By ULIKEBEAUTY
Updated: July 31, 2024
7 minutes
In the era of expensive semi-permanent laser hair removal treatments that cost thousands of dollars for a single part of the body, IPL devices provide an economical solution where a single and affordable IPL device can be used on the whole body.
Still, many people prefer in-salon laser hair removal because of the concerns about the safety of IPL hair removal devices. Thus, one of the questions people often ask is whether IPL or at-home laser hair removal is safe.
IPL devices have some side effects, but they are safe as long as you follow the standard practice. Therefore, let’s learn a few safety tips and practices for using IPL hair removal devices at home.
Table of Contents:
- Part 1: Understanding IPL Hair Removal Treat and Need of Safety During It
- Part 2: Safety Tips and Practices for Using an IPL Hair Removal Device at Home
- Part 3: Which IPL Hair Removal Device Should I Use Based on its Safety?
- Part 4: Conclusion
Understanding IPL Hair Removal Treat and Need of Safety During It
IPL hair removal technology is based on selective photothermolysis. It means that the light flashed from an IPL device is selectively absorbed into the pigmented part of your body which is the hair.
After that, the light changes into heat energy to destroy the hair follicles by burning them. Now, two things are associated with the risk of damage.
First, if the heat is not well-controlled, it can burn the skin and hair. Furthermore, the light from flashes of IPL can damage the eyes by absorption into the colored parts of the eyes [1].
Also, some IPL devices have an undefined light spectrum that might contain UV rays. On the other hand, most high-quality IPL devices have light energy from 500nm to 1200nm, which is outside the UV ray spectrum [2].
Safety Tips and Practices for Using an IPL Hair Removal Device at Home
Here are some safety tips and practices you should adopt to prevent the risks associated with using at-home IPL hair removal devices.
Before the Treatment Session
Here are the safety tips you should take before your IPL hair removal session.
1. Skin Tone and Hair Color Compatibility
IPL devices are generally compatible with light skin and dark hair colors. However, using the IPL device on dark skin can burn it, while using it on light hair makes it ineffective.
However, Just like laser hair removal with a particular technology that works on dark skin tones, some IPL devices also offer diverse skin tone and hair color compatibility.
Therefore, before buying an IPL device, check its compatibility with your skin tone and hair color to see if it will suit you.
2. Read the Instructions on the Device
Although similar, each IPL hair removal device comes with a unique set of instructions that include,
- How often you should use the device
- Which accessories are suitable for different body parts
- What should be the intensity settings
- How to stop the device from overheating
So, read the instructions in the device’s manual and follow them accurately to prevent accidents.
3. Perform a Patch Test
Even though an IPL device is safe and compatible with your skin and hair color, there is a chance that sensitive skin might react adversely to the IPL light. Therefore, always perform a patch test on a small area and wait for a day or two before starting your full-body IPL hair removal treatment.
This will help you determine which intensity level works well for you as well.
4. Ensure That the Treatment Area has Healthy Skin
IPL hair removal devices work best when used on healthy skin. Using the device on an area with active acne, scratches, dryness, or compromised skin barrier can aggravate the condition.
Also, it is associated with pigmentation, pain, inflammation, sensitivity, and scarring. Therefore, work with an IPL device on hydrated skin with a healthy barrier.
5. Find a Proper Place to do Your Treatment
While you do not need a specific place to do your IPL hair removal treatment, doing your hair removal sessions on tricky areas like underarms and bikini lines is risky. It is because you might miss a spot or slip while trying to flash the whole area.
Therefore, find a comfortable place where you have,
- Adequate lighting allows you to visualize your movements
- Mirror which can help you treat tricky areas
- A nearby switch to attach the IPL device
- No objects that can restrict your movements
During the Treatment Session
While you are doing your semi-permanent hair removal sessions, here are some points that you should keep in mind.
1. Shave the Skin Rather Than Plucking or Waxing it
Waxing and plucking the unwanted hair from your desired area of the treatment will remove the target of the light of an IPL device and it will be useless to use it. Rather, always shave the skin immediately or 1 day before your treatment so that light is adequately absorbed into the hair.
