IPL (BBL) Intense Pulsed Light

Unlike a laser, which produces one precise wavelength, IPL emits a broad band of light across many wavelengths. Filters placed over the handpiece narrow that light to the range best suited to the target, whether that is brown pigment, the red of dilated vessels or the structures involved in hair growth. This flexibility is what makes IPL, marketed in many clinics as BBL, so versatile: a single platform can be tuned for several different skin concerns. The energy passes harmlessly through the skin surface and is absorbed by the colour it is aimed at.

During treatment, pulses of filtered light are delivered through a smooth applicator pressed gently against the skin, usually with a cooling gel or built-in cooling for comfort. The light is absorbed by the pigment in sun spots or by the haemoglobin in tiny blood vessels, heating these targets just enough to break them down while sparing the surrounding skin. Pigmented spots darken briefly and then flake away over the following days, while treated vessels fade as the body clears them. The same warming effect also gives a mild stimulus to the skin, helping it look fresher and more uniform over a course of sessions.

IPL is used for sun and age spots, freckles, uneven pigmentation, facial redness, rosacea, flushing, broken capillaries and small dilated vessels, dull or photo-aged skin and some forms of acne, and it can also reduce unwanted hair. It is well suited to people with fair to medium skin who want to even out tone and clear redness with a gentle, low-downtime treatment. Because it targets colour, it is less suitable for very dark or deeply tanned skin, so a clinician checks skin type and avoids treatment over recent tans, certain medications or active infections.

Sessions are quick and comfortable; most people describe a sensation like a light elastic band flick with each pulse, eased by cooling. There is little to no downtime: the skin may look slightly pink or warm for a few hours, and brown spots often look temporarily darker before flaking off within about 5 to 7 days. A course of three to five sessions, spaced a few weeks apart, usually gives the best clearing of pigment and redness, with gradual improvement after each. Sun protection is essential before and after to keep results and prevent new pigmentation. Occasional maintenance sessions help sustain the even, refreshed look.