An irradiation unit for providing radiation pulses for irradiating a skin surface is provided. The irradiation unit includes a light source unit configured to provide the radiation pulses with a specifiable pulse duration, with a specifiable pulse height and with a specifiable temporal pulse spacing. The light source unit is furthermore configured to illuminate a region of the skin surface of a predetermined size at a predetermined distance from the light source unit in a main radiation direction of the light source unit. The light source unit includes at least one solid-state light source. The irradiation unit further includes a sensor unit and a control device for driving the at least one solid-state light source.
