Wrinkles are cosmetically removed from a superficial area of mammalian skin tissue having an epidermal layer, a basal layer, and a dermal layer, by irradiating the dermal layer through the basal layer, the irradiation being selected to be absorbed by a chromophore in the dermal layer such that collagen present in the dermal layer is heated, while the basal layer remains intact so as to substantially inhibit contact of the dermal layer with ambient air.
The invention relates to device making it possible to apply a chromophoric composition to the skin, said device including a chromophoric composition containing at least one chromophoric agent. The chromophoric composition is in the form of a layer of constant thickness bonded to one face of backing, at least prior to being applied to the skin, the chromophoric agent or agents being distributed uniformly in said composition, and the type of the composition being chosen such that light energy from laser radiation is transformed locally into heat and/or the chemical structure(s) of the chromophoric agent(s) is/are modified locally.
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 method and apparatus of reducing human skin wrinkles, including applying a focused ultrasound beam to a region of human skin to stimulate or irritate a dermis layer in the region of the skin without adversely damaging an epidermis layer in the region of the skin so as to cause a change in the dermis layer of the skin that results in a change in a smoothness of the epidermis layer of the skin. In particular, relatively low power, low frequency focused ultrasound is applied to the dermis layer for a period of time sufficient to cause a biological response in the body wherein the biological response causes synthesis and/or production of new connective tissue that results in reduction or elimination of human skin wrinkles.
Skin including wrinkles 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. This promotes deposition 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 wrinkles. The growth of dermal extracellular matrix "bulks-up" irradiated dermal tissue. This makes the depressions or folds of the wrinkles shallower and less apparent.
A method and apparatus of reducing skin wrinkles, including applying an acoustic pulse or train of pulses to a subsurface region of human skin without damaging or adversely affecting the surface or epidermis layer of the skin. The pulses cause changes in the dermis layer of the skin that result in enhanced smoothness of the epidermis layer of the skin. In particular, the acoustic pulses are applied to the dermis layer at an amplitude and for a period of time sufficient to induce production of new connective tissue that reduces or eliminate of skin wrinkles.
