis layer.
Photo aging causes the skin to wrinkle and sag. Fine lines appear around the eyes and mouth and the skin ’s texture roughens. Overall the skin begins to lose elasticity as fat cells and moisture stores decline.
Other signs begin to appear including spider veins, abnormal pigmentation, age spots and enlarged pores.
What Is IPL And How Does It Work?
Light has different characteristics which cause particular biological effects on the living tissues. We all know the effects of sunlight on skin, that is one example of light creating an effect on the skin.
There are three chemicals in the skin (known as chromophores) that absorb light at a specific frequency. The three that are most relevant to IPL treatments are water, haemoglobin or blood and melanin which is the skin pigment.
Light is absorbed by these chromophores and converted to heat. This raises the temperature in the selected target to a level that causes coagulation, without harming the surrounding tissue.
How light interacts with the skin tissues depends upon different parameters such as wavelength and the density or strenght of energy used which is measured like heat output in joules.
IPL uses a filtered broad band light source that is produced in a flash lamp hand piece.
The light is an intense pulse of white light comprising of many wavelengths emitted in all directions which is captured and reflected into the skin allowing the desired range of wavelength to pass. In order to remove all the dangerous wavelengths, light passes through a filter thus obtaining only the suitable wavelengths for the treatment purposes.
So What Is The Difference Between Laser and IPL?
There is much confusion regarding the difference between laser and IPL for cosmetic therapies. To understand it more fully you need to know a bit about the skin and its layers. Each layer in the skin has a different purpose and contains different elements suited to that purpose. Both IPL and laser treatments work on certain of these elements to achieve their results.
The main difference is that lasers only emit one wavelength of light travelling. in one beam, in one direction. This means that laser has an effect on the skin to a certain depth only.
Pulsed light, on the otherhand, uses a composite beam of various wavelengths travelling in several directions that can penetrate to different depths in the layers of skin.
IPL machines emit light at various wavelengths including the wavelength used by Laser machines. So if you are trying to decide between IPL and laser treatments you will find that IPL offers more diverse treatment options.
Explanation of Skin And Its Layers
Skin contains many elements including sense receptors, capillaries, glands, hairs, collagen and elastin. Skin is made up of three layers, each having a different purpose and structure.
- Epidermis:
- The Epidermis is the top layer of skin. In this layer melanin is produced to protect our skin cells from harmful UV rays. There are no blood vessels here, but it contains keratin based structures such as hairs and nails.
- Dermis:
- The Dermis is the middle layer of the skin and comprises of a net of fibres made up of collagen and elastin. These fibres give the skin its tone. Also in this layer you will find blood vessels, nerves, glands and hair follicles.
- Hypodermis:
- The Hypodermis is considered a layer of fat and connective tissues that house larger blood vessels and nerves. Also known as the subcutaeneous layer or fatty tissue. The hypodermis is important for temperature regulation.
