A method of attaining depilation by laser beam more effectively by enabling a laser beam the output of which is repressed to an extent of avoiding exertion of an effect on the peripheral tissue to reach a depth in the approximate range of 5-6 mm from the surface of the skin. The method of depilation attains required depilation by pulling out the skin of a subject and compressing the drawn skin thereby transforming part of the skin into a flap and emitting a laser beam to the region of the skin transformed into the flap.

Radio frequency current pulses are applied to the skin in a controlled manner in order to heat selected volumes of skin, thereby inducing the removal of unwanted pigments from the skin. A probe provides the radio frequency current pulses to the skin, where the probe includes first and second metallic stripes, and where the probe is connected to two coaxial cables that are respectively connected to the first and second metallic stripes. The two coaxial cables are connected to a balanced/unbalanced transformer, which in turn is connected to a radio frequency generator that provides radio frequency pulses.

A system converts graphic images, such as those created by graphics applications, to a format that can be efficiently printed on a material by a laser printing system. An image can be converted to a set of locations by defining progressively smaller contours of the image, and a material can be marked by directing a laser beam according to the locations. Converting the image can involve identifying a set of points that trace boundary pixels of a marking area of the image such that the set of points form a contour of the marking area, removing the boundary pixels from further consideration with respect to defining the contours for the marking area, repeating the identifying and the removing until all pixels of interest in the marking area have been considered, and determining the locations from the identified points.

Skin including hypotrophic scars is irradiated with laser radiation having a wavelength between about 525 and 550 nanometers. The irradiation is delivered at a fluence that stimulates wound healing responses without actually inflicting a wound. The wound healing properties promote growth of dermal extracellular matrix. Absorption properties of hemoglobin and melanin in the 525 to 550 nanometer wavelength range provide that wound healing response is concentrated close to upper regions of the skin and accordingly close to the location of the scars. The growth of dermal extracellular matrix "bulks-up" irradiated dermal tissue. This makes the depressions of hypertrophic scars shallower and less apparent. The method has also been observed to cause shrinkage of enlarged pores.

A system and method for applying, essentially simultaneously, RF energy and optical energy to skin. The system comprises one or more RF electrodes for providing RF energy to the skin; and one or more light sources for providing optical energy to the skin. The method comprises applying, essentially simultaneously, RF energy and light energy to the skin. The method may be used for treating complex targets in the skin.