Method and apparatus for skin treatment

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for treatment of skin disorders. More particularly, the disclosed invention is directed toward the use of multiple light sources for treating skin with or without the use of a topical compositions or photomodulation enhancing agents. Dual light emitting diodes may, for example, be used at relatively low power (less than about 10 J/cm2) to photomodulate skin or living tissue to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, acne, acne bacteria, and other skin disorders.

1 . A process for treating skin disorders, comprising: exposing skin to a first source of electromagnetic radiation having at least one dominant emissive wavelength between about 300 nm and about 1400 nm, and exposing the skin to a second source of electromagnetic radiation having at least one dominant emissive wavelength between about 300 nm and about 1400 nm.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the skin is exposed to the first source of electromagnetic radiation and the second source of electromagnetic radiation simultaneously.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the skin is exposed to the first source of electromagnetic radiation prior to being exposed to the second source of electromagnetic radiation.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first source of electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasound radiation emitter, a light emitting diode, a laser diode, a dye laser, metal halide lamps, a flashlamp, a mechanically filtered fluorescent light source, a mechanically filtered incandescent or filamentous light source, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second source of electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasound radiation emitter, a light emitting diode, a laser diode, a dye laser, metal halide lamps, a flashlamp, a mechanically filtered fluorescent light source, a mechanically filtered incandescent or filamentous light source, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein either, or both, of the first or second source of electromagnetic radiation emits infrared radiation.  
   
   
       7 . The method of any of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the total energy fluence delivered to the living tissue is less than about 10 J/cm2.  
   
   
       8 . The method of any of  claims 1  to  6 , comprising applying a photomodulating enhancing agent to the skin.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the photomodulation enhancing agent has an absorption maxima at a wavelength equal or approximate to the dominant emissive wavelength of the source of electromagnetic radiation of the first source of electromagnetic radiation, the second source of electromagnetic radiation, or both.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the dominant emissive wavelength of either the first source of electromagnetic radiation, the second source of electromagnetic radiation, or both is selected from the group consisting of 400 nm, 420 nm, 430 nm, 445 nm, 635 nm, 655 nm, 660 nm, 670 nm, 695 nm, 780 nm, 785 nm, 810 nm, 830 nm, 840 nm, 860 nm, 904 nm, 915 nm, 980 nm, 1015 nm, and 1060 nm.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said said photomodulating enhancing agent is exposed to a plurality of pulses from at least one of either the first source of electromagnetic radiation or the second source of electromagnetic radiation.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said photomodulation enhancing agent is further exposed to a continous wave of light from at least one of either the first source of electromagnetic radiation or the second source of electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength of between about 300 nm to about 1400 nm.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said photomodulation enhancing agent is exposed to a plurality of pulses from the first source of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from about 400 nm to about 440 nm and a continuous wave of light from the second source of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from about 590 nm to about 700 nm, wherein the continous wave has a duration of at least about 1 minute and each of said pulses has a duration of less than about 1 second.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein each source of electromagnetic radiation is operated at an energy level of less than about 5.0 W/cm 2 .  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the photomodulation enhancing agent comprises particles of a size enabling penetration of a sebaceous oil gland duct.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said particles have an average diameter of less than about 5 μm.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said photomodulation enhancing agent comprises a composition have an active agent selected from the group consisting of at least one of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin F, Retin A (Tretinoin), Adapalene, Retinol, Hydroquinone, Kojic acid, a growth factor, echinacea, an antibiotic, an antifungal, an antiviral, a bleaching agent, an alpha hydroxy acid, a beta hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, antioxidant triad compound, a seaweed derivative, a salt water derivative, an antioxidant, a phytoanthocyanin, epigallocatechin-3-ganate, a phytonutrient, a botanical product, a herbaceous product, a hormone, an enzyme, a mineral, a genetically engineered substance, a cofactor, a catalyst, an antiaging substance, insulin, trace elements (including ionic calcium, magnesium, etc), minerals, Rogaine, a hair growth stimulating substance, a hair growth inhibiting substance, a dye, a natural or synthetic melanin, a metalloproteinase inhibitor, proline, hydroxyproline, an anesthetic substance, chlorophyll, copper chlorophyllin, chloroplasts, carotenoids, bacteriochlorophyll, phycobilins, carotene, xanthophyll, anthocyanin, and derivatives, subcomponents, and analogs of the above, both natural and synthetic, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the photomodulation enhancing agent is selected from the group consisting of chlorophyll, carotenoids, bacteriochlorophyll, phylocibins, porphyrins, derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 9 ,comprising subjecting the photomodulation enhancing agent to a penetration enhancing procedure prior to exposing the photomodulation enhancing agent to either of said first or second sources of electromagnetic radiation.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said penetration enhancing procedure comprises a procedure selected from the group consisting of enzyme peel, microderm abrasion, solvent stripping, tape stripping, scrubbing, laser ablation, laser vaporization, chemical peeling, electrical stimulation, laser treatments using high peak power and short pulse durations, ultrasound, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the penetration enhancing procedure comprises microdermabrasion.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the penetration enhancing procedure comprises exposing said photomodulation enhancing agent to ultrasound.  
   
   
       23 . A process for treating skin disorders, comprising: 
 applying a photomodulation enhancing agent to the skin proximate to or directly to a target living tissue;    exposing the photomodulating enhancing agent to a first source of electromagnetic radiation having at least one dominant emissive wavelength between about 300 nm and about 1400 nm, and exposing the photomodulating enhancing agent to a second source of electromagnetic radiation having at least one dominant emissive wavelength between about 300 nm and about 1400 nm,    wherein the photomodulation enhancing agent has an absorption maxima corresponding to the dominant emissive wavelength of either the first or the second source of electromagnetic radiation.    
   
   
       24 . A process for treating skin disorders, comprising: 
 exposing skin to a first source of electromagnetic radiation having at least one dominant emissive wavelength between about 400 nm and about 700 nm, and    exposing skin to a second source of electromagnetic radiation having at least one dominant emissive wavelength between about 700 nm and about 1400 nm,    wherein the total energy fluence received by the skin is less than about 10 J/cm2 and each of the first and second sources of electromagnetic radiation comprise light emitting diodes.