Yes, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy indirectly contributes to dead skin cell removal. IPL doesn't directly remove dead skin cells like a physical exfoliant, but it stimulates the body's natural healing process. The light energy heats skin cells, triggering skin rejuvenation where the body sheds dead cells and replaces them with new ones.1
How IPL Affects Dead Skin Cells
IPL primarily targets various skin imperfections, such as age spots, wrinkles, and unwanted hair.2, 3 While not its primary function, the skin rejuvenation process stimulated by IPL leads to the natural exfoliation of dead skin cells. This is because the treatment triggers cell turnover, resulting in the removal of older, dead cells and the generation of new, healthier skin. Think of it as a catalyst for your skin's own exfoliation process.
Other treatments, like laser resurfacing, directly remove layers of skin, including dead cells.4, 5, 6, 7 Dermaplaning, a different procedure, directly removes dead skin cells and fine hairs.8 However, IPL works differently, indirectly promoting cell renewal.
Key Differences from Other Treatments
It's crucial to differentiate IPL from other treatments that directly exfoliate. Procedures like dermaplaning physically scrape away dead skin, while chemical peels use acids to dissolve them. Laser treatments might ablate or vaporize the top layers of the skin, removing both dead and live cells. IPL’s mechanism is distinct; it triggers cellular processes that lead to dead skin cell removal as part of the body's natural renewal.
