Question
BACKGROUND: Undesirable hair growth presents a significant problem for many patients, and photoepilation has become a very popular procedure in aesthetic and cosmetic practice. Among the systems used are the long- and short-pulsed alexandrite lasers (LP-Alex, SP-Alex) and intense pulsed light (IPL) sources. The present study retrospectively examined the outcome of these systems from the viewpoint of efficacy and side effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-nine patients (370 females and 19 males, mean age 36.4 yrs, skin types II-V) were admitted to the study, with a total of 532 treated sites. They were treated either with the LP-Alex, SP-Alex or IPL. Subjective evaluation and interview of the patients was held prior to every treatment session. Six to eight treatments were required with the alexandrite lasers, 2.4-2.8 months between treatments, and the IPL source required 8-9 treatments, 2-2.5 months apart. RESULTS: No significant difference was seen between the LP- and SP-Alex, or between both of them and the IPL source, although the period to regrowth was longer for the lasers. Erythema and oedema were more noticeable with the LP-Alex, as were crusting and hyper- and hypopigmentation. Discomfort was greatest with the LP-Alex and the IPL source. Hair induction at the borders of the treated area on the face and neck was seen only with the LP-Alex, and correlated statistically significantly with any episode of severe erythema, crusting or hyperpigmentation. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference between the LP-, SP-Alex and IPL photoepilation with regard to efficacy. Transient side effects were highest with the LP-Alex, and least with the IPL system. In the LP-Alex treated face and neck sites, 3.1% had hair induction in the borders of the treated areas.
EEK! Hair INDUCTION along the borders of the treated facial areas. I hope anyone looking to get facial LHR reads this before paying for their packages. I love LHR but I would NEVER get it on my face if I needed it. I'd stick to good ol' electrolysis for the face.

Answer
BACKGROUND: Undesirable hair growth presents a significant problem for many patients, and photoepilation has become a very popular procedure in aesthetic and cosmetic practice. Among the systems used are the long- and short-pulsed alexandrite lasers (LP-Alex, SP-Alex) and intense pulsed light (IPL) sources. The present study retrospectively examined the outcome of these systems from the viewpoint of efficacy and side effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-nine patients (370 females and 19 males, mean age 36.4 yrs, skin types II-V) were admitted to the study, with a total of 532 treated sites. They were treated either with the LP-Alex, SP-Alex or IPL. Subjective evaluation and interview of the patients was held prior to every treatment session. Six to eight treatments were required with the alexandrite lasers, 2.4-2.8 months between treatments, and the IPL source required 8-9 treatments, 2-2.5 months apart. RESULTS: No significant difference was seen between the LP- and SP-Alex, or between both of them and the IPL source, although the period to regrowth was longer for the lasers. Erythema and oedema were more noticeable with the LP-Alex, as were crusting and hyper- and hypopigmentation. Discomfort was greatest with the LP-Alex and the IPL source. Hair induction at the borders of the treated area on the face and neck was seen only with the LP-Alex, and correlated statistically significantly with any episode of severe erythema, crusting or hyperpigmentation. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference between the LP-, SP-Alex and IPL photoepilation with regard to efficacy. Transient side effects were highest with the LP-Alex, and least with the IPL system. In the LP-Alex treated face and neck sites, 3.1% had hair induction in the borders of the treated areas.
EEK! Hair INDUCTION along the borders of the treated facial areas. I hope anyone looking to get facial LHR reads this before paying for their packages. I love LHR but I would NEVER get it on my face if I needed it. I'd stick to good ol' electrolysis for the face.

Answer
the reason IPLs usually don't provide as good of results as lasers often depends on the technician. Most places that have IPLs have these machines because they are used to many different procedures and they do hair removal as an afterthought. Thus, most of the people performing IPL treatments at these places are not suited to treat you in a way to remove as much hair as possible in the most effective/efficient manner. Just an FYI on IPLs. I would stay away from them altogether, on the face or not.
And for lasers, I would only consider doing it on a woman's face if you really have dark thick coarse hair and very light skin. Any side effects resulting from high settings or low settings would not be pleasant on such an open area.

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Blink- IPL is as effective as a laser, as for IPL on the face- there are studies of deep pitted scarring caused by lasers, not IPL. The IPL is bad theoum has pretty much been debunked.

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there is not one post of success with IPL on ANY of the laser hair removal boards if you follow them as we have been. like I said, I am not necessarily saying that IPLs are worse, just that those who operate them usually know nothing about hair removal and do it as an afterthought to make money, which is probably the #1 reason why most people get none or bad results. there ARE plenty of postings from people who tried IPLs, didn't see results, and then DID see results after switching to a laser like an alex or a yag. do a bit more research, you'll come to the same conclusion I am sure. this is not just my personal opinion, it's been reiterated on all boards by consumers and techs over and over again.
please list a link for this supposed study that you mention. noone has complained about pits from laser. scars are caused by burns and pits are usually from bad electrolysis from inserting a needle badly into each follicle. laser doesn't do that, so how exactly would you suggest laser cause pits? could you explain that?