In short
- Pulsed light is not a laser: it emits a broad spectrum trimmed with filters that is absorbed by two different targets, the pigment of the marks and the haemoglobin of the vessels. It is more versatile and, for that very reason, less selective.
- Its field is colour: sun spots, lentigines, telangiectasia and redness. It does not treat the raised profile of a scar, or markedly uneven texture, or laxity.
- The systematic review of 16 studies and 637 participants supports it in photoageing, with two limits its own authors point out: there is no consensus on the settings and nine of the sixteen studies were of low methodological quality.
- It takes an average of 4.29 sessions, in a published range of 3 to 7. Neither a definitive result in one session nor a fixed package of twelve follows from those figures.
- In melasma it is only supported within a combined treatment and with strict sun protection, never as a solution on its own, because this is a chronic, recurring condition.
Intense pulsed light is not a laser. It is light of many wavelengths at once, filtered so that it is selectively absorbed by two targets: the pigment of the marks and the haemoglobin of the vessels. From that follows exactly what it does well — colour — and what it does not do — texture, scarring and laxity.
This guide from the Instituto de Cirugía Plástica del Mediterráneo (ICPM), in Valencia, explains what the evidence supports, how many sessions are reasonable, what the risks are and in which situations it is better not to do it, or to do it differently.
What IPL is and why it is not a laser
A laser emits a single wavelength. IPL emits a broad spectrum and trims it with filters to direct it at whichever target matters in each case.
That is both its strength and its weakness. A strength, because one machine can work on pigment and on vessels by changing the filter. A weakness, because it is less selective than a specific laser: some of the energy scatters towards structures that were not meant to be treated, which is why the settings and the experience of whoever operates it count for more than it might seem.
IPL is non-ablative: it does not vaporise the surface of the skin. There is no open wound and no flaking as with CO₂ laser, and social life resumes sooner.
What intense pulsed light treats
Sun spots and lentigines
This is its most recognisable indication. The light is absorbed by the pigment, which fragments and rises; the mark darkens for a few days and ends up flaking off as a micro-crust.
Redness, telangiectasia and the vascular component of rosacea
Haemoglobin is the other target. IPL acts on dilated superficial vessels and on diffuse erythema. It is worth putting this precisely: rosacea is not cured, it is a chronic disease; what is treated is its vascular component, and maintenance is part of the plan from the outset.
Photoageing and overall skin quality
A systematic review bringing together 16 studies with 637 participants concludes that IPL is effective in skin rejuvenation, with results in telangiectasia, wrinkles, pores, erythema, texture, lentigines, hyperpigmentation and photoageing. The authors themselves set out two limits worth knowing: there is no consensus on the settings and nine of the sixteen studies were of low methodological quality. In other words: it works, but the literature does not allow anyone to promise a specific degree of improvement.
The redness of a recent scar
Here it is worth being precise, because it is almost always explained badly. Pulsed light does not flatten a scar, but it does act on what makes it visible in the first months: the redness and the active, inflammatory component. And on a recent scar, that is much of the problem.
That is why at ICPM a recent scar is not treated by choosing between pulsed light and CO₂ laser, but by combining the two: IPL deals with the redness and the active phase, and CO₂ with the raised profile and the texture. This is set out in CO₂ laser in Valencia.
What it does not treat
It does not treat the raised profile of a scar, or deep enlarged pores, or markedly uneven texture: that is the field of ablative lasers such as CO₂, compared in CO₂ laser or IPL: the differences. Nor does it correct laxity or excess skin. And it is not indicated over an undiagnosed pigmented lesion: a mark that has changed, bleeds or itches is investigated before anything is done to it.
How many sessions are needed
The systematic review cited above records an average of 4.29 sessions, with a range between 3 and 7 depending on the study and the indication.
Translated into the consulting room: a reasonable plan starts with three or four sessions several weeks apart, and is reviewed according to the response. A centre that offers you definitive results in one session, or sells you a package of twelve before looking at your skin, is working to a commercial standard, not a clinical one.
