I started in medical laser clinical research in 1986 as part of my Ph.D. studies in the Bioengineering Unit, Strathclyde University and in Canniesburn Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit. After gaining my degree in Physics and Astronomy from Glasgow University in 1984, I decided not to get a ‘proper job’ for a few more years,… Continue reading My history in lasers and IPLs and other stuff…
New training web site
I’ve just launched a new training web site at DermaLaseTraining.com. It includes all the courses I can deliver plus a new shop where I will be selling some items which you may find useful. If you think I should include anything else in this new site please let me know. Likewise, if you find any… Continue reading New training web site
New Book – Medical/Aesthetic Lasers & IPLs and Skin Treatments
I have been asked many times in the last few years for a recommendation for an introductory book describing the application of lasers and IPLs in aesthetic treatments. My answer was always the same – “There isn’t one!!” So, I finally took the plunge and decided to write one, with my colleague PA Torstensson. The… Continue reading New Book – Medical/Aesthetic Lasers & IPLs and Skin Treatments
My history in lasers, IPLs and rock ‘n’ roll…
A brief history of my life in medical lasers and IPLs…
Laser/IPL hair removal. How long should we leave between treatments? It’s definitely NOT six weeks…
Laser/IPL Hair Removal – what are the best intervals between sessions? Laser/IPL hair removal has been around since the 1990s. We first noticed that a Q-switched ruby laser could remove surface hair in the mid 1980s when we were treating tattoos. But we didn’t consider it a ‘treatment’ since the hair always grew back (the… Continue reading Laser/IPL hair removal. How long should we leave between treatments? It’s definitely NOT six weeks…
Chapter 2 – Fundamentals of Laser Tattoo Removal
Our second chapter – Fundamentals of Laser Tattoo Removal – is now available… In this Chapter we discuss the basics of lasers and their application to scar-free tattoo removal. This Chapter covers the following topics: What is a tattoo? Tattoo Lasers Q-switched and picosecond pulsewidths Ink colours and wavelengths The ‘ideal’ treatment protocol Eye and… Continue reading Chapter 2 – Fundamentals of Laser Tattoo Removal
What exactly is ‘frosting’ in laser tattoo removal?
The whitening, or ‘frosting’, that we often see in laser tattoo removal treatments is often described as ‘steam bubble formation on the surface of ink particles’. While this is true, it is not the entire truth… When ink particles absorb laser energy their surfaces become very hot (potentially thousands of degrees C). All these ink… Continue reading What exactly is ‘frosting’ in laser tattoo removal?
Chasing the ‘crack’ in laser tattoo treatments! Is this right?
I often hear people talking about listening for the ‘crack’ sound during laser tattoo removal treatments. Apparently some people have been trained to do this and they believe it’s an essential part of the process. It’s not! There is absolutely no need for this cracking sound. In fact, it has nothing to do with the… Continue reading Chasing the ‘crack’ in laser tattoo treatments! Is this right?
De-mystifying the physics jargon behind light-based treatments
The world of lasers and IPL systems is full of physics terms and expressions. Many of these are quite daunting to non-physicists and we tend to forget that not everyone is a nerd!! So, here’s a breakdown of some of those terms…. You can download a pdf version of this post here. Wavelength – colour… Continue reading De-mystifying the physics jargon behind light-based treatments
The Fitzpatrick Skin Scale – What is wrong with this idea???
First things first – the melanin concentration (skin colour) is not related to the Fitzpatrick Scale… The ‘Fitzpatrick Skin Scale’ was designed by a Californian dermatologist, Dr Thomas B. Fitzpatrick in 1975. He was routinely treating patients with potential skin cancers and wanted a way of classifying their potential for developing cancer and subsequent treatments.… Continue reading The Fitzpatrick Skin Scale – What is wrong with this idea???
My concerns in today’s aesthetic industry…
I have been around since before the invention of colour…..!!! I have seen many excellent advances in the medical/aesthetic laser industry in that time. But I have also seen a few things which concern me greatly. Poor training I seem to be training more and more people who have already received ‘training’ on their lasers… Continue reading My concerns in today’s aesthetic industry…
How long does tissue take to be damaged by heat?
I often read about human tissue ‘denaturing’ or ‘coagulating’ at some temperature – usually 60 or 70°C. However, these claims are inaccurate. They rarely state the time over which the denaturation process occurs. Denaturation is when the proteins in cells or tissues ‘unravel’. For example, collagen is made up of three amino acid chains, intertwined… Continue reading How long does tissue take to be damaged by heat?
Which is better – laser or IPL hair removal?
I am asked this question all the time.. There is a lot of mis-understanding about the differences between lasers and IPLs, and how they interact with the skin. Some people think that lasers are “superior”, but this depends on what you’re targeting! I put together a wee animation (below) to try to explain some of… Continue reading Which is better – laser or IPL hair removal?
Choosing the appropriate IPL filter
How do we choose the ‘best’ filter on an IPL system? I’ve noticed that, recently, some mis-information seems to be pervading IPL-land!! For some reason, users are being advised to use the wrong filters for certain treatments. I’m not really sure why this has happened, but here is my answer to this… Hope this helps,… Continue reading Choosing the appropriate IPL filter
