I finally received the printed copies of my new edition of the “hairy” chapter. This edition has nearly 100 more pages than the 1st edition. (305 pages in this edition compared with ‘only’ 219 in the first!!) More info on… the timings between treatment sessions; the details on the various stages of the anagen growth… Continue reading New edition of my book chapter on laser/IPL hair removal – available now!
Tag: #IPLtreatments
Fitzpatrick Type – what does this really mean and how does it affect our laser/IPL skin treatments?
Here we go again! Fitzpatrick – the most mis-understood concept in laser/IPL therapies. Everyone who does laser/IPL treatments on the skin talks about the “Fitzpatrick”. Yet most people don’t really know what it means! Here is my take: There are two things you MUST understand: Dr Fitzpatrick was an American dermatologist who devised a scale… Continue reading Fitzpatrick Type – what does this really mean and how does it affect our laser/IPL skin treatments?
Why does spot size affect penetration depth?
This is a little tricky because it’s not intuitive. We know, from both clinical tests and computer modelling, that larger spot sizes result in more energy/fluence reaching deeper into the dermis. But how does that happen? Well, it all comes down to scattering. The dermis is mostly composed of collagen fibres. These fibres are all… Continue reading Why does spot size affect penetration depth?
New, downloadable booklets
I am currently writing a series of ‘bite-sized’ booklets on various topics including laser/IPL treatments, laser safety, the technologies we use today and variouis other stuff. These will be uploaded to my new web site as, and when, they come along. The first two are now available: The first one is a ‘general’ introduction to… Continue reading New, downloadable booklets
Hair removal – Diode, Nd:YAG or Alexandrite lasers. Or IPLs? Which is “best”?
Hair removal using light is currently the most popular aesthetic treatment on the planet today, apparently. These days we use diode, alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers and IPL systems. But there appears to be some confusion over these different devices, with all sorts of dubious claims. Let’s go back to first principles… How does this treatment… Continue reading Hair removal – Diode, Nd:YAG or Alexandrite lasers. Or IPLs? Which is “best”?
Manufacturers’ settings – what is wrong with these?
I reckon around 85% of my training clients have been previously trained elsewhere, often by their equipment suppliers/manufacturers. I always ask them why they have come to me when they have already been trained. Their answer is always the same – “I don’t understand what I’m doing!” One client had received her training from a… Continue reading Manufacturers’ settings – what is wrong with these?
Laser/IPL Hair Removal – A new idea…
I was training a young lady on IPL hair removal, earlier today. Her name is Helen Hugill. During our sessions she asked me a question about waxing after treatments. I had pointed out that waxing should not be done by clients/patients before any laser/IPL hair treatments since it would remove the target melanin. She asked… Continue reading Laser/IPL Hair Removal – A new idea…
What are the differences between lasers and IPLs?
I am asked this question often. So, I made a wee video to explain the main differences… I hope this makes things a bit clearer. Mike.
Laser Power – How important is this?
Average Power vs Peak Power Someone asked me recently “Should I buy a 5000 Watt diode laser or a 3500 Watt laser?” I was a bit puzzled… I‘ve noticed a few laser companies promoting their systems om the basis of the “power”. With quotes like “the most powerful laser on the planet” and similar nonsense,… Continue reading Laser Power – How important is this?
Laser-skin treatments and skin cooling – should we do this?
There appears to be some confusion about the use of skin surface cooling and laser treatments. Why should we use skin-cooling at all? Let’s go back to basics… When we use lasers to remove hair, blood vessels, benign pigmentation, acne and tattoos we want to induce some sort of reaction in those targets using heat.… Continue reading Laser-skin treatments and skin cooling – should we do this?
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