Intense Pulsed Light

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Intense Pulsed Light technology (IPL)

IPL technology works by applying gentle pulses of light to the hair. As a result, the hair sheds naturally and regrowth is prevented, leaving you with silky-smooth skin.
How IPL works

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a treatment in which gentle pulses of light are applied to the hair. The light is absorbed by the melanin (pigment) in the hair, and converted to light energy. This light energy then travels down to the hair root, stimulating the hair follicle to go into its resting phase.

As a result, the hair falls out naturally and regrowth is discouraged, leaving you with silky-smooth skin.

Clinical studies with Lumea IPL Hair Removal System have shown you can obtain significant hair reduction after two months or 4 treatments. For optimal results, simply repeat the treatment when needed, based on your individual hair growth pattern.

With the Lumea IPL Hair Removal System range, an internal optical filter ensures no UV light reaches the skin.

Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal System and your skin

Before buying or using an IPL device, first make sure that it is suitable for you. Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal System has four light energy settings to ensure gentle but effective treatment across a number of different skin tones and hair colors. See if these include your own.

Why choose lumea IPL hair removal system?

Is lumea IPL hair removal system suitable for you?

IPL and different skin types

Take care when tanning
Why choose Lumea IPL Hair Removal System?

It discourages hair regrowth - and lets you benefit from IPL treatment in the privacy of your own home.

Easy to use
Easy to use

Lumea gives you maximum reach and maneuverability, so you can use it with ease wherever and whenever you like. Philips Lumea Comfort is one of the smallest and lightest device.

Fast and effective
Fast and effective

With Lumea, it only takes 22 minutes to treat both lower legs. This rapid treatment offers a long-lasting way to enjoy smooth skin every day with no ingrowing hairs, dark shadows or stubble.

Visible results
Visible results

Clinical studies have shown significant hair reduction after only two months or 4 treatments.

Nothing extra to buy
Nothing extra to buy

Unlike other brands, Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal System does not require any replacement parts. The device provides 6 years of full body treatments with no replacement lamps

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Is Lumea IPL Hair Removal suitable for you?

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IPL and different skin types

IPL and different skin types

IPL and different skin types

As with other light-based treatments, IPL's effectiveness depends on the level of melanin in the hair. Melanin is the color pigment that absorbs IPL. Due to the low levels of melanin in light-blonde, white/grey and red hair, light-based hair removal treatments are not effective on these hair colours. IPL treatment is also not suitable for women with naturally dark skin tones.

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Take care with tanning

After tanning, wait for the recommended period of time before you use Lumea IPL Hair Removal System, and do not use it if you have sunburned skin. Be aware that all types of tanning darken the skin, so always check the Lumea skin/hair color table. If appropriate, adapt the light intensity to a lower setting to avoid skin reactions and side effects.

Your skin will be more sensitive directly after an IPL treatment. Wait for the recommended period of time or until all redness has disappeared before you expose treated areas to the sun. Cover treated areas when you go out into the sun or use a sunblock (+30 SPF) in the two weeks after treatment.

For more information, please check the user manual provided with your Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal System.

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Using Lumea

Using Lumea IPL Hair Removal System is simple, straightforward and comfortable. You can achieve hair-free, silky-smooth skin after just a few treatments. There are no replacement lamps to buy.

How do I use it?

How long does it take?

When not to use Lumea IPL Hair Removal System

Does it hurt?
How do I use it?

Prepare

First shave the areas you want to treat, to ensure that the light energy is channelled effectively to the hair root.

This is generally only necessary before the first 4-5 sessions, when you still experience some hair regrowth.

Adjust
Then select the correct light intensity for your skin tone at the time of treatment.

This will ensure gentle but effective results, while avoiding redness.

Treat
Place the device at a 90° angle to the skin. When the 'ready to flash' light appears, you can release a flash.

Move the flash window to the next area and repeat the action, ensuring there is some overlap to avoid missing any hairs.

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How long does it take?

Treatment times depend on the area to be treated and the light intensity used. You can see the average treatment times per area.

Lower legs
Lower legs

Bikini
Bikini

Under arms
Under arms
When to not use Lumea IPL Hair Removal system

Philips Lumea should not be used by women with medical conditions such as skin cancer, lesions, epilepsy, vascular disorders, immunosuppressive disorders or skin allergies to light. If you take medications that cause photosensitivity or other reactions, please consult your doctor before use and follow your prescription's instructions.

Do not use Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal System if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and do not use the appliance near any piercings, tattoos, injection sites (e.g. for insulin), pacemakers or implants.

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Does it hurt?

In clinical trials with Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal System, no women rated the experience as painful, providing the correct settings according to skin tone and hair color were followed. Some women did describe experiencing a 'warm sensation', 'prickling' or 'itching', but in most cases these disappeared within a few minutes or an hour.

To get accustomed to Philips Lumea, it is recommended that you make test flashes near the area you intend to treat, using the lowest recommended light setting. Once you are comfortable with this, you can increase the light setting, but it should never become uncomfortable.

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Expert advice

Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal System is the result of more than 10 years of research carried out together with expert dermatologists. Devices were tested on over 2,000 users during dozens of trials in several countries. This extensive research provided us with the knowledge to ensure that IPL with Lumea truly meets your needs.

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Meet the experts

Dr. Paul Berretty
Dr. Paul Berretty

Director and Founder of Cosmetic Clinic Perfect Skin, Eindhoven, the Netherlands

Dr. Berretty has over 28 years´ experience as a dermatologist and works as a consultant in the Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven. In 1995, he founded his clinic for beauty treatments including laser and IPL hair removal. He supervised the initial studies with early prototypes of Philips Lumea, thereby improving the safety and effectiveness of the final version.

