Intense pulsed light: Difference between revisions

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{{more medical citations needed|date=July 2012}}

'''Intense pulsed light''' ('''IPL''') is a technology used by cosmetic and medical practitioners to perform various skin treatments for aesthetic and therapeutic purposes, including [[hair removal]], [[photorejuvenation]] (e.g. the treatment of [[skin pigmentation]], sun damage, and thread veins) as well as to alleviate [[Dermatological|dermatologic]] diseases such as acne.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kumaresan|first1=M|last2=Srinivas|first2=C R|title=Efficacy of IPL in treatment of acne vulgaris : Comparison of single- and burst-pulse mode in IPL|date=2010-01-01|journal=Indian Journal of Dermatology|volume=55|issue=4|pages=370–372|doi=10.4103/0019-5154.74550|issn=0019-5154|pmc=3051300|pmid=21430893|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wat|first1=Heidi|last2=Wu|first2=Douglas C.|last3=Rao|first3=Jaggi|last4=Goldman|first4=Mitchel P.|date=2014-04-01|title=Application of intense pulsed light in the treatment of dermatologic disease: a systematic review|journal=Dermatologic Surgery |volume=40|issue=4|pages=359–377|doi=10.1111/dsu.12424|issn=1524-4725|pmid=24495252|s2cid=205081994}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Piccolo|first1=D.|last2=Di Marcantonio|first2=D.|last3=Crisman|first3=G.|last4=Cannarozzo|first4=G.|last5=Sannino|first5=M.|last6=Chiricozzi|first6=A.|last7=Chimenti|first7=S.|date=2014-01-01|title=Unconventional use of intense pulsed light|journal=BioMed Research International|volume=2014|pages=618206|doi=10.1155/2014/618206|issn=2314-6141|pmc=4167959|pmid=25276803|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Belenky|first1=Inna|last2=Tagger|first2=Cruzy|last3=Bingham|first3=Andrea|date=2015-11-01|title=Intense Pulsed Light Pulse Configuration Manipulation Can Resolve the Classic Conflict Between Safety and Efficacy|journal=Journal of Drugs in Dermatology|volume=14|issue=11|pages=1255–1260|issn=1545-9616|pmid=26580874}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=April 2016}} IPL is increasingly used in optometry and ophthalmology as well, to treat evaporative dry eye disease due to [[meibomian gland]] dysfunction.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Toyos|first1=Rolando|last2=McGill|first2=William|last3=Briscoe|first3=Dustin|date=2015-01-01|title=Intense pulsed light treatment for dry eye disease due to meibomian gland dysfunction; a 3-year retrospective study|journal=Photomedicine and Laser Surgery|volume=33|issue=1|pages=41–46|doi=10.1089/pho.2014.3819|issn=1557-8550|pmc=4298157|pmid=25594770}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Vegunta|first1=Sravanthi|last2=Patel|first2=Dharmendra|last3=Shen|first3=Joanne F.|date=2016-03-01|title=Combination Therapy of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy and Meibomian Gland Expression (IPL/MGX) Can Improve Dry Eye Symptoms and Meibomian Gland Function in Patients With Refractory Dry Eye: A Retrospective Analysis|journal=Cornea|volume=35|issue=3|pages=318–322|doi=10.1097/ICO.0000000000000735|issn=1536-4798|pmid=26785301|s2cid=24896902}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Vora|first1=Gargi K.|last2=Gupta|first2=Preeya K.|date=2015-07-01|title=Intense pulsed light therapy for the treatment of evaporative dry eye disease|journal=Current Opinion in Ophthalmology|volume=26|issue=4|pages=314–318|doi=10.1097/ICU.0000000000000166|issn=1531-7021|pmid=26058031|s2cid=39053597}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Craig|first1=Jennifer P.|last2=Chen|first2=Yen-Heng|last3=Turnbull|first3=Philip R. K.|date=2015-03-01|title=Prospective trial of intense pulsed light for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction|journal=Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science|volume=56|issue=3|pages=1965–1970|doi=10.1167/iovs.14-15764|issn=1552-5783|pmid=25678687|doi-access=}}</ref> IPL is also used for home based hair removal.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Home IPL Hair Removal Devices Market Size, Demand, Competitive Insights 2032 |url=https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/product/home-ipl-hair-removal-devices-market/?utm_source=chatgpt.com/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Verified Market Reports |language=en-US}}</ref>

