A skin treatment apparatus comprising: - a light source comprising a light emitting element for transmitting light energy to the skin and a charge storage device for discharging an energy dose to the light emitting element; - at least one sensor (32, 57) for measuring a parameter of the skin; - a control system (28, 80) configured to determine a treatment energy dose to be delivered, this being derived using the sensor measurement; and i) wherein the control system (28, 80) is arranged to terminate discharge of the charge storage device upon delivery of the treatment energy dose and before discharge is complete; and/or ii) wherein the charge storage device comprises a plurality of individual charge storage elements, and the control system is arranged to control discharge of the plurality of individual charge storage elements to deliver the treatment energy dose; and/or iii) wherein the control system (28, 80) is arranged to enable charging of the charge storage device in a two or more stage operation, wherein in a first stage charging is to an intermediate energy level, and in a second or further stage to an energy level sufficient to deliver the treatment energy dose; and/or iv) wherein the control system (28, 80) is arranged to modulate discharge of the charge storage device to deliver the treatment energy dose. - a light source comprising a light emitting element for transmitting light energy to the skin and a charge storage device for discharging an energy dose to the light emitting element; - at least one sensor (32, 57) for measuring a parameter of the skin; - a control system (28, 80) configured to determine a treatment energy dose to be delivered, this being derived using the sensor measurement; and i) wherein the control system (28, 80) is arranged to terminate discharge of the charge storage device upon delivery of the treatment energy dose and before discharge is complete; and/or ii) wherein the charge storage device comprises a plurality of individual charge storage elements, and the control system is arranged to control discharge of the plurality of individual charge storage elements to deliver the treatment energy dose; and/or iii) wherein the control system (28, 80) is arranged to enable charging of the charge storage device in a two or more stage operation, wherein in a first stage charging is to an intermediate energy level, and in a second or further stage to an energy level sufficient to deliver the treatment energy dose; and/or iv) wherein the control system (28, 80) is arranged to modulate discharge of the charge storage device to deliver the treatment energy dose. i) wherein the control system (28, 80) is arranged to terminate discharge of the charge storage device upon delivery of the treatment energy dose and before discharge is complete; and/or ii) wherein the charge storage device comprises a plurality of individual charge storage elements, and the control system is arranged to control discharge of the plurality of individual charge storage elements to deliver the treatment energy dose; and/or iii) wherein the control system (28, 80) is arranged to enable charging of the charge storage device in a two or more stage operation, wherein in a first stage charging is to an intermediate energy level, and in a second or further stage to an energy level sufficient to deliver the treatment energy dose; and/or iv) wherein the control system (28, 80) is arranged to modulate discharge of the charge storage device to deliver the treatment energy dose.