Broadband Light · Vascular · Pigmentation

IPL

How this page was made
This page was written with AI assistance and reviewed against the sources listed under References below. It is general information only, not medical advice. See our full disclaimer for how SHEA creates and reviews treatment information.
01

What it is

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. It is not a laser. Instead of emitting one fixed wavelength, IPL devices produce broadband light that is filtered into selected wavelength ranges depending on the device and treatment goal.

Different wavelengths within that light can be absorbed by targets such as melanin in pigmented areas and hemoglobin in superficial blood vessels. This is why IPL can be used for several concerns associated with photodamaged skin, including some brown pigmentation and visible vascular changes.

IPL is also not one standardized treatment. Devices differ in their filters, pulse structure, cooling systems, energy settings, and intended uses, so results from one IPL system or protocol should not automatically be applied to every IPL treatment.

02

Why people consider it

  • Visible facial redness or small superficial blood vessels
  • Brown spots or uneven pigmentation associated with sun damage
  • A combination of vascular and pigmented changes in photodamaged skin
  • They are comparing broadband light treatment with more target-specific laser treatments
03

What the experience is like

The handpiece is placed against the skin and delivers a series of pulses across the treatment area. Cooling may be built into the handpiece or used separately, depending on the device.

Temporary redness, warmth, swelling, or darkening of treated pigmented areas can occur afterward. The exact reaction and recovery depend on the treatment target, device, filter, energy settings, and individual skin response.

IPL is often performed as a series of sessions rather than as a one-time treatment. In the published studies included in a 2022 systematic review of IPL for skin rejuvenation, treatment courses generally involved several sessions, but there was no consensus on one standard set of treatment parameters.

04

Limitations & considerations

Skin type and treatment settings matter
Melanin in normal skin can also absorb IPL energy. This is particularly important in darker skin phototypes, where inappropriate wavelength selection or energy settings can increase the risk of unwanted pigment change or thermal injury. This does not mean IPL cannot be used in Asian or darker skin: published studies have reported successful treatment in appropriately selected Asian patients using specific devices and cooling protocols. It does mean that evidence from lighter skin or from one device should not be generalized to every patient or IPL system.
  • IPL settings need to account for skin phototype, recent sun exposure, treatment target, and the characteristics of the specific device
  • Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, burns, blistering, or other pigment changes are possible complications of light-based treatment
  • Melasma should not simply be treated as an ordinary brown spot. Evidence for IPL in melasma is mixed and protocol-dependent, and melasma can recur or worsen after irritation or light-based procedures
  • Claims that IPL is universally better or worse than a laser are too broad; the appropriate treatment depends on the diagnosis, wavelength or filter, device, and treatment goal
  • Device-specific contraindications, medication precautions, and treatment exclusions should be checked for the actual IPL system being used
  • No specific degree of pigment, redness, or overall skin improvement can be guaranteed
Evidence note
A 2022 systematic review included 16 studies involving 637 participants with Fitzpatrick skin types I through IV. Most studies reported improvements in one or more measures of photoaging, including telangiectasia, erythema, pigmentation, lentigines, texture, pores, or wrinkles. However, nine of the included studies were rated as having low methodological quality, and the authors found no consensus on IPL treatment parameters. Seven studies also found that another treatment, or IPL combined with another treatment, produced better results than IPL alone. The review therefore supports IPL as a potentially useful treatment category while also showing that the underlying evidence is heterogeneous.
An earlier prospective study evaluated 73 Asian participants receiving five or more full-face IPL treatments at three- to four-week intervals using a specific IPL device with a 560 nm filter and integrated contact cooling. After the fifth treatment, more than 80% of participants received a combined patient-and-physician rating of greater than 60% improvement for pigmentation, telangiectasia, skin texture, and overall appearance. Burning sensation and erythema were reported in two participants and described as temporary. Because this was a device-specific uncontrolled study, it should not be interpreted as a general safety or success rate for all Asian patients or all IPL platforms.
Evidence involving skin of color also shows why broad claims about IPL risk should be avoided. A 2024 systematic review of treatments for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation identified IPL studies in Asian participants with Fitzpatrick skin types III to V that reported moderate improvement and mainly temporary adverse effects. At the same time, darker skin is more prone to PIH in general, and energy-based treatment itself can sometimes worsen pigmentation. Patient selection and treatment parameters therefore remain important.

References

Peer-reviewed literature.

1. Goldberg DJ. Current Trends in Intense Pulsed Light. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012;5(6):45–53.
Peer-reviewed · Clinical review · No relevant conflicts disclosed
2. Negishi K, Wakamatsu S, Kushikata N, Tezuka Y, Kotani Y, Shiba K. Full-face photorejuvenation of photodamaged skin by intense pulsed light with integrated contact cooling: initial experiences in Asian patients. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2002;30(4):298–305.
Peer-reviewed · Prospective study (n=73) · Asian patients · Device-specific
3. Sales AFS, Pandolfo IL, de Almeida Cruz M, et al. Intense Pulsed Light on skin rejuvenation: a systematic review. Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022;314(9):823–838.
Peer-reviewed · Systematic review · 16 studies (n=637) · Heterogeneous evidence
4. Mar K, Khalid B, Maazi M, Ahmed R, Wang OJE, Khosravi-Hafshejani T. Treatment of Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation in Skin of Colour: A Systematic Review. Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 2024;28(5):473–480.
Peer-reviewed · Systematic review · Skin of color · Includes IPL evidence
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