IPL stands for " intense pulsating light ", and consists of gentle light waves that form a white light. An IPL machine is simply a laser that absorbs light from the hair follicles, and in this way puts the hair growth into hibernation mode. The IPL light waves hit the melanin in the hair under the skin, and the white light is then absorbed by the hair follicles. The heat from the light energy puts active hairs into sleep mode, which means that new hairs do not grow out.

The light pulses from Silkemyk's IPL technology hit the melanin in the hair under the skin. The white light is then absorbed by the hair follicles. The heat from the light energy puts active hairs into sleep mode, which means that new hairs do not grow out. Because hair grows in cycles and alternates between being active and passive, the light pulses only stop active hair strands. Therefore, the treatment must be repeated over time to reach all hair follicles.

Most people find that the hairs grow slower and thinner after 3-4 treatments, but that it requires around 12 treatments for a full-fledged and silky-soft result. The result depends on skin colour, hair thickness and colour, genetic hair growth, hormones in the body, diseases and medication. We still see that a full 92% of our customers had less hair growth already after 6 treatments - which is a reasonably high figure.

An IPL hair remover can be used on most areas of the body with the exception of the eyes and genital areas. Common areas to treat are armpits, arms, legs, face, bikini line, upper lip, fingers, toes and on the upper arms and thighs.

Avoid areas with a lot of pigment. The pigmented areas of your skin will absorb the flashes of light from the IPL laser at a deeper level, which can cause skin irritation. Do not use IPL directly on tattoos, freckles, dark birthmarks or moles.

You don't have to do anything, but for optimal results you should shave the areas to be treated before using the IPL hair remover. The reason why we recommend shaving the area first is so that the light energy can reach the hair follicle as quickly and well as possible. Remember that the hair follicles need to be intact for IPL to be effective. Therefore, avoid growing or plucking the hairs in the area you wish to treat.

We recommend that you use the IPL hair remover once a week for the first 12 weeks. After this period, you can use IPL once a month for 3 months, or until you are satisfied. To maintain silky smooth skin, you should use the laser once every 2 months, or as needed. Because the IPL treatment is only effective during the active growth phase of your hair, there is no point in using the IPL hair remover more than once a week.

IPL can help reduce the severity of acne by killing acne-causing bacteria and reducing inflammation.

Silky smooth IPL is especially helpful for women experiencing excessive hair growth due to PCOS. This gentle but effective treatment reduces unwanted hair growth and contributes to smoother and more even skin.

People who suffer from abnormally frequent hair growth due to conditions such as hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth all over the body) or hirsutism (excessive hair growth in women in a pattern typical of men) may find IPL treatments helpful. IPL can help significantly reduce hair growth.

It is recommended to avoid solariums and intense sunbathing for at least 2-3 days both before and after an IPL treatment. Before the treatment, the skin should be as light as possible to ensure effectiveness and to reduce the risk of side effects. After the treatment, the skin is more sensitive and prone to sun damage, so it is important to protect it from strong sunlight. Should you absolutely have to use a solarium, make sure you do not use IPL over sunburned skin.

Sunbathing before or after an IPL treatment is not dangerous, but caution is advised. Before an IPL treatment, it is best for the skin to be as light as possible to increase effectiveness and reduce the risk of side effects. After the treatment, you should wait at least 2-3 days before sunbathing, as the skin may be more sensitive and prone to sun damage. It is important to protect the skin with sunscreen with a high SPF. If the skin is sun damaged, it is recommended to postpone the IPL treatment until the sun damage has healed to avoid further skin irritation.

It is not recommended to use IPL over tattoos. The IPL treatment works by targeting pigment in the hair follicles, and dark colors in tattoos can absorb more light energy, which can cause skin irritation or damage to the tattoo. To avoid potential side effects, avoid using IPL directly on or around tattooed areas.

You should avoid areas with a lot of pigment. The pigmented areas of your skin will absorb the flashes of light from the IPL laser at a deeper level, which can cause skin irritation. Do not use IPL directly on tattoos, freckles, dark birthmarks, moles and the like.

The effect of IPL depends on the level of melanin in the hair shaft. The more melanin in the hair shaft, the more effective the IPL laser works. Very light, red and gray hair contains little melanin, therefore the treatment will be less effective.

You can compensate for this with more treatments and by increasing the intensity level of the treatment. Please see our tables for which intensity you should choose, and which skin and hair types IPL works best on in this blog post.

IPL technology works best if the hairs are darker than your skin. The treatment will therefore not be suitable for the darkest skin types, as the melanin has a chemical structure that enables it to absorb light energy. Skin cells with a lot of melanin will attract the IPL light, which means that it does not reach the hair follicles.

Our IPL laser has 3 different modes that can be used as you wish.

Manual mode: This is a good setting where you have to press yourself to trigger flashes of light. This mode is optimal when removing hair from small areas such as the face, armpits and bikini line.

Automatic mode: To activate this mode, turn the machine away from your body and hold the on button for 3-5 seconds. This activates the automatic mode and it will start when the light field is in contact with your skin. Now the IPL machine starts flashes of light every 3 seconds. Remember that the flashes of light will only last as long as the base of the IPL machine is parallel and close to the skin.

Glide Mode: Hold the power button with the light window pressed against the skin to activate the mode. This mode is optimal for hair removal on larger areas, such as calves and thighs. This setting automatically emits a flash of light every three seconds and will only end when you lift the device away from your body.

No, hair removal with IPL does not hurt. The light pulses can create a very mild feeling of heat during use, but it is completely harmless.

Our handsets are designed for home use and are gentle on the skin. This means that it is also suitable for sensitive skin types.

Side effects rarely occur if the handset is used properly. Common reactions after IPL treatment can be redness and swelling, but these symptoms usually subside immediately after the treatment. Remember to follow the procedure as described in the instructions for use, and take a skin test before choosing an intensity level. Explanation is in the user manual.

No, then IPL treatment is unfortunately not suitable for you.

No. Our IPL has not been tested for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and should therefore not be used. Silkemyk has been developed in collaboration with leading skin specialists, and they have advised against the use of Silkemyk's IPL or other light-based hair removal methods during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as a precaution to avoid any side effects.

Between treatments, you can shave as needed. You should not wax or pluck your hair between treatments, as these hair removal methods remove the entire root. We need the root of the hair to be intact so that the IPL laser can absorb the light from it during the treatment.

No, eye protection is not required when using the IPL laser. Our IPL hair remover is equipped with a sensor that means it will not fire a light flash unless the entire light window is pressed against your skin. That said, you should never try to look directly into the light while it is flashing.

No. You should exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells before using the IPL laser for the best possible results.

Cleaning the IPL hair remover is recommended after each treatment. You can use antibacterial products such as wipes, gel and cleanser to clean the laser itself and the light window after treatment. Make sure the epilator is switched off and not connected to power. You should then store the handset in a cool, dry place. The handset must be completely dry before the next use.

Yes, this is completely normal. As the light energy heats the hair, it may smell a little burnt. The smell is a result of unshaven hairs, so you can reduce the smell by making sure the skin is completely clean shaven before starting the IPL treatment.