Question:
What is the difference between laser and IPL?
Answer:
Laser and IPL are both light sources that, throughout the last many years, have been used to treat skin conditions. Seeing as laser light only uses 1 wavelength, it makes it very specific, and it is thereby able to target very specific tissue in the skin, including melanin (the pigment that gives the skin the brown colour and protects it form sunlight), water, and haemoglobin (the red blood cells which transport oxygen to the body's organs and tissue). Laser can be used for treatment against signs of ageing, and sun damages. The treatment can also remove freckles, birthmarks, thread veins, tattoos, and unwanted hair growth. Laser can even be used to stimulate the collagen production, and also for removal of skin layers with great precision. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is light, which consists of several wavelengths, although within a specific spectrum. Just as a laser, IPL can be used to alleviate visible sun damages and ageing, as well as for removing hair. IPL is, however, less specific than laser, which is why inappropriate use can lead to complications. In order to avoid these risks, the treatment provider will have to use lower energy level than would be possible with a laser. For this reason, patients will often have to go through numerous treatments with IPL to obtain the desired cosmetic result.