Skin treatment apparatus utilising intense pulsed light (IPL)

A method of treating a skin through transmission of light energy to the skin from a light emitting element comprising the steps of:

• measuring a parameter of the skin with at least one sensor;
• determining and optimizing a treatment energy dose to be delivered from a capacitor to the light emitting element using the measured parameter by the at least one sensor;
• charging the capacitor from a mains or external power input independently of the measurement from the at least one sensor;
• starting to discharge the treatment energy dose from the capacitor to the light emitting element to cause light energy release therefrom and emit a single energy dose to the skin based upon a user input;
• terminating discharge of the capacitor once the treatment energy dose has been discharged and before discharge of the capacitor is complete;
• and
• recharging the capacitor from the mains or external power input independently of the measurement from the at least one sensor after discharging treatment energy dose from the capacitor.

A skin treatment apparatus comprising:

• a light source comprising a light emitting element for transmitting light energy to a skin and a capacitor for discharging an energy dose to the light emitting element;
• at least one sensor for measuring a parameter of the skin, the capacitor configured to be charged from a mains or external power input independently of the measurement from the at least one sensor;
• and
• a control system configured to determine a treatment energy dose to be delivered, the treatment energy dose being optimized using a measurement from the sensor,
• the control system further configured to start delivery of the treatment energy dose based upon a user input and then to terminate discharge of the capacitor upon delivery of the treatment energy dose before discharge of the capacitor is complete, and
• the skin treatment apparatus is operable according to a charging and discharging cycle of the capacitor, wherein the cycle includes charging the capacitor from the mains or external power input, discharging the optimized treatment energy dose to the light emitting element to emit a single energy dose to the skin and recharging the capacitor from the mains or external power input.