In today's episode, Lisa and Mike delve into common misconceptions and myths surrounding laser treatments and skin cooling techniques. They discuss the fallacy that skin cooling can overcool hair follicles during hair removal, the importance of proper cooling for blood vessel treatments, and the misconceptions about spot sizes in tattoo laser treatments. The duo also addresses the critical need for safety glasses during procedures involving Q-Switch ND YAG lasers, emphasising the dangers of low fluence and the necessity of eye protection for both practitioners and clients.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• It is a misconception that skin cooling can overcool hair follicles during hair removal treatments. In fact, the concentration of melanin in hair is significantly higher than in the surrounding skin, allowing for effective heating of the hair follicle even if the skin is cooled.

• When treating blood vessels, pre-cooling the skin is beneficial, but it is important to allow warm blood to flow back into the area before targeting the vessels. This ensures that the blood is at normal body temperature, while the surrounding tissue remains cooler, enhancing treatment effectiveness.

• Pulling the handpiece further back when using a tattoo laser with a lens is a common misconception. The handpiece is designed to deliver the correct spot size and fluence when in contact with the skin, and pulling it away can lead to unpredictable spot sizes and potentially harmful fluences.

• The SHR technique requires multiple passes over the same area to build up temperature effectively. It is incorrect to assume that a single pass is sufficient, as repeated passes at lower fluences are necessary to achieve the desired results.

• It is critical to wear proper safety glasses during laser treatments, including Q-Switch ND YAG lasers used in carbon facials. Even low fluences can produce extremely high power densities, making eye protection essential to prevent potential damage.

BEST MOMENTS

"So, in actual fact, with the numbers on this, obviously, if you've got black hair in Caucasian skin, then the concentration of melanin is about something like 23 times more concentrated in the hair than in the skin."

"The only time that it might be a problem is if you're treating superficial benign pigmentation."

"If you start pulling the handpiece away, you don't know what the spot size is, right?"

"You absolutely must wear the proper safety glasses."

"If you've been taught that way, please, please, please start wearing glasses."

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Mike began his career in medical lasers in 1986 with a physics degree and a post-grad in bioengineering. He helped develop the scar-free removal of tattoos using a Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Glasgow, and the world's first IPL system. Known well in the industry for his hard truths, no BS attitude and logical answers. As the author of three books, articles for medical journals, a well read blog, a Laser Protection Advisor and contributor to the BMLA, Mike is the Laser Guru.

Lisa's claim to laser fame is being Mike's daughter. Growing up with lasers and never avoiding a physics lesson from her Dad, it was natural to enter the industry. Leaving a corporate career with a baby to jump into self employed life came with challenges. Despite that Lisa has been well recognised for her teaching style, practical tips, bringing the compassion to the science, and laser mentoring.

Instagram: @dermalase_lasertraining

https://mikemurphyblog.com

https://www.dermalasetraining.com

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Mike and Lisa delve into the fascinating world of physics as it relates to lasers and skin treatments. They break down complex concepts such as absorption, scattering, and anisotropy in a way that's easy to understand, even for a five-year-old. Through engaging examples, they explain how photons interact with atoms, leading to either absorption or scattering, and how this affects the effectiveness of different wavelengths in laser treatments.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• When photons encounter atoms, they can either be absorbed or scattered. Absorption occurs when the energy of a photon matches the energy required for an electron to jump to a higher orbital, while scattering happens when the photon does not match this energy and is redirected.

• Absorbed photons increase the energy of the atom, leading to a higher vibrational state, which is perceived as heat. In contrast, scattered photons do not contribute to heating the atom but can create new photons of the same energy.

• Different wavelengths of light have varying absorption coefficients for different materials. For example, green ink absorbs red light well but poorly absorbs green light, making it ineffective to use green light on green ink in tattoo removal.

• Scattering is influenced by anisotropy, which refers to the directionality of scattered photons. High anisotropy means photons tend to scatter in the same direction as the incoming light, while low anisotropy results in more random scattering, affecting how deeply light penetrates the skin.

