What is it? An intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment with photopneumatic therapy. A broad spectrum of light (as opposed to a laser, which is light on a single wavelength) is flashed on to the skin while it is being stretched by air pressure.

Good for? Just about anything, apparently. It has had US Food and Drug Administration approval for acne and hair removal, as well as for pigmentation, sun damage and age spots. IPL has been used for a while, and uses heat to damage the skin which then regenerates. In the case of hair removal, it travels down the shaft of the hair and damages the follicle. It's the pneumatic therapy, which stretches the skin that's the new ingredient and means that lower IPL energy levels can be used.

For acne, the skin stretching pushes sebum and oil to the surface while the light kills the bacteria. Sun damage and uneven pigmentation is easier to cure than with traditional IPL because targets are closer to the light source. For hair removal, less power can be used, “making it a safer and more comfortable treatment but still effective”, claims Lisa Littlehales, a cosmetic nurse at The Harley Medical Group (www.harleymedical.com).

Ouch factor? “It feels like suction and your skin warms,” Littlehales says. “It's a walk in the park compared with normal laser.”

Clock-watching Half an hour for the whole face: five appointments every seven to ten days for acne and every three to four weeks for skin rejuvenation.

Downtime Just a mild redness if you're unlucky. Skin can darken slightly after pigmentation treatment.

What to ask The clinic should be regulated by the Healthcare Commission (www.healthcarecommission.org.uk). Ensure that a nurse or doctor is giving the treatment and that aftercare is properly explained.

Cost A single session costs £350 for a full face and a course of five is £1,450 for skin rejuvenation, or £995 for acne.

Dermatologist's verdict “Several studies suggest that photopneumatic therapy is effective for a variety of conditions, such as acne, and it certainly hurts less than many other devices. We don't know whether it is as effective as more established devices for hair removal,” says Dr Sean Lanigan, a consultant dermatologist and the group medical director of Sk:n skin clinics.

Trick or treatment? Sounds convincing if you want to get rid of acne or rejuvenate your skin, but wait for more evidence if it's hair removal you're after.

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