In this episode, Lisa and Mike Murphy delve into the critical relationship between tanning, UV exposure, and laser treatments. With the recent sunny weather in the UK leading to increased UV exposure, they discuss the potential skin damage that can occur, including hyperpigmentation and irritation, particularly for those with lighter skin tones. Mike explains the science behind how ultraviolet photons can disrupt skin DNA and the body's natural response of producing melanin as a protective barrier.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Increased UV exposure from sunlight or sunbeds can lead to skin damage, including hyperpigmentation and irritation, which complicates laser and IPL treatments.

• The skin produces melanin as a protective response to UV exposure, but this process takes time. During this period, the dermis remains vulnerable to damage from high-energy UV photons.

• Performing laser or IPL treatments on already damaged skin can exacerbate issues, leading to prolonged healing times and increased risk of adverse reactions.

• The Fitzpatrick scale, which categorises skin types based on UV response, is often misused. Skin tone should be assessed based on melanin concentration at the time of treatment rather than relying solely on Fitzpatrick classifications.

• It's crucial to have clear pre- and post-care consultations with clients, ensuring they disclose any recent UV exposure. Consent forms should be used to protect practitioners from liability and ensure client safety.

BEST MOMENTS

"A tanned skin is a damaged skin. What it's masking is damage underneath. That's why the tan is there."

"If you have a low level concentration of melanin then yes, that first few days of exposure to the sun or sunbeds is the same."

"If the skin is already damaged previously by exposure to ultraviolet light then you're inflicting damage on damaged skin and therefore you're just accumulating more damage."

"Make sure that your pre and post care and consultation forms are airtight. Clients lie. They're not going to tell you the truth."

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/

Sparked by Lisa's own announcement of her pregnancy, this episode explores the potential impact of using lasers when pregnant. As Lisa shares her experiences with increased sensitivity to laser treatments and the effects of pregnancy on her skin, her and Mike discuss the safety concerns surrounding laser use for both technicians and clients who are pregnant.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Pregnancy can increase skin sensitivity, making treatments like laser procedures feel more intense and painful than before.

• There is a recommendation for laser technicians who are pregnant to proceed with caution, as the effects of laser treatments during pregnancy are not well-studied, and it’s better to err on the side of safety.

• Laser plume, the smoke produced during laser treatments, contains potentially harmful substances. Regular exposure can be equivalent to smoking multiple cigarettes a day, which poses additional risks for pregnant individuals.

BEST MOMENTS

"I just seem hung over all the time. I was like I'm so sorry I'm genuinely not coming to work hungover. There is a foetus inside me."

"The problem is we don't know what the effects are. If we don't know, then do you really want to be the first person to say no?"

"I keep forgetting, I just keep forgetting. But I said to this client of ours, the real thing I would be stopping is trying to have back-to-back treatments."

"If you are doing laser hair removal, the plume is equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes a day."

"I think it depends on the person and what you want to do to yourself. Absolutely, that's up to you. That's your prerogative."

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 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/