Also, do not try the treatment on unshaved hair as it will only burn the superficial hair strand without reaching the follicles.
2. Wear Your UV-protective glasses
Although IPL devices do not emit UV light, they emit strong light that can flash directly into your eyes and destroy your iris. Thus, you must protect one of your body’s most sensitive organs.
For this, wear your black shades of UV protective glasses so that no light can hurt your eyes.
3. Do Not Go Over a Single Section Too Often
An IPL device works in multiple sessions according to the hair growth cycle. Using it multiple times on a single area will do nothing more than give your skin irritation, redness, and swelling.
So, flash the device on a single section once or twice. Also, simply choose the auto-flash mode of the device. In this way, you won’t have to automatically flash it.
4. Prepare Yourself for The Discomfort
Every IPL hair removal device, no matter how good, is associated with some sort of discomfort. This discomfort feels like a snapping sensation on your skin.
So, do not be afraid or stop using the device when you first use an IPL device and experience it. However, if there is an intense burning sensation or pain, stop using the device and contact a doctor.
After the Treatment Session
The safety tips for using an IPL hair removal device do not end with your hair removal session. Here is what you should do after your treatment.
1. Do Your Aftercare of IPL Hair Removal Session
Every IPL hair removal session is followed by aftercare to pamper your skin, reduce the side effects of the IPL treatment, and prepare it for the next treatment. The essential and immediate step is moisturizing the skin.
Furthermore, you can use a cold compress to cool down your skin and reduce discomfort.
2. Follow the Timeline of IPL Hair Removal Sessions Strictly
As we said earlier, different IPL hair removal devices have different timelines for hair removal sessions. Some allow one session a week or two while others advise doing the treatment on alternate days for a few weeks.
This time is based on the intensity of the device. So, follow the timeline accurately to get the best results in a short time without compromising your skin.
3. Protect Your Skin From Sun, Tanning, and Damage in Between the Sessions
Just like laser hair removal sessions, you have to protect your skin from pigmentation and heat after IPL hair removal. For this,
- Avoid sunlight by staying indoors, applying sunscreen, and wearing UV-protective clothes
- Do not use tanning products or go to tanning baths
- Skip hot showers, saunas, and swimming for 24 hrs after the session
4. Contact an Expert, When Needed
If you have a good IPL device, there is little to no risk that you will experience a serious side effect. However, using low-quality or high-quality devices rashly makes your skin prone to damage.
So, contact a dermatologist if you experience extreme redness, burning, inflammation, or any undesired side effects.
Which IPL Hair Removal Device Should I Use Based on its Safety?
As you must have noticed, using a high-quality device is the key to the safety of IPL hair removal. So, we suggest you use the latest IPL hair removal device by Ulike.
Ulike Sapphire Air 10 IPL device offers the following benefits,
- It comes with dual light, and Ulike Air10 also provides advanced ice-cooling technology that ensures you experience minimal discomfort during the treatment.
- While Ulike Air 10 has UV filters for extra skin protection, its packaging comes with UV-protective glasses to prevent potential damage to your eyes.
- In contrast to other IPL hair removal devices, Ulike Air10 is compatible with a wide range of hair colors and skin tones, making it suitable for use on brown skin.
- This smart IPL hair removal device has skin sensors that only flash the IPL rays when the device touches skin of a compatible skin tone, which increases the device’s safety.
Conclusion
While there is no doubt about the use of at-home IPL hair removal devices and several devices available in the market are FDA-approved, you can make the device unsafe for yourself by ignoring the safe practices.
You need safety tips at every step, from using the device compatible with your skin, setting it up right, and doing a patch test to following the aftercare and timeline of hair removal sessions.
Therefore, this article discusses the 13 safety tips for using an IPL hair removal device.
References
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- Lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) association with cancerous lesions. Caerwyn Ash, corresponding author Godfrey Town, Rebecca Whittall, Louise Tooze, and Jaymie Phillips. Lasers Med Sci. Published online 2017 Sep 7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5653718/
- IPL Light VS UVA&B Light. DepSkin.com. https://www.depskin.com/ipl-light-vs-uvab-light/
