What is Intense Pulsed Light?

Intense pulsed light (IPL), or pulsed intense light, is a broad-spectrum light formed by a high-intensity light source after focusing and filtering, and its essence is a non-coherent ordinary light rather than a laser. The wavelength of IPL is mostly 500-1200nm. IPL is currently one of the most widely used phototherapy technologies in clinical practice and occupies a very important position in the field of skin beauty. IPL is currently widely used in the treatment of a variety of involuntary skin diseases, especially skin damage related to light damage and photoaging, that is, classic type I skin rejuvenation and type II skin rejuvenation.

Basic Information

nickname

Pulsed glare

English name

intense pulsed light, IPL

Visiting department

dermatology

Common locations

skin

Contagious

no

Strong pulsed light indication

Photoaging, pigmented skin disease, vascular skin disease, rosacea, telangiectasia, freckles, hair loss and acne. It is reported in the literature that IPL can also be used to treat Civatte's skin heterochromia and Lille's melanosis.

Strong pulse light contraindications

Epilepsy, melanocyte skin tumors, lupus erythematosus, pregnancy, herpes zoster, vitiligo, skin transplantation, ground-breaking skin damage at the treatment site, scar physique, and genetic photosensitivity diseases such as xeroderma pigmentosa. Caution should also be exercised when taking light-sensitive drugs or food during treatment.

The principle of intense pulsed light therapy

The theoretical basis of IPL for the treatment of skin diseases is the principle of selective photothermal action. Because IPL has a broad spectrum, it can cover multiple absorption peaks such as melanin, oxidized hemoglobin, and water.

In the treatment of vascular skin diseases, hemoglobin is the main color base. The light energy of IPL is preferentially and selectively absorbed by oxygenated hemoglobin in blood vessels, and is converted into thermal energy to heat up tissues. When the pulse width of the light wave is less than the thermal relaxation time of the target tissue, the temperature of the blood vessel can reach the damage threshold of the blood vessel, that is, the blood vessel can be coagulated and destroyed, resulting in the degradation of the blood vessel occlusion, and it is gradually replaced by the microstructure to achieve the therapeutic purpose.

In the treatment of pigmented skin diseases, the melanin selectively absorbs the spectrum of IPL and produces an "internal blasting effect" or "selective pyrolysis", melanocytes can be destroyed, and melanoma bodies can be broken.

IPL improves skin texture such as skin sagging, wrinkles, and enlarged pores. It mainly uses its biological stimulation. The treatment of acne mainly uses photochemical and selective photothermal effects.

Precautions for intense pulsed light

1. Strictly grasp the indications and make a clear diagnosis before surgery.

2. Large area can be divided into batches.

3. Beards, eyebrows, scalp, etc. should be treated with IPL with caution.

4. Prohibit unnecessary skin beauty care and fitness during treatment.

5. Reasonable postoperative care and maintenance.

6. Poor efficacy, consider other methods.

7. After exposure, rest for 1 to 2 weeks before treatment.

references

Principles and Techniques of Laser Treatment for Skin Beauty. Xiang Leihong, Chief Editor Zhou Zhanchao. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 2014.