Diode laser vs IPL – what is the difference?

Introduction

When clinics choose hair removal technology, the question often arises whether to choose diode laser or IPL. Both technologies are used to treat unwanted hair growth, but they work in different ways and have different characteristics in terms of precision, energy and treatment results.

For clinics, it is important to understand the difference between the technologies because the choice affects both treatment quality, patient experience and the clinic's investment in equipment. While both technologies use light energy to affect the hair follicle, there are significant differences in how the energy is generated and delivered to the skin.

What is diode laser?

Diode laser is a laser-based technology that uses a specific wavelength of light to target the hair follicle. The most commonly used wavelength in professional clinics is around 808 nm because this wavelength provides a good balance between penetration into the skin and absorption in melanin.

If you want to read more about how this technology works in practice, you can see our article about 808 nm diode laser technology.
https://velurex.dk/pages/viden-808nm-teknologi-forklaret

When the laser hits the hair, the energy is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. The energy is converted into heat, which affects the structure that produces the hair. Over time, hair growth is significantly reduced because the hair follicle's ability to produce new hair is weakened.

Diode laser is used in many clinics because the technology provides high precision and stable energy during treatment, making it suitable for treating larger areas and repeated treatments.

What is IPL?

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light and is not a laser, but a broad spectrum light source. Instead of one specific wavelength, IPL emits a broad spectrum of light waves.

Using filters, parts of the light spectrum can be targeted at pigment in the hair. The energy is absorbed by melanin in the same way as with lasers, but because the light is broader in spectrum, the energy is not as concentrated.

IPL systems are often used for multiple types of treatments, such as hair removal, pigment treatment, and general skin enhancement. The broader application makes the technology flexible, but it is generally less precise than a dedicated laser.

Technological differences

The biggest difference between diode laser and IPL lies in the nature of the light. A diode laser works with a fixed wavelength, which makes it possible to focus the energy very precisely on the hair follicle.

IPL, on the other hand, emits many wavelengths at the same time. This means that the energy is spread over a wider spectrum and is not as concentrated.

This difference in precision means that diode lasers are often used in clinics that want a technology developed specifically for permanent hair reduction.

If you want to read more about how laser is used in clinics, you can see our guide to laser hair removal in clinics.
https://velurex.dk/pages/laser-til-harfjerning-klinik-teknologi-og-krav

Differences in treatment

In practice, the difference between the technologies can be felt in the treatment experience. Diode laser provides a more targeted energy and is often used in professional clinics to treat unwanted hair growth.

IPL is often used in systems that combine multiple treatment types. The technology can therefore be flexible, but the energy is not as concentrated as with laser.

Both technologies require proper use and professional assessment in clinical treatments.

Why many clinics choose diode laser

Many clinics choose diode laser for hair removal because the technology was developed specifically for this purpose. The concentrated wavelength allows the energy to be targeted to the hair follicle and achieve stable treatments.

However, the choice of technology always depends on the clinic's treatment profile, experience and the equipment used.

If you want to see what types of equipment are used in clinics, you can see the overview of machines for clinic use.
https://velurex.dk/pages/machines