IPL Treatments

• Do not wax, pluck, use depilatory creams or undertake electrolysis for 4 weeks prior to treatment, and in between treatments.
• Shave the area the night before treatment and all subsequent treatments (no longer than 2 days prior as the treatment will be ineffective).
• Do not use prescription strength exfoliate creams (Retin-A and Alpha Hydroxy) for 2 weeks prior to treatment.
• Avoid tanning, including self-tanning lotions, tanning bed/booths or sun exposure, for 4 weeks prior to and in between treatments. A sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater should be used on any area of sun-exposed skin, which you plan to treat.

• A mild sunburn-like sensation is anticipated. This usually resolves within 2-3 hours of treatment but may persist for up to 2 days. Application of chilled aloe gel or an ice pack every hour for 5 to10 minutes may be soothing to the skin. Continue until symptoms subside.
• Avoid sun exposure to treated areas. Apply a sun block with SPF 30 or greater daily to sun-exposed treated areas between treatments and for 4-6 weeks after last treatment.
• Bathe or shower as usual. Treated areas may be temperature sensitive. Avoid use of strongly scented lotions or soaps, prescription strength exfoliate creams, loofah sponges, and aggressive scrubbing to treated areas during healing phase.
• Allow any blistered or open areas to heal spontaneously. If healing is delayed, a thin coating of antibiotic ointment may be advised. Do not pick at these areas. Picking may result in infection or scarring. Allow any crusting to heal spontaneously, crusting will resolve in 3 to 14 days. Application of antibiotic ointment is not recommended for crusting.
• Appearance of “stubble” may appear in 1 to 4 weeks. This is not hair re-growth. It is the remnant of treated hairs being expelled from the IPL-damaged follicle. Allow this hair to fall out of the skin on its own or by gently washing with a warm wet washcloth. Do not pluck or tweeze. You may shave during this period.
• Best results are obtained on clients who have follow up treatment immediately after hair starts to grow. Your clinician will advise you when you should schedule your next appointment. It is important to adhere to this regime.

• A mild sunburn-like sensation is expected. This usually last 2 to 24 hours but can persist up to 72 hours. Mild swelling and/or redness may accompany this, which usually resolves in 2 to 3 days. In some cases, prolonged redness or blistering may occur.
• The treated area may initially look raised and/or darker with a reddened perimeter. Apply cool/ice compresses to treatment areas for 10 to 15 minutes every hour for the next 4 hours, as needed, to reduce discomfort and heat sensation.
• The treated area will gradually turn darker over the next 24 to 48 hours. It may turn dark brown or even black.
• The treated area will progress to scabs/crusting and will start flaking off in 2 to 3 days.
• The treated area is usually healed in 7-10 days. It will continue to fade over the next 2 to 4 weeks.
• Direct sunlight to the treated area should be avoided. Daily application of a SPF30 is recommended to prevent development of new lesions.
• There is a possibility of hair loss in the treated area, when being treated for pigmented lesions.

• Mild sunburn-like sensation is expected. It usually lasts 2 to 24 hours but can persist up to 72 hours. Mild swelling and/or redness may accompany this, which usually resolves in 2 to 3 days. This can be treated with cold packs.
• Apply cool/ice compress to treatment areas for 10 to15 minutes every hour for the next 4 hours, as needed, to reduce discomfort and heat sensation.
• The treated area can be gently cleansed and topical bactericidal ointment can be applied if needed.
• The vessels undergo immediate greying or blanching. In some cases, only a slight purplish change is noted. Vessels either fully or partially resolve in about 10 to 14 days and areas of diffuse flushing gradually fade leaving skin with normal appearance.

Until redness has completely resolved, avoid all of the following:

• Applying cosmetics on treated areas
• Swimming, especially in pools with chemical/chlorine
• Hot tubs and Jacuzzis
• Activities that cause excessive perspiration
• Avoid sun exposure to treated areas
• Do not pick, scratch or remove scabs as this will cause unwanted side effects
• Apply a sunscreen with SPF 30+ daily to sun exposed skin, AND REAPPLY AS DIRECTED BY PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS
• Increased photosensitivity to UV, Laser and IPL can occur when taking certain medications. During your treatment programme, if you have commenced or changed dosage with the following medications, you must advise your clinician:

1. Antibiotics – doxycycline (acne), minocycline, Tetracycline’s, Sulphonamides
2. Antihistamines – Diphenhydramine, Cyproheptadine
3. Antidepressants
4. Herbal preparations – st Johns wort, Ginko Biloba, citrus oils, Herbal HRT therapies
5. Taking these medications does not exclude you from IPL treatments; however, extra precautions are applicable in these cases.

Dark, coarse, fine, blonde and red hair all respond well to IPL hair removal. Grey and white hair

may not respond to IPL treatment but this will also depend on your skin type.

This depends on your individual hair type. Most clients require 8-10 sessions to achieve brilliant

results. Hair reduces and becomes finer from the very first treatment. We recommend after full course of treatment that maintenance treatments be done every 6-8 months.

IPL hair removal is not painful. A cooling system is used throughout treatment to enhance your

comfort and a sensation similar to flicking a rubber band against the skin will be felt.

IPL hair removal treatments must be conducted at intervals and this varies depending on the

area getting treated. As a rule we recommend that treatments be given after 6 weeks to ensure

correct hair regrowth process is completed and we have the hair removal process on track and the client can see the thinning of the hair re-growing.

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and during a treatment there are flashes of IPL. The

light is absorbed by the pigment in the hair, quickly turning to heat which then kills the growing cells that make the hair.