Page 104 - Chapter 3 - Fundamentals of Laser/IPL Hair Removal

Chapter 3 – Fundamentals of Laser/IPL Hair Removal 1st Edition
An IPL system is very much simpler than a laser, and usually much cheaper as a result. They generally consist of a flashlamp (or two) and a filtering system. The flashlamp generates the full spectrum of light in an intense pulse. Filters are then used to block the unwanted wavelengths.
As a consequence lasers and IPLs have different types of light outputs:
Lasers
Intense Pulsed Light Systems
Monochromatic wavelength (single colour) Coherent
Low divergence
Pulse durations from nano- to milliseconds Focusable with lenses
Small spot sizes (in many cases)
Single pulse / continuous / pulse trains No filtering
No need for a UV filter
Broadband wavelengths (wide spectrum) Incoherent
Very high divergence
Pulse durations typically milliseconds Not focusable
Large spot sizes
Typically long pulses trains composed of ‘sub-pulses’
Usually filtered
MUST have UV filter
Table 12 - Laser vs IPL
The end goal, with both types of systems, is to induce some sort of change in the target(s) using light energy. Once that light has been absorbed, where it come from no longer matters.
In some treatments, lasers are ‘better’ than IPLs, and vice versa. However, in some treatments (such as tattoo removal) IPLs must NOT be used – they simply cannot generate sufficiently high powers.
However, for hair removal, lasers and IPLs can both be used successfully to permanently destroy hair follicles, if used properly. We should point out though, that IPLs are a bit ‘trickier’ to use correctly because there is usually more to consider...
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