• The effectiveness of laser treatments, such as hair removal, is influenced by the wavelength used and the fluence (energy per unit area). Lower wavelengths tend to be more aggressive and can cause more damage to the upper layers of the skin due to their strong absorption in melanin and limited penetration depth.

BEST MOMENTS

"If the energy of the photon matches one of those transitions, then that atom can absorb that photon."

"When light enters your eyeball and it hits the retina, somehow you perceive colour."

"You could have something which strongly absorbs red lights, but doesn't like blue light."

"Absorption is the warm atom and a new photon is scattering."

"Blue light will generate much more damage in the epidermis compared to, say, red light."

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Mike began his career in medical lasers in 1986 with a physics degree and a post-grad in bioengineering. He helped develop the scar-free removal of tattoos using a Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Glasgow, and the world's first IPL system. Known well in the industry for his hard truths, no BS attitude and logical answers. As the author of three books, articles for medical journals, a well read blog, a Laser Protection Advisor and contributor to the BMLA, Mike is the Laser Guru.

Lisa's claim to laser fame is being Mike's daughter. Growing up with lasers and never avoiding a physics lesson from her Dad, it was natural to enter the industry. Leaving a corporate career with a baby to jump into self employed life came with challenges. Despite that Lisa has been well recognised for her teaching style, practical tips, bringing the compassion to the science, and laser mentoring.

Instagram: @dermalase_lasertraining

https://mikemurphyblog.com

https://www.dermalasetraining.com

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today, Lisa and Mike delve into the ongoing debate surrounding Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology versus lasers. They discuss common misconceptions about IPLs, such as their perceived lack of strength and penetration compared to lasers, and highlight the versatility of IPLs in treating various skin concerns. Additionally, they explore the emerging trend of Broadband Light (BBL) treatments, questioning how they differ from traditional IPLs.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is not a laser; it uses a broad spectrum of light wavelengths, while lasers emit light at a specific wavelength. This difference allows IPLs to be more versatile in treating various skin concerns by using different filters.

• Despite common misconceptions, IPLs can be effective for various treatments, including hair removal, acne, and skin rejuvenation, provided they are used correctly and by trained professionals.

• Many practitioners using IPL technology may lack proper training, leading to ineffective treatments. Understanding the technology and its applications is crucial for achieving good results.

• Effective cooling is essential during IPL treatments to manage the heat generated in the skin. Many IPL systems do not adequately cool the skin, which can lead to discomfort and suboptimal results.

• Broadband Light (BBL) is often marketed as a more advanced version of IPL, but both technologies operate on similar principles. The differences in marketing claims often lack substantial evidence, and both can be effective depending on their specifications and usage.

BEST MOMENTS

"IPLs are not lasers. Okay. They're not. That's fine."

"The problem is that a lot of these systems will have water cooling, but not to cool the skin."

"Fundamentally, IPLs, diodes, YAGs and Alexandrite lasers, they're all doing exactly the same thing."

"I was genuinely surprised because I had gone in with a prejudice, and then my prejudice was completely turned over."

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Mike began his career in medical lasers in 1986 with a physics degree and a post-grad in bioengineering. He helped develop the scar-free removal of tattoos using a Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Glasgow, and the world's first IPL system. Known well in the industry for his hard truths, no BS attitude and logical answers. As the author of three books, articles for medical journals, a well read blog, a Laser Protection Advisor and contributor to the BMLA, Mike is the Laser Guru.

Lisa's claim to laser fame is being Mike's daughter. Growing up with lasers and never avoiding a physics lesson from her Dad, it was natural to enter the industry. Leaving a corporate career with a baby to jump into self employed life came with challenges. Despite that Lisa has been well recognised for her teaching style, practical tips, bringing the compassion to the science, and laser mentoring.

Instagram: @dermalase_lasertraining

https://mikemurphyblog.com

https://www.dermalasetraining.com