IPL and melasma: the case that needs most thought
Melasma is the situation in which the indication most often goes wrong.
A meta-analysis of 8 studies and 215 patients concludes that IPL within a combined treatment significantly reduces the melasma area and severity index (MASI) and increases patient satisfaction. The key word is combined: the evidence supports IPL as part of a plan — with depigmenting agents and strict sun protection — not as a solution on its own.
Melasma is also a chronic, recurring condition, highly sensitive to sun and heat. Any approach that does not include sustained sun protection and maintenance is incomplete from the start. If someone proposes to “get rid of your melasma” with pulsed light in a couple of sessions, be sceptical.
Darker skin types: what the data say
There is a widespread idea here that the evidence qualifies.
A meta-analysis of adverse events with non-ablative lasers and energy-based technologies in skin phototypes IV to VI, covering 43 studies and 1,654 subjects, puts post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation at 8.1% and prolonged erythema at 0.6% across the devices analysed. Comparing between technologies, it concludes that IPL and radiofrequency carry a minimal risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, significantly lower than that of diode and erbium lasers in that population.
That said, the photorejuvenation review was carried out in phototypes I to IV, so the evidence for effectiveness in darker skin is more limited than the evidence for safety. The honest conclusion is that a darker skin type does not contraindicate IPL, but it does mean adjusting the settings, preparing the skin and being cautious about expectations.
Risks and adverse effects
- Burns and blistering, particularly with tanned skin or excessive settings.
- Pigment changes, both hyperpigmentation and, less often, hypopigmentation.
- Eye injury if adequate protection is not used. This is not a theoretical risk: eye protection is compulsory for the patient and for whoever is applying the treatment.
- Temporary worsening of the redness in the hours that follow.
- Recurrence: both sun spots and rosacea come back if the cause remains — the sun in the first case, the disease itself in the second.
Get it checked if you develop a blister, increasing pain, a crust that does not progress or an area that behaves differently from the rest.
When it is not indicated
- Tanned skin, recent or imminent sun exposure, or the use of self-tanning products.
- Taking photosensitising medication.
- Active infection in the area.
- Undiagnosed pigmented lesions.
- Pregnancy, as a precaution and because of the pigmentary instability of that period.
- An expectation of treating texture, scarring or laxity: that is a different indication.
How to check that the equipment is legal
The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) reported the detection of a forged CE marking certificate attributed to the manufacturer Beijing Globalipl Development Co., Ltd., which produces precisely these intense pulsed light devices combined with diode laser, as well as fractional CO₂ laser systems. The document manipulated the issue and expiry dates and falsely attributed certification to a German notified body.
The AEMPS asked practitioners to check whether they have these devices and to review their date of manufacture, and asked distributors to stop marketing the affected ones.
Pulsed light is now offered at centres of very different kinds, some without medical supervision. Asking what equipment is used, who makes it and who operates it is reasonable, and no serious centre takes offence at it.
Prices and packages
A pulsed light session costs from €190, and the final price depends on the area and its size.
Because IPL does not resolve things in a single session — the systematic review cited above records an average of 4.29 sessions — we offer packages of several sessions that bring the price per session down. That is the usual way of booking it, because the treatment is a course and not a one-off.
With one condition, the same one set out in the section on sessions: the package is sized after seeing the skin, not before. How many sessions rosacea needs is not the same as how many a single lentigo needs, and committing to twelve sessions without an examination is a commercial standard, not a clinical one.
The quotation is settled at the assessment and is not conditional on booking on the spot.
Book an appointment
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Frequently asked questions
Is IPL a laser?
No. A laser emits a single wavelength; IPL emits a broad filtered spectrum. That is why it is at once more versatile and less selective.
How many sessions will I need?
The literature records an average of 4.29 sessions, with a range of 3 to 7 depending on the indication. The sensible approach is to plan an initial block of three or four and review the response before going further.
Does it hurt?
