Study:

Studies have shown home-use IPLs to perform clinically but there has been no published data on optical safety. The aim is to measure the light output of a home-use IPL and assess the optical hazard.

Conclusion:

This paper verifies that the iPulse system does not present an optical hazard according to currently available international standards. Neither the brightness nor the infrared hazard to the cornea or lens exceeded the exposure limits set by the ICNIRP, during normal operation.

Eadie E, et.al. (2009) Assessment of the Optical Radiation Hazard From a Home-Use Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Source, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine; 40: 520-528.

Study:

This study examines the safety and performance of a new smaller and lighter IPL system, intended for hair removal in the home.

Conclusion:

After just three weekly treatments the average hair reduction was 47% at 4 weeks, and 41% after 6 months. Overall, 84% of subjects showed significant hair reduction after 6-months, with 85% of subjects either pleased or very pleased with the results.

Emerson R, Town G. (2009): Hair removal with a novel, low fluence, home-use intense pulsed light Device. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy; Vol. 11:2: 98-105.

Study:

The aim of this paper is to prove the safety and effectiveness of an improved IPL system. Two studies were performed, the first studied the effects of a range of settings on various skin locations and the second measured the level of hair reduction produced by a single treatment.

Conclusion:

The safety and clinical benefits show that the IPL system is effective in removing unwanted hair in Asian skin with minimal adverse events. There is a clear indication that reduction of hair growth for periods similar to those quoted in the literature can be achieved at lower energy levels than traditional IPL technology.

Omi T, Clement M. (2006) The use of a constant spectrum, uniform temporal profile intense pulsed light source for long-term hair removal, Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy; 8: 138-145.

Study:

This paper discusses the advantages of the iPulse system which uses a single optical filter and whose light output is changed by varying settings in a carefully controlled manner.

Conclusion:

Studies verify that the iPulse system produces a consistent and predictable output and that using iPulse technology a range of treatments is possible, without the use of an additional filter.

Clement M, Daniel G, Trelles M. (2005) Optimizing the design of a broad-band light source for the treatment of skin, Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 7:3, 177 – 189

Study:

A number of IPLs in normal clinical use in the UK were investigated to evaluate key measurements of the light output and propose a relationship between this and their safety and performance.

Conclusions:

Several IPLs, were shown to have pulse lengths that were vastly shorter than those claimed and some IPLs claimed a feature called ‘square pulse’ but failed to show this. The differences measured between the systems may have important clinical consequences in terms of performance and safety.

Bjerring P, Ash C, Town G. (2008): Relevance of the Structure of Time-Resolved Spectral Output to Light-Tissue Interaction Using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). Lasers in Surgery and Medicine; 40:83-92

Study:

This study provides comparative technical information on available home-use IPL and Laser devices.

Conclusion:

This paper reveals that some of the devices measured in this study showed significant inconsistencies between the technical claims made by the manufacturers and the actual measurements of the device.

Town G, Ash C. (2009) Measurement of home-use laser and intense pulsed light systems for hair removal: Preliminary report. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy; 11: 157-168.

Study:

This study assesses performance of a new, IPL device. 52 females took part with photographs taken before treatment and one-month after treatment.

Conclusion:

44 patients were very satisfied with the final result, 8 were somewhat satisfied and no patient expressed dissatisfaction, with an overall satisfaction score of 84.6%. In all cases, hair regrowth was finer and lighter.

Trelles M, Ancona D, Stuve R. (2007) A Multicentre Trial of the Epilation Efficacy of a New Large Spot Size, Constant Spectrum Emission IPL Device. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy; 9:139 - 147

Study:

This study describes the incidence of side effects and treatment-related problems in dark Indian skin types using a new IPL system and its performance for hair removal and the treatment of pigmented lesions (discoloured blemishes) and acne.

Conclusions:

In this study the iPulse system was found to be effective in the treatment of pigmented lesions, acne and in the long-term reduction of hair in hirsutism. The patient assessed pain response and side effects of the iPulse IPL, in dark Indian skin were similar to those in lighter skin types. Early indications of efficacy in the treatment of hirsutism, pigmentation and acne were broadly similar to lasers and other IPL systems in lighter skin types.

Vedamurthy M, Town G. (2008): Use of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) in Skin Types IV and V: An Indian Experience. Australasian Journal of Cosmetic Surgery; Vol 4:1: 64-73.

Study:
This study examined the variation in temperature of the glass block used in the iPulse™ handset during typical hair removal treatments of Asian and Afro-Caribbean skin types.

Conclusion:
Brief temperature rises were measured within the glass transmission block during treatments on various skin types and no side effects were recorded.

Ash C, Town G, Martin GR. (2007): Preliminary Trial to Investigate Temperature of the iPulse™ Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Glass Transmission Block during treatment of Fitzpatrick II, IV, V and VI Skin Types. Lasers in Medical Science; 22: 4-9

Study:
This paper aims to identify the important IPL parameters, in terms of safety and treatment and provide examples of methods of measurement. Five parameters were identified as being important in the role of patient safety and treatment.

Conclusion:
The methods allowed reliable measurements to be made on 18 popular IPL devices and the assessment of any variations. Results showed discrepancies between the actual device outputs and values claimed by the manufacturers. Currently, there is no requirement for measurement of IPL performance characteristics, this study highlights the need for this.

Town G, Ash C, Eadie E, Moseley H. (2007): Measuring key parameters of intense pulsed light (IPL) devices. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy; 9:3, 148 – 160