The technology uses a high-powered, hand-held, computer-controlled flashgunlinear flashlamp to deliver an intense, visible and near infra-red, broad-spectrum pulse of light, generally in the visible spectral range of 400 to 1200&nbsp;nm. Various cutoffcut-on filters are commonly used to selectively filter out shorter wavelengths, especially potentially damaging [[ultraviolet]] and longer wavelength infra-red light. The resulting light has a spectral range that targets specific structures and [[chromophores]] (e.g. melanin in hair, or oxyhemoglobin in blood vessels) that are heated to destruction and reabsorbed by the body. IPL shares some similarities with laser treatments, in that they both use light to heat and destroyinduce a biologic effect in their targets. But unlike lasers that use a single wavelength (color) of light which typically matches only one chromophore and hence only treats one condition, IPL uses a broad spectrum that when used with interchangeable filters, allowing it to be used against several conditions. This can be achieved when the IPL technician selects the appropriate filter that matches a specific chromophore.<ref name="CID">{{cite journal |last=Gold |first=Michael H. |title=Lasers and light sources for the removal of unwanted hair |journal=Clinics in Dermatology |date=September–October 2007 |volume=25 |issue=5 |pages=443–453 |doi=10.1016/j.clindermatol.2007.05.017 |pmid=17870522}}</ref>

==Description==

''Intense pulsed light'' is the use of intense [[Pulse (physics)|pulses]] of non-[[coherent light]] over a range of [[wavelength]]s from approximately 500&nbsp;nm to approximately 1200&nbsp;nm.<ref name=IPLS>{{cite web|title=Intense Pulsed Light Systems|url=http://www.palomarmedical.com/uploaddocs/intense-pulsed-light-systems.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127221735/http://palomarmedical.com/uploadDocs/Intense-Pulsed-Light-Systems.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 November 2010|publisher=HMP Communications|access-date=2 August 2012}}</ref> [[Linear Xenon]] flashlamps produce high output bursts of broad spectrum. CoolingThe flashlamp is typically cooled by water flow in a glass tube concentric with the flashlamp. In addition to its cooling of the flashlamp, the water envelope also filters out longer wavelength infrared light that is heavily absorbed in water and could damage the patient's skin that has a high concentration of water. Light generated by the flashlamp is typically coupled to the skin by cooled (in many cases) lightguides which are also used to protect the skin in contact with the device.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lahiri|first=Koushik|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-HKJDAAAQBAJ&q=Xenon%20flash%20lamps%20produce%20high%20output%20bursts%20of%20broad%20spectrum.%20Cooling%20is%20used%20to%20protect%20the%20skin%20in%20contact%20with%20the%20device.&pg=PA54|title=Textbook of Lasers in Dermatology|date=2016-07-30|publisher=JP Medical Ltd|isbn=978-93-85999-62-8|language=en}}</ref>

Regulations governing IPL vary by jurisdiction.<ref name="DOH">{{cite web|title=Laser Information |url=http://www.doh.state.fl.us/MQA/medical/me_laser.html |publisher=Florida Department of Health |access-date=2 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104061415/http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/medical/me_laser.html |archive-date=November 4, 2012 }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2020}} A distinction is sometimes made{{By whom|date=March 2020}} between beauty-grade and medical-grade machines, mainly to get around regulations.

IPL was invented in 1992 by Shimon Eckhouse who wrote the first patent describing the technology in detail (US patent No. 5,405,368 filed in 1992 and granted in 1995). The first medical use of IPL was aimed at the treatment of vascular lesions and introduced to the medical market by ESC Medical which was founded by Shimon Eckhouse to develop and commercialize the technology. The first [[FDA Consumer|FDA]] approval of IPL for treatment of vascular lesions was forgranted [[telangiectasias]]to ESC Medical in 1995 with additional FDA clearances for treatment of pigmented lesions and hair removal granted in 1996 and 1997 respectively. Use quickly spread to a variety of medical and cosmetic settings.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Goldberg|first=David J.|date=June 2012|title=Current Trends in Intense Pulsed Light|journal=The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology|volume=5|issue=6|pages=45–53|issn=1941-2789|pmc=3390232|pmid=22768357}}</ref> Treatment is generally safe and effective, but complications can occur, such as [[hyperpigmentation]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Current Trends in Intense Pulsed Light|date = Jun 2012|journal = Clin Aesthet Dermatol.}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The [[polychromatic]] light can reach multiple [[chromophores]] in human skin: mainly [[hemoglobin]], water, and [[melanin]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Tseng|first1=Sheng-Hao|last2=Bargo|first2=Paulo|last3=Durkin|first3=Anthony|last4=Kollias|first4=Nikiforos|date=2009-08-17|title=Chromophore concentrations, absorption and scattering properties of human skin in-vivo|journal=Optics Express|volume=17|issue=17|pages=14599–14617|doi=10.1364/oe.17.014599|issn=1094-4087|pmc=2754563|pmid=19687939|bibcode=2009OExpr..1714599T}}</ref> This results in selective [[photothermolysis]] of [[blood vessels]], [[Pigmentation|pigmented cells]], or [[hair follicle]]s.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

==Hair removal==

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It is important to note that these studies utilized a variety of IPL devices on patients with various hair types, skin types, and targeted skin areas. Thus the results are not directly comparable.

