IPL (Intense-Pulsed Light) vs Pulsed-Dye Laser (PDL) (For Professionals)

IPL (Intense-Pulsed Light) vs Pulsed-Dye Laser (PDL) (For Professionals)

Introduction

-IPL (Intense pulsed light):

• since 1994
• many devices
• lots of indications (but overall less efective)
• usage by non doctors and lower doses
• easy to use but applicator more heavy than that of PDL.

-Pulsed dye laser (PDL):

• only two devices
• a lot easier to use (applicator less heavy)
• fewer indications (but more effective)

Indications

-IPL:

• Port-wine stain, less effective (the whitening of lesions does not lead to complete clearance).
• Telangiectasia treated by adding a green filter, sometimes one treatment session only is enough.
• Rosacea, papulo-pustular type, two treatment sessions.
• Pigmentation and aging (an indication wherase for PDL it isn’t).
• Erythrosis colli, one treatment session is enough with a green filter.
• IPL (instead of the red led light) accompanied photodynamic therapy (PDT) can be used for treatment of actinic keratosis.
• Scars
• Pay attention to treatment induced burning !!!

-PDL:

• port-wine stain

1. acts by selective photothermolysis (short pulse) induction of purpura) or selective photocoagulation (longer pulse)(absence of purpura)
2. usage of stacking methodology: many smaller imnpacts on a same area of treatment (same effect for less thermal effects…).

• Rosacea

-Treatment tried for:

1. angiokeratoma
2. molluscum contagiosum
3. red keratosis pilaris
4. ascending telangiectasia of the legs
5. psoriasis (Study by Dubertret et al.)

Note: for the treatment of ulcerated and bleeding hemangiomas, the pulsed dye laser is effective for pain relief when beta-blocking drugs are used.

Contributors:

Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland

Source of information (French): Controverses au sujet du laser (Magis M), Journées dermatologiques de Paris 2009