Laser treatment of wrinkles

Abstract

A method for treating simple wrinkles caused by age or sun exposure comprises treating blood vessels in the wrinkles with laser light. The laser light may have a wavelength between 577 and 585 nm. The laser light may also be a laser light pulse having a pulse duration that is greater than 0.2 msec, or alternatively, greater than 0.5 msec. The output pulse may be generated with a dye laser, for instance, by exciting dye solution in a resonant cavity with one or more flashlamps. A further treatment method comprises irradiating wrinkle-bearing skin with a laser pulse where the pulse duration is selectively matched to the thermal relaxation time of blood vessels in the targeted skin.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating simple wrinkles caused by age or sun exposure comprising treating blood vessels in the wrinkles with laser light.  
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein the laser light has a wavelength between 577 and 585 nm.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein the laser light comprises a laser light pulse having a duration greater than 0.2 msec.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein the laser light comprises a laser light pulse having a duration greater than 0.5 msec.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein the laser light is generated with a dye laser.  
     
     
         6 . A method of treating simple wrinkles caused by age or sun exposure comprising the steps of: 
 generating a laser light output pulse having a wavelength in a range of 577 to 585 nm; and    delivering the laser light output pulse to the wrinkle-bearing skin of a patient.    
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in    claim 6   , wherein the laser light output pulse has a pulse duration that is greater than 0.2 msec.  
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in    claim 6   , wherein the laser light output pulse has a pulse duration that is greater than 0.5 msec.  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in    claim 6   , wherein the laser light output pulse is generated with a dye laser.  
     
     
         10 . A method of treating simple wrinkles caused by age or sun exposure comprising the steps of: 
 generating a dye laser light output pulse; and    delivering the dye laser light output pulse to the wrinkle-bearing skin of a patient.    
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in    claim 10   , wherein the step of generating a dye laser light output pulse comprises: 
 exciting dye solution in a resonant cavity to produce output laser light.    
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in    claim 11   , wherein the dye solution is excited by at least one flashlamp.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in    claim 11    additionally comprising the step of: 
 circulating dye solution through the resonant cavity during the generation of the laser light output pulse.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in    claim 10   , wherein the dye laser output pulse has a pulse duration that is greater than 0.2 msec.  
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in    claim 10   , wherein the dye laser output pulse has a pulse duration that is greater than 0.5 msec.  
     
     
         16 . A laser treatment method for simple wrinkles caused by age or sun exposure, the method comprising irradiating wrinkle-bearing skin with a laser light output pulse having a pulse duration that is selectively matched to a thermal relaxation time of blood vessels in the targeted skin.  
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in    claim 16   , wherein the pulse duration is greater than 0.2 msec.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in    claim 16   , wherein the pulse duration is greater than 0.5 msec.