Intense Pulsed Light: From the Past to the Future

October 2016 in “ Photomedicine and laser surgery ”

Dan Li, Stanley L. Lin, Biao Cheng

Intense Pulsed Light IPL vascular lesions pigmented lesions hair growth photo rejuvenation lasers cosmetic technologies

TLDR Future clinical uses of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) are likely to grow and become more effective with new advancements and combined treatments.

Intense pulsed light (IPL) technology, used for over 20 years, evolved through germination, growth, and relative maturity stages, becoming popular for treating various medical and cosmetic issues. IPL was effective for conditions like acne, hypertrophic scars, keloids, burn scars, and meibomian gland dysfunction, as well as for skin rejuvenation, hair removal, and treating vascular and pigmented lesions. Studies showed IPL could modulate proteins involved in skin repair, but potential side effects like burning, hypertrichosis, and paradoxical reactions required careful application and monitoring. Future advancements in IPL and combination treatments were expected to enhance its clinical applications.

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