Talk:Intense pulsed light

Permanently removing hair

"Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a method of permanently removing hair from the body" - true or false? I've seen various claims stating that IPL may produce a permanent result, but very few clinics in practise will claim this. It's a contentious claim - see [1]. Comments, anyone? - PeteC 16:55, 3 May 2005 (UTC) I've got a comment about getting this done to my pubes — Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.64.168.185 (talk • contribs)

Comment away, so. Genital IPL is surprisingly common - Alison^✍ 18:07, 28 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It is the law of bio-physics that hair removal can not be permanent until the stem cells that control the regeneration of the destroyed hair follicles are removed. The intense pulsed light or laser devices may destroy the hair follicle or damage the follicle sufficiently to leave it incapable of growing a new hair shaft. But eventually the stem cells will regenerate the hair follicles (that is what the stem cells are for) and the hair will return. If a physician or a beauty clinique claim that their equipment can do permanent hair removal, you just need to ask for clinical results at 2 or 3 year follow-up … such data simply do not exist. Laser hair removal has been around for 10 years or more; if the treatment was permanent excellent data for 2 or 3 years follow up should exist by now. - Bo 10:05, 30 August 2006 (UTC)