Protective material, clothing item and method of protection

Abstract

A material and method delivering to the skin therapeutic radiation and filtering a part of the sun spectrum causing skin damage.

1 . A protective material comprising a material having the following optical properties: 
 absorption of at least a substantial proportion of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage; and    transmission of a substantial amount of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that has therapeutic effect for the human skin.    
   
   
       2 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said optical properties of the material are at least partially resultant from the material having been dyed with one or more pigments.  
   
   
       3 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said material is a fabric.  
   
   
       4 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said fabric is made from polymer fiber dyed with one or more pigments.  
   
   
       5 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths absorbed by porphyrin.  
   
   
       6 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths in the range of 400-490 nm.  
   
   
       7 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths stimulating collagen growth.  
   
   
       8 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths from 590 nm to 670 nm.  
   
   
       9 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least some of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage which is absorbed by the material is ultra-violet radiation.  
   
   
       10 . A protective material comprising a material having the following optical properties: 
 absorption of at least a substantial proportion of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage; and    converting at least part of the absorbed radiation to radiation having therapeutic effect on human skin.    
   
   
       11 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said optical properties of the material are at least partially resultant from the material having been dyed with one or more pigments.  
   
   
       12 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said material is a fabric.  
   
   
       13 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said fabric is made from polymer fiber dyed with one or more pigments.  
   
   
       14 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths absorbed by porphyrin.  
   
   
       15 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths in the range of 400-490 nm.  
   
   
       16 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths stimulating collagen growth.  
   
   
       17 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths from 590 nm to 670 nm.  
   
   
       18 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 10  wherein at least some of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage which is absorbed by the material is ultra-violet radiation.  
   
   
       19 . A protective material comprising a material having the following optical properties: 
 absorption of at least a substantial proportion of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage; transmission of at least a part of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that has a therapeutic effect on human skin; and    converting at least part of the absorbed radiation to radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin.    
   
   
       20 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said optical properties of the material are at least partially resultant from the material having been dyed with one or more pigments.  
   
   
       21 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said material is a fabric.  
   
   
       22 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said fabric is made from polymer fiber dyed with one or more pigments.  
   
   
       23 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths absorbed by porphyrin.  
   
   
       24 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths in the range of 400-490 nm.  
   
   
       25 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths stimulating collagen growth.  
   
   
       26 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin includes wavelengths from 590 nm to 670 nm.  
   
   
       27 . The protective material as claimed in  claim 19  wherein at least some of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage which is absorbed by the material is ultra-violet radiation.  
   
   
       28 . A portable-item which includes at least a portion made from a material having optical properties such that in use, when being carried or worn by a wearer in sunlight, said material can protect at least an area of the wearer's skin from electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage, while allowing radiation that has a therapeutic effect on human skin to be transmitted from said material to said area of the wearer's skin.  
   
   
       29 . The portable item as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said item is an item of clothing.  
   
   
       30 . A method for protection of the skin from electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage, the method comprising the following step: 
 delivering some of the electromagnetic radiation from sunlight to the skin, through a material having the following optical properties: absorption of at least a substantial proportion of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage; and    transmission of a substantial amount of electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that has therapeutic effect for the human skin;    and thereby allowing exposure of the skin to electromagnetic radiation from sunlight that has therapeutic effect for human skin.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the method is a method for skin therapy.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the material is a fabric.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a topical agent is applied to the skin surface prior to the light delivery.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the topical agent is precursor of photosensitizer.  
   
   
       35 . A method for protection of the skin from electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage, the method comprising the following step: 
 preventing delivery of at least some of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight to the skin, by providing a barrier to sunlight, said barrier being at least partially formed by a material having the following optical properties:    absorption of at least a substantial proportion of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage;    converting at least part of the absorbed radiation to radiation having therapeutic effect on human skin;    and thereby allowing exposure of the skin to electromagnetic radiation that has therapeutic effect for human skin.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the method is a method for skin therapy.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the material is a fabric.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein topical agent is applied to the skin surface prior the light delivery.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the topical agent is precursor of photosensitizer.  
   
   
       40 . A method for protection of the skin from electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage, the method comprising the following steps: 
 delivering some of the electromagnetic radiation from sunlight to the skin, through a material having the following optical properties:    absorption of at least a substantial proportion of the electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that causes skin damage; and    transmission of a substantial amount of electromagnetic radiation in sunlight that has therapeutic effect for the human skin;    converting at least part of the absorbed radiation to radiation having therapeutic effect on human skin;    and thereby allowing exposure of the skin to electromagnetic radiation that has a therapeutic effect for human skin.    
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the method is a method for skin therapy.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the material is a fabric.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein topical agent is applied to the skin surface prior the light delivery.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the topical agent is precursor of photosensitizer.