Control of Blood Vessel Physiology To Treat Skin Disorders

Abstract

In a method for treating an affected skin region of a patient having a skin disorder, a vasodilation composition is applied to an affected skin region of a patient, the affected skin region exhibiting a skin disorder characterized by at least one abnormal blood vessel, and the affected skin region is then treated so as to non-invasively disrupt tissue architecture, e.g., by inducing ischemia, of the at least one abnormal blood vessel. A vasoconstriction composition can then be applied to the skin region to cause vasoconstriction of the at least one blood vessel in order to promote healing.

1 . A method for treating an affected skin region of a patient having a skin disorder, the method comprising:
 a) applying a vasodilation composition to an affected skin region of a patient, said affected skin region exhibiting a skin disorder characterized by at least one abnormal blood vessel, wherein said blood vessel comprises a tissue architecture, and where said application is for a time sufficient to induce vasodilation of said at least one abnormal blood vessel in said affected skin region; and   b) non-invasively disrupting the tissue architecture of said at least one abnormal blood vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said skin disorder is rosacea. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said skin disorder is telangiectasia. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said skin disorder comprises at least one vascular lesion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said skin disorder is selected from the group consisting of spider veins, varicose veins, actinically damaged skin, venous hypertension, Poikiloderma vasculare atrophicans, vascular malformations, and hemangioma. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vasodilation composition comprises arginine. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said vasodilation composition further comprises tolazoline. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vasodilation composition comprises methyl nicotinate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vasodilation composition comprises tolazoline. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vasodilation composition comprises sodium nitroprusside. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said vasodilation composition comprises arginine HCl, urea, glycerin, hydroxyethylcellulose, allantoin, and methylisothiazolinone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-invasive disruption comprises non-invasively inducing ischemia of said at least one abnormal blood vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-invasive disruption comprises selectively heating said abnormal blood vessels by raising the temperature of said abnormal blood vessels relative to the temperature of surrounding tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-invasive disruption comprises exposing said affected skin region to electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-invasive disruption is by photothermolysis. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-invasive disruption comprises exposing said affected skin region to ultrasound. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, subsequent to said inducing ischemia, applying a vasoconstriction composition to the affected skin region so as to cause vasoconstriction of the at least one blood vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said vasoconstriction composition comprises phytonin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said vasoconstriction composition comprises phenyl epinephrine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said vasoconstriction composition comprises caffeine. 
     
     
         21 - 29 . (canceled)