Medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · Last reviewed · 3 min read
Published 13 October 2026 · Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong
IPL (intense pulsed light) is a filtered flash-lamp device that emits a broad spectrum of light, typically 500 to 1200 nm, scattered across many wavelengths at once, rather than the single wavelength of a laser. IPL is not a laser. Because its energy is spread across wavelengths that the surrounding skin also absorbs, the margin between treating the target and heating the epidermis is narrower, which is exactly the margin that matters in Fitzpatrick III to V skin.
Key facts
What it is
A filtered broad-spectrum flash lamp, typically 500–1200 nm
Not
A laser, which emits a single wavelength matched to its target
Used for
Diffuse redness and acne-induced red marks, where light absorbed by haemoglobin closes lingering capillaries; hair removal on lighter skin
Caution
Narrower safety margin in Fitzpatrick III to V skin; aggressive light work can convert a red mark into a brown one
Where it fits
IPL appears on this site mainly as a vascular tool and as a cautionary tale. For post-inflammatory erythema, the red marks left after acne, the trial literature supports intense pulsed light and pulsed-dye class lasers, delivered gently across a field of marks once the acne is controlled; for facial telangiectasia IPL is matched to diffuse redness while discrete vessels go to 532 nm or long-pulsed 1064 nm lasers by colour and depth. In hair removal the site separates IPL, SHR and diode, three different things sold under one name, and notes that on darker skin the difference between a lamp and a laser is the whole safety margin. The redness options are compared on yellow laser vs pico vs pulsed dye.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A laser emits a single wavelength matched to its target; IPL is a filtered flash lamp emitting a broad band of wavelengths at once. On darker skin that difference is the safety margin, because the surrounding skin absorbs part of the spectrum too.
Chiefly diffuse redness and acne-induced red marks, where light absorbed by haemoglobin closes lingering capillaries, with conservative settings in Singapore skin. Home IPL devices are underpowered for vessels and unguided near the eyes.
