How Do IPL Treatments Compare to Lasers?

Energy-based cosmetic treatments provide a wide range of benefits for patients: They refresh and rejuvenate the skin and are effective tools for treating numerous types of skin problems. Patients seeking this type of rejuvenation have multiple options, including both lasers and other lights. While it is true that light-based treatments like intense pulsed light (IPL) work similarly to lasers, they are not the same thing.

What is the difference between laser and light therapy? Our Arizona-based Ironwood Dermatology team knows that patients are sometimes unsure about which type of treatment will be best for them. The best choice for you depends on how you feel about the time commitment, recovery, and results from the treatments you choose.

Here is what you should know about how laser therapy compares to light therapy with IPL.

Lasers produce a single strong wavelength of light that targets a specific chromophore in the skin (such as melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin), water, or hemoglobin in blood vessels. These treatments penetrate the skin more deeply than IPL treatments and produce a more concentrated wavelength of light. Lasers are also highly effective for promoting collagen production. There are several subcategories of lasers, including ablative devices that remove the outer layer of skin and non-ablative treatments that heat the underlying layers of skin to encourage collagen growth without harming or removing the surface.

IPL treatments also use light to rejuvenate the skin, but they are gentler than lasers and typically better for light touch-ups compared to more powerful laser skin rejuvenation treatments. IPL devices give off multiple wavelengths of light ideal for reducing red and brown pigmentation. They are less aggressive and cause less discomfort compared to more aggressive lasers. They can also cover a larger area of skin, so sessions are shorter and there is minimal downtime after—making them perfect “lunchtime treatments.”

Laser treatments are better for deeper resurfacing and, depending on the intensity of the laser, may require fewer treatments compared to IPL.

Our Arizona-based Ironwood Dermatology team can tell you more about what both laser and light treatments involve. Call us at 520.618.1630 or submit a contact form to schedule a consultation with our providers if you’re ready to learn more.