Someone sent me this – it made me laugh! “Ice packs can numb the skin too much” – how? By cooling the nerve endings (nociceptors) so much that they don’t send thermal pain signals to the brain. “…preventing client from feeling crucial heat sensations.” Perhaps they can’t feel the heat sensations because the skin has… Continue reading Ice cooling the skin is ‘unsafe’…
Month: July 2025
New product for sale – A bag of holes…
Finally, our newest product – a bag of holes. After much discussion with a manufacturer in the Arctic Circle, we are proud to launch our latest product after popular demand. Following on from his world-famous discovery of the ‘Hole in the Stick’ technique, Mike has decided to sell these laser-cut, precision holes in a range… Continue reading New product for sale – A bag of holes…
Why we must use HIGHER fluences on darker skins…
When treating skin with lasers/IPLs we are often told that darker skin tones must be treated with lower fluences. This is wrong! Our skin tones come from the concentration of melanin in the epidermis – mostly in the basal layer in lighter tones. In darker skins, the melanosomes may be found throughout the epidermis, not… Continue reading Why we must use HIGHER fluences on darker skins…
How far does light scatter in the skin?
When light enters the skin, it immediatley begins to scatter. This is the process where photons are absorbed by atoms (making electrons ‘excited’), and new photons are emitted shortly after (when those electrons ‘de-excite’). Inevitably, they leave the atom in a different direction to their original direction. This is called ‘scattering’. Consequently, the light spreads… Continue reading How far does light scatter in the skin?
New podcast – “Language”!!
In today’s podcast we discuss the use of language including paradoxical hypertrichosis, synchronised hair growth and the Fitzpatrick scale. We talk about how we should all be using the same terms and expressions to ensure that we are talking about the same things, otherwise confusion reigns… We hope you enjoy it and look forward to… Continue reading New podcast – “Language”!!
Blog post book now available online or as a pdf – over 500 pages…
My latest collection of blog posts is now available here: Downloadable pdf https://www.lasertraining.academy/about-8 Online flip book https://online.flipbuilder.com/rbhw/ypit/ Scan the QR code for the flip book Ciao, Mike.
Laser tattoo removal appears to generate a hazardous plume too!
I spoke with a trainee the other day and she told me an interesting story. She said that she had contracted pneumonia a couple of years ago. She then noticed that after a day of laser tattoo treatments, she would have quite severe coughing fits. This continued for a couple of years. She was prescribed… Continue reading Laser tattoo removal appears to generate a hazardous plume too!
Which are the most ‘aggressive’ wavelengths?
Someone recently asked me ‘which is the most aggressive wavelength for the skin?’ That’s interesting question… We should first start by identifying which wavelengths we need to consider. In many skin treatments we use visible and near-infrared light – from around 400 nm up to 1064 nm (Nd:YAG) or even 2940 nm (erbium:YAG). CO2 lasers… Continue reading Which are the most ‘aggressive’ wavelengths?
My books and free booklets –
Here is a link to some of my books etc… In the above link you will find my books free downloadable pdf books (the hardbacks cost actual money!!) and my free booklets. I hope you find them useful. Mike.
Synchronised hair growth vs paradoxical hypertrichosis
These days, we see many claims of ‘paradoxical hypertrichosis’. Most of the time, these claims are inaccurate – they are not seeing this at all. So, what do these terms actually mean? Let’s define these two terms… Paradoxical hypertrichosis PH (I can’t be bothered writing this out all the time!) occurs when hairs are observed… Continue reading Synchronised hair growth vs paradoxical hypertrichosis
Mike Murphy's Blog 