FAUSTINAIPL Guides

Safety

Is IPL safe? Side effects explained

The full picture, including who should not use it ✦ Updated July 2026

Yes, IPL is safe for the right skin tone and used as directed. It has been used in clinics for decades, and home devices run at lower energy than clinic machines precisely so they can be used without an operator. The honest caveats: it is not suitable for the darkest skin tones, a small set of people should not use it at all, and skipping the patch test is how most avoidable problems happen.

Common side effects (normal, short-lived)

These are the equivalent of the flush after brisk exercise. They fade on their own.

Rare side effects (why the rules exist)

Every one of these becomes unlikely if you follow three rules: patch test first, start on a low level, and respect the skin tone guidance in Does IPL work on dark skin?

Who should not use IPL

Do not use a home IPL device if any of these apply, and ask a GP or dermatologist if unsure:

What makes home use safe in practice

  1. Patch test on the lowest setting, wait 48 hours.
  2. Goggles on. The FAUSTINA 3IN1 includes protective goggles in the box, and the device only flashes with the window in full contact with skin.
  3. Start at level 1 of 5 and step up only when your skin has shown it stays calm.
  4. No sun or self-tan for two weeks before treating an area, and SPF on treated skin afterwards.
  5. Follow the schedule, once a week to begin with. More is not better and doubles nothing except risk.
The device refusing to flash is a safety feature. The skin-contact sensor blocks the flash without full, flat contact. It is the single most misunderstood behaviour in home IPL and the most common reason people wrongly return a working device. The how-to guide covers the fix.

Regulation, for the sceptical reader

Home-use IPL devices for hair removal and skin rejuvenation are consumer aesthetic devices in the UK, required to meet UKCA/CE electrical and photobiological safety standards. That is the same regime the big-name devices sell under. What no honest brand will claim: medical outcomes. If a device promises to cure a skin condition, walk away.

Questions people actually ask

Can IPL cause cancer?
No. IPL is intense visible light, not ionising radiation like UV or X-rays. The wavelengths used (roughly 400 to 1100nm) do not damage DNA the way UV does.
Is IPL safe on the face?
Yes below the cheekbones for hair removal, and with the skin rejuvenation lamp for tone. Keep flashes well away from the eyes and never treat eyebrows.
Is IPL safe during pregnancy?
Device makers, FAUSTINA included, advise against use during pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precaution. There is no evidence of harm, but nobody runs trials on pregnant women to prove it either way.
What happens if I use IPL too often?
You raise irritation risk without speeding up results, because hair only responds during its growth phase. Stick to the schedule.
Can IPL make hair growth worse?
Rarely, yes. Paradoxical hypertrichosis, where light treatment stimulates rather than reduces growth, is a recognised phenomenon, reported mostly on faces with hormonal hair patterns. If you have PCOS or hormonally driven facial hair, talk to a professional before treating the face, and monitor any treated area over the first 2 to 3 months.

Sources

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Check the user manual and speak to a GP or dermatologist if any of the cautions above might apply to you.

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