A laser treatment method is provided which removes pigment containing lesions, both normal and abnormal medically, from the skin of a living human. The methodology comprises a carefully controlled irradiation of the chosen treatment site on the skin of a living human; avoids the creation of cosmetically disfiguring scars; and eliminates the typical hypopigmentation as well as the pitting and other changes in skin texture normally accompanying conventionally known laser treatment techniques.

A laser treatment method is provided which removes pigmentations, lesions, and abnormalities from the skin of a living human. The methodology comprises a carefully controlled irradiation of the chosen treatment site on the skin of a living human; avoids the creation of cosmetically disfiguring scars; and eliminates the typical hypopigmentation as well as the pitting and other changes in skin texture normally accompanying conventionally known laser treatment techniques.

The invention relates to a shaving apparatus which is characterized in that a laser beam (13) serves as the cutting means, and to a method of removing body hairs by means of such a shaving apparatus. The shaving apparatus comprises a shear plate (11) with an entry slot (24). The laser beam (13) is generated by a device (12), severs the hair in the proximity of the entry slot, and is preferably reflected from the shear plate and detected by a photo-cell (18). The shaving apparatus in accordance with the invention enables body hairs to be severed without irritating the skin.

A method of permanent hair removal which uses a high energy light source projected at the skin to cause death of the hair follicle by photothermolysis. The process uses either incoherent or coherent light energy. Additional melanin is added to the skin by a process which delivers the melanin to the region of the hair follicle thereby enhancing that area as a light absorbing target. Collateral damage to the surrounding skin tissue is minimized. The delivery process uses liposomes selected particularly to encapsulate and carry melanin to the target region. The invention also encompasses a general method of deleterious tissue destruction by selective introduction of melanin and subsequent photothermolysis.

A device for permanently removing hair and a process for using that device comprising a laser emitting light in the visible red wave length spectrum, the laser light being used to destroy the hair follicle. A high energy laser is used with the light being delivered in pulses of from about 1 to 1000 microseconds.