Before the procedure, a cooling gel is applied to the treatment area. Then, the IPL device, which emits pulses of broad-spectrum light, is applied to your skin. These light pulses penetrate the skin and are absorbed by either the melanin (when treating hyperpigmentation) or hemoglobin (when treating redness or vascular lesions). During this process, you may experience mild discomfort which is commonly compared to a rubber band snapping against your skin.