The apparatus 10 comprises a source of treatment radiation which is arranged to generate radiation at one of a plurality of radiation parameters (such as power levels, duration), a control unit 40 and a base unit 30. The control unit 40 is arranged to removably dock with the base unit 30 and comprises a sensor which can detect one of a plurality of skin parameters, and an actuator 41 for enabling a user to interface with the control unit 40. The control unit 40 operates in a sensing mode, in which the control unit 40 is undocked from the base unit 30 to sense a parameter of skin to be treated (such as skin tone, thickness or oiliness), and a control mode in which the control unit 40 is docked to the docking unit 30 and is arranged to select the power level of the radiation generated by the source.