Professor Peter Bjerring
Professor Peter Bjerring

Director of Møholm Private Hospital, Denmark

Professor Bjerring has over 32 years of experience in dermatology. He founded the first skin laser clinic in Denmark in 1981, has written over 180 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has spoken at more than 400 international conferences. His work in the field of light-based hair removal led to the development of Philips Lumea.
Ask the dermatologist

Is Philips Lumea suitable for all skin and hair types?
Is Philips Lumea suitable for all skin and hair types?

Lumea has five adjustable light energy settings to ensure gentle and effective treatment across 4 different skin tones and body hair colors. However, IPL treatment is not effective on red hair, white/grey hair or light blonde hair. Nor is it suitable for very dark skin, as it can cause skin damage, such as burns, blisters or discoloration.

Is long-term use dangerous to my skin?
Is long-term use dangerous to my skin?

Intense Pulsed Light is a technology that has been in use since 1997 for hair removal. Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal System has been developed in conjunction with leading dermatologists, and fulfills all the safety regulations for home-use appliances. As with any skincare product, it is important to use the appliance in accordance with the user manual.

What's the difference between Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and laser treatment?
What's the difference between Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and laser treatment?

IPL emits light of all visible wavelengths (like a photo flash), while lasers emit a single beam of light at a specific wavelength (like a laser pointer). This makes IPL more versatile, as it is suitable for use across a wider range of applications than laser treatment.

Can I expect light-based hair removal results to last forever?
Can I expect light-based hair removal results to last forever?

Neither professional nor at-home light-based hair removal treatments are guaranteed to be permanent. Due to the hair’s normal growth cycle, light-based treatments are usually performed in a series of sessions. Hairs that may have been dormant during your previous treatment may now be in the growth phase. With both professional and at-home treatments, hairs usually reappear after time, typically in a reduced number or a finer version. Maintenance sessions once or twice a year are often recommended. Philips Lumea uses a lower intensity than the professional treatments, but using it more regularly gives you breakthrough results at home.

Why do I need to shave before any light-based hair removal treatment?
Why do I need to shave before any light-based hair removal treatment?

The melanin in the hair channels the light energy to the hair root. By shaving, you ensure that this happens in the most efficient way and that the light energy is not lost in any hairs above the skin surface. Furthermore, unshaved hair in the treatment area can be burnt by the intense light, causing an unpleasant odor.
Awards

Appliances from the Philips Lumea range* have won a number of prestigious international awards for its innovative technology and efficacy.

*The availability of the full Lumea range varies per country

iF Product Design Award 2012, Germany
Awarded only for outstanding product design, iF is recognised as one of the most important product design awards in the world.

Astir Beauty 2011, Benelux
Among 245 entries judged by 40 leading beauty editors and journalists, Lumea Precision won 'Best Body Product' and was described as 'the best beauty invention of the century'.

PureBeauty 2012, UK
Philips Lumea Precision Plus won Gold in PureBeauty magazine's 'Best hair removal product' category just a few months after its launch.

Product of the Year 2011, Germany
Votes from 10,000 consumers resulted in Lumea Precision being crowned Product of the Year 2011 for its innovation and efficacy.

Tips & FAQs

Find out how to make the most of the benefits of long lasting hair removal with IPL.
Tips & Tricks

Apply at bedtime
Apply at bedtime

Use your Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal System before you go to bed. Any slight skin irritation that may occur will fade overnight.

Shave and wait
Shave and wait

Before the first few sessions, you will need to shave the treatment area. If your skin is sensitive to shaving, either trim the hairs as short as possible or shave a few hours before using IPL.

Use on cool skin
Use on cool skin

The hair roots absorb the pulses of light more effectively when the skin is cool, so allow time after taking a sauna or bath before starting treatment.

Avoid moles
Avoid moles

Don’t use IPL directly on moles. If there is a mole in the area you want to treat, use a white eye pencil to cover the mole and then treat the area around it.

Stretch your underarms
Stretch your underarms

To make it easier to press the device properly onto underarm skin, raise your arm and place your hand behind your neck.

Position it correctly
Position it correctly

To achieve optimal skin contact on your shinbone or ankles, hold the device in a vertical position or pull your skin gently away from bony areas.
Tips & Tricks

Stop if too sensitive
Stop if too sensitive

A woman's pain threshold often changes due to hormones or mood, so if you're feeling too sensitive, postpone treatment to another day.

Cool your skin afterwards
Cool your skin afterwards

Any skin redness or itching – which is normal and harmless – after the treatment can be reducedby cooling the skin with some ice, a towel soaked in cold water or a cooling pack.

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Intense Pulsed Light

Intense Pulsed Light technology (IPL)

How IPL works

Philips Lumea IPL Hair Removal System and your skin

Why choose Lumea IPL Hair Removal System?

Is Lumea IPL Hair Removal suitable for you?

IPL and different skin types IPL and different skin types IPL and different skin types

Take care with tanning

Using Lumea

How do I use it?

How long does it take?

When to not use Lumea IPL Hair Removal system

Does it hurt?

Expert advice

Meet the experts

Ask the dermatologist

Awards

Tips & FAQs

Tips & Tricks

Tips & Tricks

See our hair removal products

IPL and different skin types

IPL and different skin types

IPL and different skin types