Since the 2000s, pulsed light (IPL) has surged in popularity, revolutionizing hair removal with promises of increasingly spaced regrowth—potentially leading to near-permanent hair reduction. This is achieved through a concentrated light beam that generates intense heat to destroy the hair bulb. Once limited to dermatologist offices, IPL devices are now widely available in beauty salons and for home use, making the technology ultra-accessible. However, this accessibility alarms experts at ANSES, France's National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety.
“The primary risk is burns, stemming from an uncontrolled thermal effect—including potential second-degree burns. Another major concern is eye damage; treating areas near the eyebrows can harm the retina, even with protective eyewear,” explains board-certified dermatologist Jean-Michel Mazer in a recent press release. “We must better regulate the IPL device market and usage protocols to minimize these adverse effects,” adds Rémi Poirier, an ANSES official.
Key side effects include burns and eye injuries, but IPL can also mask skin cancer by “distorting the color of precancerous lesions, potentially delaying diagnosis,” warns Poirier. To address this, he advocates for stringent pre-market testing: “Manufacturers should conduct tolerance studies as rigorous as those for medical devices to properly assess health risks.”
