Objective To explore the effect of health education based on IKAP model on self-management ability in patients with photon cosmetology. Methods A total of 70 patients who received photon cosmetology in Pingyi County Skin Disease Prevention and Control Station from September 2022 to August 2023 were selected as subjects. According to the random number table method, they were divided into control group and observation group, with 35 patients in each group. The control group was given routine nursing, and the observation group was given health education based on IKAP model. The selfmanagement ability, quality of life and nursing satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Results The scores of behavior, environment, cognition and total score in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P <0.05). After nursing, the scores of society, emotion, role and body in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P <0.05). The nursing satisfaction of the observation group was 97.14%, which was higher than 82.86% of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05). Conclusion Health education based on IKAP model in patients with photon cosmetology has a good effect, which can effectively enhance the self-management ability of patients, and improve their quality of life. Meanwhile, it has positive significance for improving the nursin g satisfaction of patients and is worthy of clinical applicatio n.