Lasers and Energy Sources for Skin Rejuvenation and Epilation
Henry W. Lim, Herbert Hönigsmann, John L. M. Hawk in Photodermatology, 2007
Table 1 outlines the main classifications of laser, light, and other energy sources utilized for cosmetic improvement of the skin. All such classifications are arbitrary, as many devices are capable of delivering multiple wavelengths or energy forms. The first category is visible light lasers or light sources, which have more absorption by hemoglobin and melanin. These visible light sources and lasers have more influence on the telangiectatic and melanocytic components of photoaging. These sources can be subdivided into coherent, single wavelength, broadband (flash lamps) or narrowband, such as light emitting diode (LED). Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a broadband light source with filters used to limit the lower end of the emitted spectrum.
Poikiloderma of Civatte
Dimitris Rigopoulos, Alexander C. Katoulis in Hyperpigmentation, 2017
Intense pulsed light (IPL) systems are high-intensity light sources that emit noncoherent polychromatic light in a broad-wavelength spectrum of 515–1200 nm, permitting treatment of both vascular and pigmented components simultaneously.31 IPL sources have been used in PC with results comparable to those of PDL, as far as efficacy and safety are concerned.32 One hundred and thirty-five unselected PC patients were treated with IPL. After one to five treatment sessions, a 75% improvement of telangiectasias and hyperpigmentation was observed. Side effects, mostly pigment changes, occurred in 5% of the patients.33 In another study, 66 patients with typical PC were treated with IPL every 4 weeks. A 50%–75% improvement in both telangiectasias and hyperpigmentation was observed after an average of 2.8 treatments. The incidence of hypopigmentation was 5%.34 A total of 175 patients with PC were subjected to a treatment protocol with IPL at various settings. Clearance of more than 80% of vascular and pigmented components of PC was observed. Minimal and transient side effects occurred in 5% of the patients.35 In a recent study, Campolmi et al. treated 28 PC and 35 rosacea cases with IPL for 2 years at three weekly intervals.36 Of the 63 patients in total, 51 had a marked improvement, 10 had moderate improvement, and 2 had only a slight improvement. No significant undesirable effects were observed.
Percutaneous laser therapy of telangiectasia and varicose veins
Peter Gloviczki, Michael C. Dalsing, Bo Eklöf, Fedor Lurie, Thomas W. Wakefield, Monika L. Gloviczki in Handbook of Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, 2017
The etiology of venous disorders, including varicose veins and leg telangiectasia, is complex and still incompletely understood. Besides idiopathic causes, some acquired risk factors of varicose veins are known, and different diseases can also be involved in the development of varicose veins. For example, thrombophilia disorders may trigger deep vein thrombosis and subsequent new varicose veins associated with post-thrombotic deep vein reflux. Regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of varicose veins, the reader should consult Chapters 4 through 6. Leg telangiectasias are frequently idiopathic and mainly of cosmetic interest to the patient. However, as shown in Table 34.1, dermatologists are aware of a number of localized or systemic diseases, which may cause leg telangiectasia.2,3 To know of these systemic diseases is important because some of their underlying conditions may be associated with skin hypersensitivity to light exposure and therefore any laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment would not only be ineffective, but also potentially harmful to the patient, and therefore should be contraindicated.
Demodex and eye disease
Published in Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 2021
Intense pulsed light (IPL) is used in a variety of medical and aesthetic skin conditions.142 It has shown promising results in demodicosis management,143–145 including in rosacea patients143 and for ocular infestation.144 One study, performing IPL three times (baseline, at 30 and 90-days) determined a Demodex eradication rate of 55 per cent with IPL at one-month and a significant improvement in tear break‐up time, meibum quality and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score after three-months in favour of IPL.145 At this time the exact mechanism explaining the IPL effect on Demodex has yet to be fully elucidated; however, it has been suggested that Demodex mites may be sensitive to the energy delivered during IPL and/or the heat generated which may elevate the temperature to critical levels to eradicate them.146 Real‐time video post in vitro IPL revealed temperatures of a microscope slide reaching 49°C with complete immobilisation of the mite (retraction and no movement of the legs) within 25-seconds following IPL.147 This phenomenon warrants further clinical investigation.
Device-based therapies as a boost of conventional treatment in dry eye disease
Published in Expert Review of Ophthalmology, 2022
Alfredo Borgia, Raffaele Raimondi, Giovanni Fossati, Francesco Paolo De Rosa, Vito Romano, Davide Borroni, Luca Vigo, Vincenzo Scorcia, Giuseppe Giannaccare
Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy involves brief pulses of noncoherent light, typically in the range of 500–1200 nm, which is directed to the skin, absorbed by chromophores such as melanin developing heat [24]. IPL technique consists in a selective photothermolysis process, involving specific areas of the face skin, more specifically under the inferior eyelids, starting nasally and finishing temporally, with the application of 5 single IPL pulses. Currently, the main devices are the M22 Optima (Lumenis Ltd, US), the E> Eye (E-Swin, France) and Quadra Q4 (DermaMed Solutions, US). The treatment can deliver different energy levels, ranging from 9 J/cm2 to 13 J/cm2. The choice is determined basing on the Fitzpatrick skin phototype grading scale from I to V (grade VI is not suitable for IPL treatment). The total time session lasts only few minutes (about 10 min). The treatment is repeated 3–4 times over approximately 4 months. The target of IPL therapy is MGD, that is the leading cause of EDE [25,26]. There are several potential mechanisms of action: stimulation of thrombosis of telangiectatic blood vessels in the eyelids [27], liquefaction of the meibum, through increasing the temperature of the skin area adjacent to the meibomian gland [28], reduction of the Demodex load on the eyelids [29,30], activation of fibroblasts and enhancement of collagen synthesis [31], anti-inflammatory effect [32], anti-oxidative effect [33]. Regarding the efficacy of IPL treatment, many studies, also including several randomized clinical trials [32,34–37], have shown evidence of improved DED parameters, in terms of TBUT, subjective ocular discomfort symptoms, lid margin features and meibomian gland secretion quality [38,39].
Efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris with a novel filter
Published in Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019
Sunyi Chen, Yan Wang, Jie Ren, Baishuang Yue, Guanyin Lai, Juan Du
In recent years, due to better understanding of pathogenesis of acne and patients’ need for improvement, new light-based therapeutic options have been introduced. Intense pulsed light (IPL) is an FDA-approved device for the treatment of a variety of conditions such as acne (4). IPL devices emit polychromatic light at wavelength of 400–1,200 nm, which can lead to bactericidal action on Propionibacterium acnes, anti-inflammatory effect, suppression of sebaceous gland function, and coagulation of certain capillaries.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Dermatology
- Meibomian Gland
- Skin Color
- Telangiectasia
- Ultraviolet
- Hemoglobin
- Hyperpigmentation
- Hair REMoval
- Photorejuvenation
- Xenon