Microstructures and method for treating and conditioning skin which cause less irritation during exfoliation

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus is provided as a system to enhance skin appearance and health, in which skin is cleaned (or exfoliated) and conditioned by use of microelements affixed to a base element or hand-held patch. The dimensions of the microelements are controlled so as to remove a certain number of layers of skin cells and to accumulate those skin cells, along with other foreign substances, into areas between the microelements. In addition, a conditioning compound or therapeutic active can be applied to the exfoliated skin to enhance the skin. Moreover, the amount of accumulated skin cells represents a self-limiting maximum quantity that cannot be substantially exceeded regardless of the number of attempts by a user to re-use the microstructure apparatus. Some of the microelement shapes are purposefully designed with distal ends that exhibit sharp edges rather than sharp tips to reduce skin irritation.

1 . A microstructure apparatus, comprising: a substrate and a plurality of microelements affixed upon a first surface of said substrate; said plurality of microelements being of predetermined sizes and shapes for use in scraping skin cells from skin when said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one direction, said predetermined sizes and shapes including at least one substantially sharp edge at a distal end of the microelements, and said predetermined sizes and shapes having a characteristic such that the microelements do not create substantial focal discrete points of pressure on said skin.  
   
   
       2 . The microstructure apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a shape of said plurality of microelements comprises a partial pyramid having an opening therethrough at said distal end, wherein said opening does not form a substantially sharp tip.  
   
   
       3 . The microstructure apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a shape of said plurality of microelements comprises a partial pyramid wherein a surface of said distal end is substantially solid, but does not form a substantially sharp tip.  
   
   
       4 . The microstructure apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a shape of said plurality of microelements comprises a rectangular outline when viewed from a direction that is normal to said substrate, said rectangular microelement having an opening therethrough at said distal end, wherein said opening does not form a substantially sharp tip.  
   
   
       5 . The microstructure apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein openings are located on at least one of: (a) said plurality of microelements, and (b) said substrate, and further comprising: at least one chamber located on a second surface of said substrate that is opposite from said first surface, and at least one fluidic compound that flows through said opening; wherein said microstructure apparatus performs both an exfoliation operation and a fluidic delivery operation using a single procedure upon said skin.  
   
   
       6 . The microstructure apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: a backing material attached to a second surface of said substrate that is opposite from said first surface.  
   
   
       7 . The microstructure apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: a coating on said substrate first surface that alters a friction characteristic of said microelements.  
   
   
       8 . The microstructure apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: a coating on said substrate first surface that acts as a feedback indicator during use.  
   
   
       9 . A microstructure apparatus, comprising: a substrate and a plurality of microelements affixed upon a first surface of said substrate; said plurality of microelements being of predetermined sizes and shapes for use in scraping skin cells from skin when said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one direction; said plurality of microelements each having at least one side wall that extends above said first surface of the substrate; and wherein said plurality of microelements are oriented in a closely-packed arrangement such that any spacing between portions of said side walls of adjacent microelements is substantially minimized.  
   
   
       10 . The microstructure apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said microelement predetermined sizes and shapes include at least one substantially sharp edge at a distal end of the microelements; and wherein said microelement predetermined sizes and shapes exhibit a characteristic such that the microelements do not create substantial focal discrete points of pressure on said skin.  
   
   
       11 . A microstructure apparatus, comprising: a substrate and a plurality of inverted microelements that extend from a first surface of said substrate, said microelements exhibiting a substantially empty space therewithin, and wherein said microelements exhibit at least one substantially sharp edge along a second surface of said substrate, said second surface being opposite the first surface of said substrate; and said at least one substantially sharp edge being of a predetermined size and shape for use in scraping skin cells from skin when the second surface of said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one direction.