BBL and IPL: light treatment for complexion, redness and pigment
IPL and BBL do not work with laser light but with broadband, filtered light from a flashlamp. This page explains how light treatment works, what filters, pulse width and contact cooling do and what it is suitable for: photorejuvenation, sun damage, uneven skin tone, redness, acne and pores.
You will also find out how a session proceeds, how many sessions are usual, which skin types are suitable and what applies to the lamp, running costs and sun. The matching SIACSKIN device is the DERMAFORCE BBL PRO: BroadBand Light with 400 to 800 nm, 9 filters and sapphire contact cooling for skin types I to IV.
What is IPL and how does BBL (BroadBand Light) differ from it?
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light: a flashlamp emits short, powerful pulses of light that contain a broad spectrum of wavelengths. BBL, short for BroadBand Light, is based on the same principle and is a further development of it. The difference lies in the control: more and more finely graded filters, a widely adjustable pulse width and cooling directly at the light aperture. This allows the energy to be matched more precisely to the respective target in the skin. Neither is a laser, because a laser emits only a single wavelength.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO from SIACSKIN is such a BroadBand Light system: a spectrum of 400 to 800 nm, 9 filters, a pulse width of up to 800 ms, two spot sizes and sapphire contact cooling.
How do the filters in IPL and BBL determine whether pigment or vessels are treated?
From the broad light spectrum, the filter lets through only the part that the desired target absorbs particularly well. Every chromophore in the skin has its own absorption profile: melanin, the brown pigment, absorbs short-wavelength light most strongly, while haemoglobin, the red blood pigment, absorbs mainly green and yellow light. The target heats up and the surrounding skin is largely spared. The higher the filter value, the more short-wavelength light is kept out and the less strain is placed on the epidermis.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO works with 9 filters in the spectrum from 400 to 800 nm. This lets you switch between brown spots, redness and acne in one session without needing another device.
Which filter is used for which treatment in IPL and BBL?
As a rule of thumb: short wavelengths for superficial targets and fair skin, longer ones for deeper targets and somewhat darker skin. Blue light at around 420 nm is used for acne. Filters between about 515 and 560 nm are common for superficial pigment spots and fine red thread veins on fair skin. The range from 560 to 590 nm is used for photorejuvenation and diffuse redness, 590 to 640 nm for deeper vessels and skin types III to IV. From about 640 nm the range for hair reduction begins. The exact values differ from device to device.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO comes with 9 filters between 400 and 800 nm, including filters for hair reduction.
What is photorejuvenation (photofacial) and what does it improve in the skin?
Photorejuvenation is skin rejuvenation with pulsed light: in a single pass it evens out brown spots, redness and a dull, uneven complexion. The light hits melanin and haemoglobin at the same time, the spots flake off and dilated thread veins fade. The mild heat in the dermis also stimulates collagen formation, and over time the skin looks smoother and finer-pored. Deep wrinkles and sagging contours, by contrast, are hardly changed by light.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO is designed for exactly this picture: skin rejuvenation, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, redness and pores. A course of 3 to 5 sessions is usual, and one session takes 15 to 30 minutes.
What does light treatment do for sun damage and uneven skin tone?
In sun-damaged skin, light above all brings a more even skin tone, because it addresses brown and red components in the same session. Years of UV exposure seldom leave only individual spots, but rather a blotchy overall picture of pigment, fine thread veins and coarse texture. Broadband light treats the whole area instead of individual points, which is why the result looks calm rather than lightened in patches. Rough, scaly areas that do not heal should be seen by a dermatologist beforehand.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO lists sun damage and hyperpigmentation among its applications and works with spots of 45 × 15 mm and 30 × 12 mm. The Skin Analyzer Pro captures the skin beforehand under UV light as well, evaluates pigment and redness and documents the progress.
Does blue light in IPL and BBL help with acne and blemish-prone skin?
Yes, light in the blue range can relieve inflammatory acne because it hits the bacteria involved in the inflammation. Acne bacteria produce porphyrins that absorb blue light at around 400 to 420 nm. This generates reactive oxygen, which damages the bacteria. Longer-wavelength light additionally calms redness and inflamed areas. The usual course is 4 to 6 sessions at intervals of 1 to 2 weeks. Light has hardly any influence on blackheads and hormonal causes, and severe acne belongs in medical care.
The spectrum of the DERMAFORCE BBL PRO starts at 400 nm, and the device lists acne as an application. The SIACSKIN x Velaslift, a diode laser with four wavelengths, also names acne as an area of use.
Do large pores really become finer with IPL or BBL?
Light does not make pores smaller in the literal sense, but they look finer because the skin around them becomes firmer and more even. Pore size is inherited and depends on sebum production. The heat of the light pulses stimulates collagen in the upper dermis, which supports the pore wall. At the same time, redness and differences in pigment that visually emphasise pores fade. The effect builds up over several sessions and is more subtle than with fractional lasers.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO lists pores as an application. This makes sense above all when redness or pigment spots are present as well. If the main concern is pores and skin texture, the non-ablative TULIX is the stronger choice.
Which skin types are IPL and BBL suitable for and why is dark skin a limit?
