IPL — Acne & Pigmentation Correction

Intense Pulsed Light is often compared to laser, but works differently: rather than emitting a single concentrated wavelength, an IPL device emits a broad-spectrum flash of light (typically 400–1200 nm) filtered to target specific chromophores — the pigment molecules in skin that absorb light selectively. This makes IPL a versatile tool capable of addressing multiple concerns with one device by varying the filter and energy settings.

For acne treatment, the relevant chromophores are the porphyrins produced by Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) bacteria living in the sebaceous follicle. When these porphyrins absorb specific wavelengths in the blue-green part of the IPL spectrum, they generate reactive oxygen species that destroy the bacteria without harming surrounding tissue. Additionally, the longer wavelengths in the same IPL pulse reach deeper to coagulate the…

For pigmentation correction — sun spots, melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — the IPL flash targets melanin in the hyperpigmented lesion. The melanin absorbs the energy, heats up, fragments, and the debris is progressively cleared through the immune system over the following two to four weeks, causing the lesion to darken initially (a normal sign of treatment response) and then fade. Results after one to three sessions are visible on most…