IPL patch test and consultation
A patch test is required before any IPL treatment at ALBA Skin & Beauty Clinic in Cirencester, carried out at least 24 hours before your first session. It takes around 20 minutes and involves a short medical history, Fitzpatrick skin typing, and test pulses at several settings on a small area so the correct parameters can be confirmed for your skin and hair.
1
SESSIONS TYPICALLY NEEDED
XX
PRICE
At least 24 hours before your first treatment
SESSIONS INTERVAL
How it works
Your practitioner takes a full medical history, checks for photosensitising medication and recent sun exposure, and types your skin on the Fitzpatrick scale. Small test pulses are then applied at different settings and reviewed after 24 hours, which identifies both the right energy level and any unexpected reaction before a full treatment goes ahead.
What it treats
Nothing on its own. It is a safety and planning appointment, and it is also where you find out honestly whether IPL will work for what you want.
RESULTS TIMELINE
Reviewed 24 hours later, then treatment booked
AVERAGE NR OF SESSIONS
1
TREATMENT TIME
20 minutes
SESSION INTERVAL
At least 24 hours before your first treatment
DOWNTIME
None
After Treatment
Do
Check the tested area at 24 hours and report anything unusual|Avoid sun on the tested area|Keep your treatment appointment spacing in mind when booking
Don’t
No sunbeds or sun exposure before your first session|No waxing or plucking if you are booking hair removal|No fake tan
Is it right for you?
Everyone having IPL at ALBA, including returning clients who have had a break of more than a year, a change in medication, or a change in skin tone since their last course.
NOT SUITABLE IF YOU ARE
✖️ Pregnant or breastfeeding
✖️ Recent sun exposure, sunbed use or fake tan in the last 4 weeks
✖️ Taking photosensitising medication, including isotretinoin within the last 6 months
✖️ Photosensitive epilepsy
✖️ Under 18
Questions people ask
Why do I need a patch test for IPL?
To confirm your skin tolerates the treatment and to set the correct energy for your skin and hair type. Skipping it is how burns and pigmentation changes happen. It is required at ALBA at least 24 hours before your first session, without exception.
Do I need another patch test if I have had IPL before?
Yes, if it has been more than a year, if your medication has changed, or if your skin tone has changed since. Settings are matched to your skin as it is now, not as it was.
Is the patch test charged separately?
There is a fee, and it is redeemable against your first treatment or course. That way it costs nothing if you go ahead, and it protects your time if IPL turns out not to be right for you.