According to the FDA, permanent hair removalreduction means the "long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing after a treatment regime." In other words, the number of hairs regrowing must be consistently greater than the duration of the complete growth cycle of hair follicles, which varies from four to twelve months by body ___location.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emittingproducts/resourcesforyouradiationemittingproducts/ucm252761.htm#1 |title=Laser Facts |publisher=FDA |access-date=23 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912203435/https://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/ResourcesforYouRadiationEmittingProducts/ucm252761.htm |archive-date=September 12, 2014 }}</ref> IPL has been found to be much less effective than laser hair removal; however, many patients experience satisfaction with significant hair reduction.<ref name=":3" />

A 2006 article in the journal ''[[Lasers in Medical Science]]'' compared IPL and both alexandrite and diode lasers. The review found no statistical difference in effectiveness, but a higher incidence of side effects with diode laser treatment. Hair reduction after six months was reported as 68.75% for alexandrite lasers, 71.71% for diode lasers, and 66.96% for IPL. Side effects were reported as 9.5% for alexandrite lasers, 28.9% for diode lasers, and 15.3% for IPL. All side effects were found to be temporary and even pigmentation changes returned to normal within six months.<ref>{{cite journal|last1 = Toosi|first1 = Parviz|title = A comparison study of the efficacy and side effects of different light sources in hair removal|journal = Lasers in Medical Science|date = April 2006|volume = 21|issue = 1|pages = 1–4|doi = 10.1007/s10103-006-0373-2|pmid = 16583183|last2 = Sadighha|first2 = Afshin|last3 = Sharifian|first3 = Ali|last4 = Razavi|first4 = Gita Meshkat|s2cid = 10093379}}</ref>

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==Medical use==

{{Expand section|date=June 2012}}

IPL was first developed for [[Vascular disease|vascular conditions]]. It is at least as effective as pulsed dye lasers and can penetrate deeper with reduced risk of [[purpura]] and [[hyperpigmentation]]. IPL can also be used for the treatment of dry eye conditions such as [[meibomian gland dysfunction]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aao.org/publications/eyenet/201207/upload/july-2012-clinical-update-cornea.pdf |title=Managing Blepharitis:Tried-and-True and New Approaches |author=Annie Stuart |date=July 2012 |publisher=EyeNet |access-date=February 22, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305165437/http://www.aao.org/publications/eyenet/201207/upload/July-2012-Clinical-Update-Cornea.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aao.org/pdf/aaosub_cornea_2012_syllabus.pdf |title=Pushing Surgical Boundaries, Professional Development, and Popular Opinion |last1=Aldave |first1=Anthony J. |last2=Afshari |first2=Natalie |last3=Colby |first3=Kathryn |date=10 November 2012 |publisher=The American Academy of Ophthalmology |access-date=February 22, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123230629/http://www.aao.org/pdf/AAOSub_Cornea_2012_Syllabus.pdf |archive-date=January 23, 2013 }}</ref> IPL can treat pigmented lesions with rapid recovery. Dyschromia can be cleared after repeated sessions. [[Photoaging]] treatment has been explored. A series of IPL can be used for facial rejuvenation, improving skin laxity and collagen production. IPL combined with facial injections can be used for dynamic rhytids. Home IPL devices have been developed.

IPL is employed in the treatment of a range of dermatological conditions including [[Photoaging#Retinoic acids and photodamage|photodamage]] induced dyspigmentation and vascular changes, [[poikiloderma of Civatte]], [[rosacea]], [[acne vulgaris]], sebaceous gland hyperplasia, broken capillaries, [[telangiectases]], [[vascular lesions]] (small blood vessels), [[pigmented lesions]] (freckles, [[liver spot]]s, [[birth mark]]s ), [[melasma]], [[actinic keratosis]], [[photorejuvenation]], basal cell carcinoma, and [[Bowen's disease]] (squamous cell carcinoma).<ref>{{Cite journal|title = Application of intense pulsed light in the treatment of dermatologic disease: a systematic review.|date = Apr 2014|journal = Dermatol. Surg.|doi = 10.1111/dsu.12424|pmid = 24495252 |volume=40 |issue = 4|pages=359–77|last1 = Wat|first1 = Heidi|last2 = Wu|first2 = Douglas C.|last3 = Rao|first3 = Jaggi|last4 = Goldman|first4 = Mitchel P.|s2cid = 205081994}}</ref>

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==See also==

* [[Electrology]]

== Further reading ==

* {{cite journal |vauthors=Husain Z, Alster TS |title=The role of lasers and intense pulsed light technology in dermatology |journal=Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology |volume=9 |pages=29–40 |date=2016 |pmid=26893574 |pmc=4745852 |doi=10.2147/CCID.S69106 |type=Review |doi-access=free }}

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* {{cite journal |vauthors=Husain Z, Alster TS |title=The role of lasers and intense pulsed light technology in dermatology |journal=Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology |volume=9 |pages=29–40 |date=2016 |pmid=26893574 |pmc=4745852 |doi=10.2147/CCID.S69106 |type=Review |doi-access=free }}

{{Cosmetics}}