includes a memory 102 that contains a control program calibrations and other data and or parameters relating to various treatment heads and data relating to the treatment heads that are immediately available to a user the treatment head 12 is a high intensity pulsed non laser light treatment head the treatment head includes a flashtube 16 that is supplied with pulses of electrical power and a supply of cooling water by respectively the power supply stage 20 and the coolant supply stage 22 the flashtube 16 in operation delivers pulses of light that are reflected by a reflector 18 through a waveguide 32 to a treatment area of the skin an infrared detector 28 is provided on the treatment head positioned to have a field of sensitivity that is within the treatment area the infrared detector 28 is a non contact infrared temperature sensor that generates an electrical output signal that is indicative of the temperature of the surface on which it is directed an air blower 30 is also carried on the treatment head 12 the air blower can be operated to generate a stream of air that is directed onto the area under treatment the cable 14 interconnects the control unit 10 and the treatment head 12 the cable 14 contains a plurality of electrical conductors to convey electrical power to components of the treatment head 12 and return signals from the infra red detector 28 and a plurality of fluid conduits to.