Does an IPL device for home use work?
Het Nieuwsblad, 13 August 2026
Is an IPL device for home use a good idea? Dr Griet Voet discusses how it works, the risks and the results in Het Nieuwsblad.
IPL devices for hair removal at home are heavily promoted. In Het Nieuwsblad, Dr Griet Voet explains how they work and where their limits lie. The broad light spectrum heats the pigment in the hair root and so slows down hair growth, but only for hairs in the growth phase, which means several sessions and maintenance remain necessary.
The best results are achieved on light skin with dark hair. On blonde, grey or red hair it hardly works, and on dark or freshly tanned skin the risk of burns and pigmentation marks increases. Caution is needed around moles and with certain skin diseases or medication.
If you want a more lasting result, you are better off, according to Dr Voet, with medical laser treatment under professional supervision.
Key advice
Do not use the device on or right next to moles and pigmentation marks.
Wait at least two weeks after sun exposure and avoid the sun after a treatment.
Count on maintenance: home IPL does not give permanent hair removal.
For a more lasting result, choose a medical laser under professional supervision.
“IPL devices for home use are not intended for permanent hair removal.” — Dr Griet Voet
Want to know more? Read about Laser hair removal at Clinique Dermatologie Gent.