Laser vs IPL: Which Is Better for Hair Removal? – There are many hair removal treatments available today, and one of the biggest debates at the moment is IPL vs laser for hair removal.
So what is the difference between them, and which is better for your needs?
This article breaks down all you need to know about each treatment, their benefits, and what you need to consider before you choose one.
What Is Intense Pulsed Light Laser?
Intense Pulsed Light Laser, more commonly known as IPL, is a therapy that uses light energy to target colors on the skin. The light beam does not focus on a specific spot; instead, it spreads across a patch of hair and skin.
The beam of light targets dark hair pigments, causing them to shed. This can be done in multiple settings, which is why IPL requires more sessions to completely eliminate hair from the target area.
While it effectively removes hair, IPL is not explicitly developed as a hair removal treatment. And despite the use of the word “laser,” in truth, IPL does not use lasers during the procedure. Instead, IPL uses multiple wavelengths of pulsating light to help treat various skin conditions simultaneously.
This procedure provides the best results on pale or light brown skin and is excellent for treating the following:
- Acne
- Stretch marks
- Discolored skin
- Dark spots from hormonal changes
- Liver or age spots
- Unwanted hair
- Broken blood vessels
- Fine wrinkles
- Scars
- Spider veins
- Birthmarks
- Freckles
- Redness from rosacea
Benefits of IPL Hair Removal
IPL is a minimally invasive procedure designed to improve the color and texture of the skin.
Here are some of its biggest benefits:
- Quick
- More convenient than waxing or epilating
- Cheap hair removal treatment
- Does not hurt at all
- Prevents ingrown hairs permanently
- Gets rid of sunspots
- Permanent hair removal treatments
- Safe
- Effectively targets large areas of skin
IPL Hair Removal Limitations
When it comes to IPL for hair removal, patients need at least six sessions to get rid of 70% of unwanted hair. Furthermore, IPL is only effective as a hair removal treatment for those with light skin and dark hair.
Its biggest limitation in hair removal is that you must wait for the hair to grow back enough for the treatment to work.
Patients with the following skin conditions cannot undergo IPL for hair removal:
- Recently tanned skin (using tanning beds, sunlight, or creams)
- Sensitivity to light
- Keloid scar tissue
- Severe scarring
- Skin resurfacing disorder
- Possibility of skin cancer
What Is Laser Removal?
Laser hair removal works by directing wavelengths of light to the targeted hair follicle for a specific duration. It destroys the hair root by attacking the melanin in the hair follicle, thus halting or significantly slowing down the hair growth cycle.
Since laser treatment is more targeted than IPL, it does not cause damage to the surrounding skin and is only absorbed into the targeted hair follicles.
Laser treatment may be less effective in dark-skinned individuals as there is less contrast between their skin tone and hair color.
Benefits of Laser Removal
- Method for permanent hair removal
- Highly targeted
- More effective at disabling hair growth in the long term (fewer sessions required)
- Does not affect or damage the surrounding skin
- No pain
- Safe
- Takes very little time
- Targets more hair strands at once
- More cost-efficient in the long run
- No need to grow hair in between treatments
- Works on any part of the body
- Prevents and eliminates ingrown hair
- No recovery time needed
Are you convinced that laser removal is for you? All you need is a top-notch medical spa that offers a reliable laser hair removal treatment. One that’s conducted by highly-experienced registered nurses and laser technicians with specialized aesthetic training.
Thankfully, SEV Laser’s laser hair removal is available for you. They provide laser hair removal treatments for all genders and skin types at over 27 locations in the United States. You can check SEV”s one of the most popular locations Austin Hair Removal or choose the nearest for you.
What’s more?
They also offer a range of skin firming, body contouring, and neurotoxin-based treatments!
Laser Hair Removal Limitations
Laser hair removal can take anywhere between 4 to 8 sessions, depending on the skin type, hair color, and effectiveness of the treatment. Laser undoubtedly wins the laser hair removal vs IPL battle when it comes to the number of sessions.
It isn’t recommended to use laser hair removal on eyelids or eyebrows to prevent eye injuries.
There are also a few conditions in which a person should not get laser treatment. You cannot undergo the procedure if you:
- Are prone to cold sores
- Are pregnant
- Are taking acne treatment or similar medications
- Have a history of skin cancer
- Have skin cancer
- Have keloid scars
- Have genital herpes
To ensure the laser treatment is effective, you will have to shave before each session. You must avoid procedures like waxing, bleaching, tweezing, threading, or epilating for at least four weeks before each session.
