Skin whitening mask, skin whitening device, and skin whitening method using same
Provided are a skin whitening mask and device, and a skin whitening method using the same. The mask includes a contact layer having a lower portion in contact with a face surface of a user and provided as a flexible material and at least one thermoelectric module applying cold to a user's face. A heat dissipation layer above the thermoelectric module contacts the second main surface of the thermoelectric module and heat-radiating by receiving heat generated during cooling of the first main surface through the second main surface. A controller controls the thermoelectric module such that the first main surface is cooled to a temperature lower than the target temperature so that the user's skin reaches a target temperature at which pigmentation by melanocytes is suppressed, during a time between 5 seconds required to suppress the pigmentation and 300 seconds in which damage to the skin occurs.
1 . A whitening device, comprising:
a first mask layer;
a second mask layer provided with a material having a higher flexibility than the first mask layer, wherein the second mask layer is configured to contact a face of a user when the whitening device is worn over the face of the user;
a flexible thermoelectric module configured to be interposed between the first mask layer and the second mask layer and to be in contact with the second mask layer, wherein the flexible thermoelectric module includes a plurality of thermoelectric elements, wherein the flexible thermoelectric module comprises a first main surface in contact with the second mask layer and a second main surface located on the opposite side of the first main surface; and
a fluid layer positioned on a side of the second main surface of the flexible thermoelectric module to absorb heat generated from the second main surface when the first main surface is cooled, wherein the fluid layer comprises at least one fluid chamber, wherein the at least one fluid chamber is configured to cover at least a portion of the second main surface of the flexible thermoelectric module, wherein the at least one fluid chamber is configured to be supplied with fluid from a fluid tank through at least one fluid line;
wherein the flexible thermoelectric module and the fluid layer are structurally configured to satisfy all of the following conditions so as to allow the fluid layer to change a shape of a fluid area occupied by the fluid layer between the flexible thermoelectric module and the first mask layer when an external force is applied to the second mask layer:
a) the flexible thermoelectric module is provided with a flexible material in an interior of the flexible thermoelectric module, and the first main surface and the second main surface each comprise a thin polyimide film,
b) the flexible thermoelectric module is configured to have a higher flexibility than the first mask layer,
c) the fluid layer is configured to be interposed between the first mask layer and the flexible thermoelectric module, allowing the fluid layer to occupy at least a portion of an area between the flexible thermoelectric module and the first mask layer,
d) the at least one fluid chamber is configured to have a higher flexibility than the first mask layer, and
e) wherein a thickness of the at least one fluid chamber is greater than a thickness of the at least one fluid line.
2 . The whitening device of the claim 1 , wherein a shape of the first mask layer is not changed by the external force applied to the second mask layer.
3 . The whitening device of the claim 1 ,
wherein the flexible thermoelectric module is provided in the form of an array in which the plurality of thermoelectric elements are electrically connected.
4 . The whitening device of the claim 1 , wherein the flexible thermoelectric module includes a first flexible thermoelectric module and a second flexible thermoelectric module,
wherein the first flexible thermoelectric module and the second flexible thermoelectric module are independently controlled.
5 . The whitening device of the claim 4 , wherein a distance between the first flexible thermoelectric module and the second flexible thermoelectric module is greater than a distance between two adjacent thermoelectric elements included in the first flexible thermoelectric module.
6 . The whitening device of the claim 5 ,
wherein the distance between the first flexible thermoelectric module and the second flexible thermoelectric module is less than or equal to a first distance.
7 . The whitening device of the claim 6 ,
wherein the first distance is 1 cm to reduce partial whitening of the face of the user.
8 . The whitening device of the claim 1 ,
wherein the flexible thermoelectric module includes a first flexible thermoelectric module and a second flexible thermoelectric module,
wherein the at least one fluid chamber includes a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber,
wherein the first fluid chamber is in contact with a second main surface of the first flexible thermoelectric module,
wherein the second fluid chamber is in contact with a second main surface of the second flexible thermoelectric module,
wherein the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber are fluidly connected to each other,
wherein a volume of the first fluid chamber and a volume of the second fluid chamber are greater than a volume of the at least one fluid line.
9 . The whitening device of the claim 1 ,
wherein the whitening device further includes a controller for controlling an operation of the flexible thermoelectric module,
wherein the controller is configured to control the first main surface of the flexible thermoelectric module to be cooled to a target temperature in a range of −15° C. and 15° C.
10 . The whitening device of the claim 9 ,
wherein the controller is configured to control the first main surface of the flexible thermoelectric module to maintain the target temperature in a range of 5 seconds to 300 seconds.
11 . The whitening device of the claim 1 ,
wherein the first mask layer is provided in a predetermined shape,
wherein when the whitening device is worn over the face of the user, as the shape of the fluid area occupied by the fluid layer between the flexible thermoelectric module and the first mask layer is changed, a shape of the second mask layer is changed to a shape that is more closely contoured to the face of the user than the predetermined shape.