Last update – 29.1.23 Below are links to my blog posts… Laser/IPL Hair Removal Fundamentals of Laser/IPL Hair Removal – online now! Hair Removal – Why is it painful? Why are laser/IPL hair removal treatments painful? And how do we minimise it? “I’ve burnt my patient!!” With IPL treatments, that is precisely what we are tying to do… What… Continue reading Here is a list of my blog posts covering laser/IPL hair removal, tattoos, blood vessels, physics, MasterClasses and other stuff…
Fundamentals of Laser/IPL Hair Removal – online now!
The latest chapter of our eBook is now available online for your perusal. We have ‘hidden’ some pages – the ‘best’ ones, in our opinion, because we don’t want to give away all the good stuff too cheaply… This is the online pdf version which is outlines most of the contents. It will give you… Continue reading Fundamentals of Laser/IPL Hair Removal – online now!
What are the threshold (minimum) fluences needed to ensure successful hair removal?
This is not easy to determine! It depends on the type of device you are using – IPL, diode, alexandrite, Nd:YAG laser. It depends on the depth of the follicles. It depends on the hair colour. I built a computer model to try to calculate these fluences. It considers all of the above, but today… Continue reading What are the threshold (minimum) fluences needed to ensure successful hair removal?
How Many Laser/IPL Hair Removal Sessions do I need to get a Good Result?
I’m often asked ‘how many hair removal sessions will I need using laser or IPL?’ This is not an easy question to answer because it depends on a high number of variables including your equipment, your training and, of course, your patient/client. But, I have tried to answer this question using a computer model of… Continue reading How Many Laser/IPL Hair Removal Sessions do I need to get a Good Result?
What is the ‘best’ interval between hair removal sessions (after treatment by lasers or IPLs)? Part 2.
I wrote a blog post back in September 2021 discussing my thoughts on the how to determine the optimum interval between laser/IPL hair sessions. It proved very popular amongst my readers. But, as soon as I posted it I began to doubt my own conclusions. Back then I suggested that we should wait for an… Continue reading What is the ‘best’ interval between hair removal sessions (after treatment by lasers or IPLs)? Part 2.
My history in lasers and IPLs and other stuff…
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…
How to apply the ‘SHR’ and ‘stamping’ technques properly during hair removal – my videos
Laser/IPL operators often use the ‘SHR’ or ‘stamping’ techniques when applying their devices to hair removal on the skin. But I often see people using the wrong approach. This will, inevitably, lead to poor results or an excessive number of treatment sessions. In this video I explain how to apply these technique correctly, to increase… Continue reading How to apply the ‘SHR’ and ‘stamping’ technques properly during hair removal – my videos
Hair removal using Diode lasers vs Nd:YAG, Alex lasers & IPLs
Hair Removal Systems These days there are a number of different systems available for hair removal, which can make it a bit tricky when deciding which to purchase. In particular, diode lasers are a different type of laser when compared to the other systems (and IPL). Here I outline some of the differences between these… Continue reading Hair removal using Diode lasers vs Nd:YAG, Alex lasers & IPLs
Applying the SHR technique properly to remove hair…
I’ve seen a lot of videos, recently, where laser operators are showing their prowess with laser hair removal, usualy with a diode laser. However, most of them are doing it wrong!! They are usually seen ‘scanning’ up and down an area, relatively slowly, firing off a whole bunch of pulses of laser energy. Unfortunately, this… Continue reading Applying the SHR technique properly to remove hair…
Tattoo ink colours, absorptions and fluences…
An excellent clinical report by Scheibner (SCHEIBNER, A., KENNY, G., WHITE, W. and WHEELAND, R.G. (1990), A Superior Method of Tattoo Removal Using the Q-Switched Ruby Laser.) found that the minimum fluence required to induce a good reaction from black tattoo ink, using a Q-switched ruby laser, was 2 Joules/cm2. This threshold fluence was for… Continue reading Tattoo ink colours, absorptions and fluences…
What are the three most important factors in laser/IPL hair removal?
Laser/IPL hair removal has a wide range of outcomes! Sometimes the results are great, sometimes, not so good. Why is this? The treatment requires that the germ/stem cells are irreversibly denatured – ‘cooked’ – sufficiently so that they cannot regrow the follicle. This can only be done with the correct level of fluence, which depends… Continue reading What are the three most important factors in laser/IPL hair removal?
Hair Removal – Why is it painful?
We all know that the choice of fluence and wavelength is important when treating hair with light energy. However, many believe that the fluence should be reduced when treating darker skin colours. This is fundamentally wrong!! The pain felt during laser/IPL hair treatments is principally due to the epidermal heating. As a direct consequence, darker… Continue reading Hair Removal – Why is it painful?
Purchasing our book chapters
If you wish to purchase our book chapters, please click here to go to the purchase page. Thanks, Mike.
Finally… Our laser/IPL book is in hardback, printed form…
After much gnashing of teeth and chasing of couriers, our eBook is now finally availabe in hardback format! All attendees of our MasterClasses will receive a copy automatically – the Birmingham peeps will be receiving theirs soon. We will soon announce a page where you can purchase these books, if you so desire… Mike. PS… Continue reading Finally… Our laser/IPL book is in hardback, printed form…
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