By Nancy H, PharmD
Updated: September 29, 2024
5 minutes
Let’s assume we all know what IPL hair removal is. Which one is IPL Photofacial again? You went to a dermatologist or even a beauty salon and someone asked or suggested you get an IPL Photofacial. What do they mean, and how does it differ from the regular IPL hair removal that everybody knows? Besides helping with hair removal, can IPL also remove acne, redness, and other skin issues?
Now, I know I’ve made some really serious assumptions above that everybody knows what IPL hair removal means. Pardon my manners. Someone reading this post may even be coming across this idea for the first time and wondering what IPL is in the first place. For the sake of these ones, let’s start by shedding light on this beauty routine
A Look at The IPL Innovation
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light, and it’s exactly what the name says. It is a collection of lights of varying wavelengths used by doctors and beauty consultants to treat skin infections and get rid of unwanted body hair. So, if you have facial hair that you don’t like or you’re searching for a practical way to keep your armpits and legs hair-free, IPL can be an excellent hair removal technology for you.
You’ll purchase a device that works based on this technology and follow its usage instructions. You will typically have to shave the hair a bit (if it has grown long) and flash the light directly on your skin. Different body parts require different light intensities and an excellent IPL device such as the Ulike Air 10 Sapphire IPL does this perfectly and automatically. Its SkinSensor picks up your skin’s tone and automatically selects the right mode and intensity for you. The device is reputed for being the first to feature a double light source and an impressive SHR mode for the quick removal of stubborn, spiky furs.
When you flash the IPL light on your skin, the rays travel deep into the hair follicles, where they meet the color-giving pigment called melanin. This melani generates heat that affects the follicles’ ability to continue sending hairs to the skin’s surface. A good IPL device does not cause significant discomfort and should come with accessories like goggles, a razor, and a carrying pouch. All these and more are part of the Ulike Air 10 package.
So, What’s an IPL Photofacial?
IPL Photofacial is the therapeutic use of IPL technology to fix various skin issues such as uneven tones, wrinkles, redness, spider veins, and age spots. We can say it’s a version of IPL that focuses primarily on skin restoration and not hair removal. In view of this, its mechanism of action will differ from that of hair removers.
If you have an IPL Photofacial session booked with a cosmetic specialist, I’m sure you would want to know what to expect. Oh! Did I mention that you would need someone to carry out this procedure on you? Yes, you should know this. Most often, institutions and beauty outfits that offer laser and IPL treatments can help out with this. You need to get the filter right and deliver the correct light intensity to your skin to get the results you want. Besides, if you’re working on your face or hard-to-reach body areas, self-treatment is often challenging.
Your attending cosmetic specialist will first ensure you’re relaxed and then get your skin cleaned. Depending on what the goal of the photo facial is, they will then use a specialized IPL device to “shoot” some light into your skin, which will travel down to hit the pigments. The procedure can take several minutes, depending on the body area involved and the skin issue being tackled. One session is often insufficient, but a maximum of five spaced six weeks apart appears common with most skin issues requiring this cosmetic procedure.
Now that you have an idea of what IPL hair removal and IPL Photofacial are, it’s time to state the differences between the two. Beyond the difference obvious in the brief description made above, other salient factors separate the two. Check the table below to see how they both compare.
| Parameters | IPL Hair Removal | IPL Photofacial |
| Purpose | As the name says, IPL hair removal eliminates or reduces unwanted body hair | IPL Photofacial treats many skin issues, resulting in improved skin tones and texture |
| Mechanism of Action | Light from an IPL device hits the melanin in the hair follicles beneath the skin. Melanin is the substance that gives the skin its characteristic color. When the light reaches melanin, it absorbs it and generates heat that dislodges the hair-growth cycle of the follicles, resulting in surface hair falling off and delaying the growth of new ones. | Filtered light from an IPL device heats the skin, stimulating collagen production. Collagen is the main structural protein found in the body’s connecting tissue. When collagen is thus produced, the skin becomes revived, rejuvenated, and firmer to look at |
| Body Areas Covered | Face, armpits, chests, and legs. In short, anywhere hair grows, including the bikini lines | Majorly on the face, hands, neck, and chest |
| Price | Only requires a one-off purchase of a premium IPL handset, which is often less than $350. | It can be very expensive because of the numerous sessions and time required to achieve the needed results |
| Self Application | IPL hair removal is an at-home method that users can self-apply without any safety or effectiveness issues | You often need someone to assist with a photo facial procedure. |
| Who Can Use? | IPL hair removal devices can be used by males and females so long as their skin and hair tones permit. | Women are often the ones who go for Photofacial, although there is nothing forbidding men from seeking the same. |
Bottom Line: What’s The Difference?
Although IPL hair removal and IPL Photofacial utilize the same technology, their specific methods of application and targeted purposes are different. IPL hair removal exploits the heat-generating ability of melanin when it comes in contact with light of certain wavelengths to disrupt the hair production process. IPL Photofacial, on its part, makes the skin look younger and firmer by stimulating the production of collagen, an essential structural protein in the connecting tissues. This protein reduces or neutralizes skin issues like pigmentation, age spots, wrinkles, and others, which is the hallmark of this cosmetic procedure.