It is described as the snap of a hot rubber band against the skin. It is uncomfortable but brief, and is usually tolerated without anaesthetic. On sensitive areas a topical anaesthetic can be applied.
Can I carry on as normal afterwards?
Yes, with caveats. It is normal to leave with the area somewhat red and warm for a few hours. The marks treated darken for a few days before flaking off, which is worth planning for if you have something coming up.
Can it be done in summer?
It is not advisable. Tanned skin multiplies the risk of burns and of pigmentation, and subsequent exposure compromises the result. If it is done, sun protection must be strict.
Does it work for melasma?
As part of a combined treatment, the evidence supports its reducing the area and severity of melasma. As a treatment on its own and without sustained sun protection, it is not the right approach: melasma is chronic and recurring.
What if I have darker skin?
A darker skin type does not rule it out. In skin phototypes IV to VI, IPL is among the technologies with the lowest risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Even so, the settings are adjusted and the skin is prepared: caution is what makes the technique safe.
Does it get rid of rosacea?
No. Rosacea is chronic. IPL treats its vascular component — redness and dilated vessels — and improves the appearance, but it is part of a management plan that includes skincare and maintenance.
Is it the same as laser hair removal?
No. Some pulsed light machines are also used for hair removal, but the approach, the filters and the settings are different. A centre having IPL for hair removal does not mean it treats pigmentation or rosacea to a medical standard. If what you are after is hair reduction, that is another page: SHR hair reduction in Valencia.
What is the difference from CO₂ laser?
IPL works on colour; CO₂ on texture and the raised profile. They do not compete, they complement one another. This is set out in CO₂ laser or IPL: the differences.
I have just had surgery — does pulsed light help the scar?
Yes, with one specific part of it: the redness and the active phase of the first weeks and months, which is what makes it most noticeable. It does not flatten the raised profile; CO₂ laser deals with that. On a recent scar the two are planned together and as early as possible, because there is a window of time that closes.
How much does an IPL session cost in Valencia?
A pulsed light session costs from €190, and the final price depends on the area and its size. Because IPL does not resolve things in a single session — the systematic review cited above records an average of 4.29 sessions — we offer packages of several sessions that bring the price per session down. That is the usual way of booking it, because the treatment is a course and not a one-off. The quotation is settled at the assessment and is not conditional on booking on the spot.
Sources
- Sales AFS, Pandolfo IL, Cruz MA, et al. Intense Pulsed Light on skin rejuvenation: a systematic review. Arch Dermatol Res. 2022. Systematic review of 16 studies and 637 participants. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34609598/
- Yi J, Hong T, Zeng H, et al. A Meta-analysis-Based Assessment of Intense Pulsed Light for Treatment of Melasma. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2020. Meta-analysis of 8 studies and 215 patients. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32055937/
- Hu S, Atmakuri M, Rosenberg J. Adverse Events of Nonablative Lasers and Energy-Based Therapies in Subjects With Fitzpatrick Skin Phototypes IV to VI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthet Surg J. 2022. 43 studies, 1,654 subjects. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35019139/
- AEMPS. The AEMPS reports the detection of a forged CE marking certificate from the company Beijing Globalipl Development Co., Ltd. (in Spanish) https://www.aemps.gob.es/informa/la-aemps-informa-sobre-la-deteccion-de-un-certificado-de-marcado-ce-falsificado-de-la-empresa-beijing-globalipl-development-co-ltd/
Book your consultation
If you have marks that come back every summer, redness that will not settle, or you are unsure between pulsed light and laser, what settles the question is an in-person assessment: the skin is examined, the phototype is determined and a decision is taken on which technology is appropriate, or whether none is.
Clinical confirmation by the surgeon
Clinical review: Dr Enrique Salmerón González and Dr Elena García Vilariño, specialists in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, registered with the Valencia Medical Council under numbers 46/4624077 and 46/4624503 respectively. Last medical review: 2 August 2026. This information is for general guidance and does not replace individual medical assessment in consultation.
Registration no. 46/4624077
Registration no. 46/4624503
