To use a second hand IPL machine

[Dannyandsandy]

I’m a hairy Mary. Treated myself to an ipl machine (philips lumea). Couldn’t afford full price so found a second hand one. I’ve used a mixture of boiling water and rubbing alcohol to disinfect the different heads ( albeit very sparingly ). Husband went crazy and said I am putting my health at risk as I plan to use on my bikin line. He said I can catch all sorts of germs from a used machine including herpes, hpv etc. It’s really put me off using it! Anyone ever used a second hand machine like this? It’s been sat in the box for about 5 weeks now so surely anything harmful wouldn’t survive? AIBU?

If it was cleaned thoroughly I wouldn’t be concerned. These machines only come with a certain number of ‘flashes’ tho, I’d be more concerned with a second ha d machine that it could easily be near the end of its lifetime.

I’ve not used anything like this second hand, although I do have a new one I bought last year. In theory Alcohol based cleaning should be ok, although getting herpes from it sounds awful 😢
Why don’t you try it under your arms for a few weeks and see if that’s ok?
The PP is right about flashes though, although from memory it’s about 250,000 in its life time.

Yeah that is also a concern but the seller said she barely used it. Maybe I should have saved up to buy a brand new one :/

If you have IPL at a salon, do they use a new machine head for each client or is the same head sanitised between uses?

Good idea to get a second hand one (so long as you haven’t spent a fortune). It just doesn’t work as well for some people so better to find out cheaply if that might be the case for you.

What does your DH think happens with the salon-grade machines? Get binned after every appointment?

Of course it's fine if it's been cleaned and sanitised.

I’ve had laser in a clinic. The wand is simply disinfected between clients. He’s being ridiculous.