What Are Common Side Effects of IPL

Before you decide on any kind of cosmetic procedure, it’s important to take your time researching the common side effects so that you know what to expect. If you’re considering Intense Pulsed Light therapy, better known as IPL, you’ll be happy to learn that the benefits of treatment greatly outweigh some of the common side effects.

After an IPL treatment, you might notice a few minor reactions. Luckily, not only are these relatively small and inconsequential, they also typically disappear rather fast. Of course, skincare treatments impacts everyone differently, so there’s also the chance you won’t have any sort of side effect.

IPL is an emerging, popular technology. There are so many benefits to it, and a variety of uses. Here is what you can expect the first time you use IPL to treat your skin. 

What Is IPL?

Understanding the technology behind IPL can help you better understand potential side effects. You might be familiar with the term IPL from your dermatologist or have heard it at a spa. It’s an increasingly popular technique that more people are engaging with to support their skin in a variety of ways. 

The technology can be used to achieve several outcomes. One extremely popular reason people opt for IPL treatment is to remove unwanted hair in a way that’s relatively painless and effective. 

IPL is also known for slowing down the aging process. This is because it reduces wrinkles and treats blemishes to give the skin a youthful, glowing appearance. If you use IPL repeatedly, it increases the production of a protein in your skin called collagen. Collagen is what makes your skin maintain its youthful appearance and reduces sagging. 

Because IPL has so many uses, it’s wise to invest in an at-home kit that you can use for a variety of purposes. Taking care of your skin, the body’s largest organ, has never been quite so simple - or important. 

This treatment is a type of light therapy. This means that it emits several different wavelengths of light that hit the skin at different depths. It’s a versatile technology that’s becoming more recognized as a leading way to treat skin blemishes, impurities, or even just remove undesired hair.

Is IPL the Same as a Laser Treatment?

Sometimes, people get IPL confused with laser treatment. While they do have some similarities in common, there are also notable differences. When deciding which procedure to get, it’s especially important to take note of what makes these two treatments dissimilar. 

While a laser treatment only focuses one light wavelength on the skin, IPL does the opposite. During an IPL treatment, your skin receives a variety of different wavelengths. Because of this, the light during IPL therapy is less focused than it would be during laser therapy. This ultimately means IPL can get all the way to the second layer of your skin without harming the top layer, so it causes less damage than laser treatment might. 

What Does IPL Do?

One of the many reasons IPL is becoming more popular is that it’s effective in reducing the appearance of a variety of skin conditions. These include: 

• Age spots 
• Rosacea 
• Sun spots 
• Stretch marks 
• Hair removal 
• Acne scars 

IPL is suitable for most people of different skin types and tones. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s recommended that you refrain from using this technology out of precaution, even though there isn’t evidence there are harmful effects. And as always, if you have questions regarding if IPL is right for you, consult a doctor before you undergo treatment. 

Is IPL Safe?

It’s normal to have safety concerns about any sort of cosmetic procedure. IPL, however, is quite safe. While it’s important to follow instructions, if you correctly do so, your chances of having a difficult experience with IPL is low. 

While it is not advised that you use IPL on darker freckles or moles, IPL is perfectly safe to use on lighter freckles. In addition to this, avoid using IPL over tattoos. You can, however, go around your tattoos. 

You might be curious if you have to wear some sort of eye protection during an IPL therapy session. For the KENZZI at-home kit, this isn’t required because the handsets are equipped with a sensor. This means that the light will not pulse unless the entire product window is against your skin. Finally, if you have epilepsy, you should not use this product, as it has a bright flash. 

What Are the Treatment Options?

While you can get IPL treatment in your dermatologist’s office or even at a spa, there’s no reason to set up an appointment! You can actually start taking steps to your best skin today at home. 

If waiting at a doctor doesn’t appeal to you, and you’d prefer to take control of your skincare from the comfort of your own home, you can join other users of IPL at-home treatments. Here’s one big bonus: you can work IPL into your skincare regimen and routine. Get the treatment that you want when you want it with an at-home kit. 

Completing IPL treatment at home is also super cost-effective. At an office, the cost can average between $700-1200. Price doesn’t have to deter you from achieving your best skin, however. 

What Are Common Side Effects of IPL?

Like any cosmetic procedure, every person reacts differently. As always, properly using the technology can help reduce the likelihood of side effects. Some common reactions to using IPL technology include: 

• Slight discomfort or pain during the treatment 
• Pink or sore skin after treatment 
• Feeling like you have a mild sunburn after treatment (this includes peeling, redness, swelling) 
• Blistering - though this is less common
• Light bruising 

Luckily, these side effects are typically considered minor, and they usually last between two to five days. If you have these reactions to your IPL treatment, don’t worry! These are not uncommon, and there’s no need to panic. That being said, every individual will be impacted differently by IPL, so some people might not even experience any side effects. 

How To Treat IPL Common Side Effects

While these side effects might seem mildly unpleasant, they’re only temporary and can be eased with a few easy treatments. 

Give your skin some rest after you complete an IPL treatment. This means avoiding makeup if you can for at least 12 hours. In addition, opting for cool or mild temperature water can be helpful when showering after treatment. Hot water can aggravate side effects; cool water has the opposite effect. 

While it can be tempting if you have an itch, it’s important to avoid picking at your skin after a treatment. Your skin needs to properly be able to heal for IPL to work correctly, and picking at your skin will not facilitate that. 

Why It’s Important

When your skin doesn’t look or feel its best, it’s easy for your confidence to dip. Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be taxing or extremely expensive. In fact, it can be something that you do at home and fit into your already existing self-care regimen.

That’s why KENZZI’s at-home IPL can be the answer you’re seeking to all of your skincare dilemmas. It’s convenient, transportable, and versatile. Whether you’re looking to get rid of excess hair that’s weighing down your self-esteem or want to smooth blemishes and give your skin a youthful glow, KENZZI can benefit everyone in one or multiple ways. 

Our skin does the most for us, but we don’t often repay it. Consider an IPL treatment the perfect way to thank your skin for everything it does for you, because skin that is taken care of is skin that looks and feels great to be in. You deserve to feel confident and ready to take on the world, and that all starts with confidence. You don’t have to wait another minute to regain control of your skin. Start today with KENZZI IPL treatments, and you’ll be seeing results before you know it. 

In Summary

There are tons of different ways to take care of your skin, and one of the latest is by using IPL technology. This light energy can make a great impact on your skin in just a few sessions.

IPL is perfect for people who have excess body hair they’d like to remove, blemishes, sunspots, rosacea, or wrinkles they’d like to smooth. One of the reasons this technology stands out is because of how many uses there are for it, so there’s something everyone can benefit from. 

While you can get IPL at a spa or dermatologist’s office, there are actually options for at-home treatment. Not only does at-home IPL technology work great, but it also can be more cost-effective and convenient. 

KENZZI wants you to feel confident in your own skin, and we create products that help you achieve that. With our at-home IPL technology, you can start seeing a difference in your skin today. There’s no need to wait in line at your dermatologist’s office, get KENZZI shipped to you, and begin your journey to the glowiest skin of your life today. 

Sources: 

What Is Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment? | Healthline

Intense pulsed light therapy | DermNet NZ 

Collagen for Your Skin: Healthy or Hype? | Cedars Sinai

What Does Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy Do For Your Face? | 361 Derm

IPL Photofacial Results Day by Day | Healing Harmony 

Photofacial Aftercare | What To Do and What Not To Do Post Treatment | Derma Health Institute