IPL · Intense Pulsed Light

IPL treatment in Basingstoke — pigmentation, sun damage & thread veins

IPL uses precisely filtered light to treat three of the most common skin concerns — uneven pigmentation, visible vessels and unwanted hair. Which path is right depends on what you want to change.

£95

per session · single area

3–6

sessions · typical course

Minimal

downtime

Book a free consultation

New client · free · no obligation

What it is

IPL stands for intense pulsed light. Rather than a single laser wavelength, it delivers a broad spectrum of light that can be tuned to target different things in the skin — the excess pigment behind sun spots and uneven tone, or the tiny blood vessels behind thread veins and redness. The light is absorbed, gently heats the target, and the body clears it over the following days and weeks.

It’s non-invasive, needle-free, and done as a course of short sessions. Because the uses target different things, LUMOS Clinic treats them as distinct treatments — so you get advice and a plan specific to your concern.

Anne is a fully trained Lynton professional, working with the same medical-grade light technology trusted by the NHS.

What it treats

  • Pigmentation & sun damage — sun spots, age spots, freckling and uneven tone.
  • Thread veins & redness — facial thread veins, broken capillaries and diffuse redness.
  • Unwanted hair — long-lasting removal on the face and body, from £40 a session.

What to expect

  • A consultation first — Anne assesses your skin and confirms IPL is the right path, honestly, before anything is booked.
  • A session is short (typically 30 minutes or less for a single area), with minimal downtime.
  • Most concerns need a course of 3–6 sessions, spaced a few weeks apart.
  • Each pulse feels like a warm flick — quick and manageable, with no anaesthetic.

Is it right for me?

IPL works best when the target has contrast with the surrounding skin — pigment against lighter skin, or dark hair against light skin. Very dark skin tones, recently tanned skin, or grey/white/red hair respond poorly or carry higher risk, so an honest assessment comes first. Anne will tell you plainly whether IPL will work for your skin — and suggest what will if it isn’t the right fit.

Many clients have both pigmentation and thread veins/redness. Both of these issues can be treated in the same session with the IPL Illumifacial treatment.

The evidence

IPL is one of the longest-established and most widely researched light-based skin treatments. A 2026 real-world study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology followed patients on long-term, regular IPL therapy and found it effectively improved facial redness, pigmentation and wrinkles, supporting it as "a safe, evidence-based, and multidimensional approach to long-term facial rejuvenation". IPL's broad-spectrum light (roughly 500–1200nm) is what makes it so versatile — the same device targets the pigment in sun spots and the haemoglobin in thread veins, while also stimulating dermal remodelling. The research is equally clear on its limits: IPL needs skin-tone contrast to work safely and well (hence the honest assessment before every course), and results are cumulative across a course of sessions rather than a single-session transformation.

Pricing

IPL starts from £95 per session for a single area; a typical course is 3–6 sessions. Laser hair removal starts separately from £40 per session. The full price list is on our prices page, and Anne confirms the exact plan and price at your free consultation.

Common questions

What is IPL treatment?

Intense pulsed light — a broad spectrum of filtered light that targets excess pigment or visible vessels in the skin. Non-invasive, needle-free, done as a course of short sessions.

How much does it cost?

IPL starts from £95 per session for a single area, with a typical course of 3–6 sessions. Laser hair removal starts from £40. The consultation is free and confirms your exact plan and price.

How many sessions will I need?

Most concerns need 3–6 sessions spaced a few weeks apart. Pigmentation often fades visibly early; thread veins fade gradually across the course.

Does it hurt?

A warm flick with each pulse — quick, manageable, no anaesthetic, minimal downtime.

Related

IPL treats a wide range of concerns. See pigmentation & sun damage and thread veins & redness, or read how IPL treats thread veins and rosacea and what happens during an IPL appointment. For laser hair removal specifically, see the hair removal page — and for how IPL compares with true laser there, read IPL vs laser hair removal. For aftercare, read the IPL & laser aftercare guide, and for sun damage specifically, what gets rid of sun damage.

Choose your path

Which IPL is right for you?

Not sure which applies to you?

That’s exactly what a consultation is for. Anne will look at your skin and recommend the right path honestly — or another treatment if IPL isn’t the best fit.

Book a free consultation