IPL has been shown to help with several skin conditions and offers potential benefits. “In general, the benefits of IPL are very well studied and supported by hundreds of peer-reviewed papers,” Anderson says.
Here are the potential benefits that show the most promise, according to research.
May Improve Skin Discoloration
IPL may be especially effective for addressing skin discoloration, such as sunspots, spider veins, rosacea, broken capillaries, and skin redness. “It delivers energy to specific targets in the skin, and specific wavelength filters are used to treat redness, brown pigment, or a combination of both,” Dr. Hart says.
One small study involving 20 people found IPL is a safe, effective treatment for pigmented lesions (darkened spots on the skin caused by the pigment melanin).
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Meanwhile, a past study reveals that one IPL session plus two months of applying daily moisturizer resulted in a significant reduction in intensity and size of sunspots, as reported by the study participants. They also reported improved skin radiance, roughness, and texture. The study was supported by L’Oreal, a cosmetics company.
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Hart adds that most patients see a reduction in sunspots after just one session. “I often get 80 to 90 percent clearance of sunspots after just one session,” she says.
May Lessen Signs of Skin Aging
IPL may also have an antiaging effect. “Higher wavelengths can stimulate collagen production, reducing the appearance of fine lines and pores,” Hart says. (Collagen is a protein that provides structure, strength, and elasticity to the skin.)
In one clinical trial, 38 participants interested in improving wrinkles around the eyes received IPL treatment once a month for three months. At the six-month follow-up, more than 50 percent of participants were moderately to considerably satisfied with the treatment results.
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May Help Tame Acne
“IPL can help reduce the redness and inflammation in acne or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from recent acne breakouts,” Hart says. It works by decreasing production of sebum (an oily substance secreted by the skin), reducing bacteria in the skin that leads to acne.
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In one study, 31 people with mild to moderate acne were treated with IPL every three weeks. At the three-week posttreatment check-in, 87 percent of participants saw 75 percent of acne lesions cleared.
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However, IPL may not be as effective for treating acne as other options. One meta-analysis of eight randomized controlled trials, for instance, found it wasn’t very effective overall, especially when compared to photodynamic therapy (a treatment that combines light with special medicines to destroy specific skin cells).
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May Reduce the Size of Scars
The reasons why IPL works to reduce the size of scars are still being explored, but it’s thought to boost the formation of new blood vessels.
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One study evaluated the effect of one, two, or three IPL sessions on treating raised scars that typically result from injury. The pigmentation of the scars did not change over the course of treatment, but thickness reduced by nearly 10 percent after one session, 15 percent after the second, and more than 20 percent after the third. The study was small, however, with 16 participants, so more research is needed to confirm.
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Hart adds that acne scars are often better treated with an ablative laser (a technology that uses energy to remove the outer layer of skin and heat the underlying tissue) or a non-ablative laser (a less aggressive technology that uses energy to heat the underlying tissue without removing the outer layer of skin).
Removes Unwanted Body Hair
IPL is one of the original methods for laser hair removal, Anderson says. It works by targeting the melanin in the hair shaft and destroying it with heat, thereby inhibiting future hair growth.
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While IPL isn’t quite as effective as other hair-removal lasers, it’s typically less expensive.
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