IPL and BBL are suitable for fair to medium skin, in other words Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV. The reason is melanin: dark and tanned skin contains a lot of it in the epidermis, and broadband light is absorbed by this melanin just as it is by the pigment spot or thread vein that is actually the target. The epidermis heats up, with a risk of burns and lasting light or dark marks. Even with skin type IV, therefore, higher filters, less energy and longer pulses are used.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO is intended for skin types I to IV. Where pigment and the overall complexion are the concern in darker skin, the non-ablative TULIX is the alternative, as it is specified for all skin types.
Can the hands, neck and décolleté be treated with BBL?
Yes, the backs of the hands, the neck and the décolleté are among the most rewarding areas for BBL, because sun damage shows early there. Typical signs are brown spots on the hands and a reddish-brown, net-like discolouration on the neck and décolleté. The skin there is thinner and heals more slowly than on the face. For that reason less energy is used, and the darkened spots need more like 2 to 3 weeks rather than one week before they flake off. Treating only the face often leaves a visible transition, so the areas are frequently planned together.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO has two spot sizes, 45 × 15 mm and 30 × 12 mm. With these you cover large areas such as the décolleté as well as narrow areas on the neck and the back of the hand.
Why are pulse width and contact cooling so important in an IPL or BBL device?
The pulse width determines which target heats up, and the contact cooling protects the epidermis in the process. Small targets such as pigment granules or fine thread veins cool down quickly and need short pulses, otherwise the heat flows off into the surrounding tissue. Larger targets such as thicker vessels or hair follicles hold the heat for longer and tolerate longer pulses. Long pulses also give the epidermis time to give off heat. Cooling via the crystal at the light aperture keeps the skin surface cool. That permits effective energies and makes the treatment more comfortable.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO offers a pulse width of up to 800 ms and sapphire contact cooling. Those who would like additional cooling can add the KYROMASTER with cold air down to minus 50 °C, which is also suitable for BBL and IPL.
BBL or laser: which fits better into a beauty salon's range of skin treatments?
BBL is the better fit if you want to cover many skin concerns on fair to medium skin with one device, and a laser if you are specialising in one concern. Broadband light uses filters to treat pigment spots, redness, acne and pores, the sessions are short and the downtime is minimal. That appeals to a broad clientele. A laser works with one wavelength and in return acts in a more targeted way and at greater depth, for instance on scars, melasma or dark skin. Who may carry out which treatment is regulated differently from country to country.
At SIACSKIN, the device for breadth is the DERMAFORCE BBL PRO with 9 filters for skin types I to IV. For skin texture, scars and all skin types there is the non-ablative TULIX.
How long does the lamp of an IPL or BBL device last and what are the running costs?
The flashlamp is the wear part of an IPL or BBL device and lasts, depending on the design, from a few tens of thousands to several hundred thousand pulses. The lamp ages with every pulse, at some point the output declines and it is replaced. So before buying, ask about the guaranteed number of pulses and the price of the replacement lamp. Beyond that there are only minor items: contact gel, care of the filters and crystal, and regular maintenance.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO works with a dual lamp. Its client management system keeps count of the shots delivered, so you can keep an eye on usage. SIACSKIN's service team will tell you the specific service life of the lamp and the maintenance intervals.
What happens during a BBL treatment and how long does a session take?
A BBL session takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on the treatment area and always follows the same routine: cleanse the skin, put on protective eyewear, apply contact gel, give a test pulse, then cover the area pulse by pulse. Each individual pulse feels like a short, warm flick of a rubber band, and the cooling on the handpiece takes the edge off it. Beforehand, skin type, tan, medication and the aim of the treatment are clarified. Afterwards the skin is slightly red and warm, which usually subsides after a few hours. Sun protection follows straight away.
With the DERMAFORCE BBL PRO, the SIA AI sets skin type, body area and energy automatically, and the sapphire contact cooling cools the skin at the light aperture.
How many BBL sessions do you need and how often should you have a top-up?
For a visibly more even complexion, 3 to 5 sessions at intervals of 3 to 4 weeks are usual, followed by 1 to 2 top-ups per year. Individual sun spots often respond after the very first session, while diffuse redness and pores need the whole course. The interval is based on skin renewal: after around 4 weeks the released pigment has been shed and the result can be assessed. The top-up makes sense because sun and predisposition cause new pigment spots and thread veins to appear. For acne, the intervals are shorter.
With the DERMAFORCE BBL PRO, a session takes 15 to 30 minutes. In the studio this can easily be offered as a course and as a recurring top-up.
Can you have BBL all year round and how long do you have to avoid the sun?
Yes, BBL is possible all year round, as long as the skin is not freshly tanned and is consistently protected afterwards. Tanned skin contains more melanin in the epidermis and therefore absorbs more light energy, which increases the risk of burns and pigment spots. The usual advice is around 4 weeks without intense sun, sunbeds and self-tanning products before the session and 4 weeks afterwards, plus sun protection factor 50 every day. Autumn and winter are therefore the most convenient time for a course of treatment, and in summer it works with discipline.
The DERMAFORCE BBL PRO can be used all year round. The Suncream Sensitiv SPF50 from the SIACSKIN skincare range is suitable for aftercare, and the individual steps are set out in the aftercare guide.
