Method of exfoliation of skin using closely-packed microstructures
View Patent ↗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 microstructures are designed with very close-packed microelements, which in some cases have flexible substrates.
1. A method for removing cells from skin, said method comprising:
(a) providing a microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of microelements, wherein a majority of said microelements are of at least one predetermined size and shape, said majority of microelements each exhibiting at least one side wall, wherein said majority of microelements are oriented in a closely-packed arrangement yet said majority of microelements forms open areas between at least some of said side walls of adjacent microelements, wherein said open areas are suitable for accumulating skin cells;
(b) placing said microstructure on skin then rubbing the microstructure against said skin, thereby scraping and accumulating skin cells in the open areas between said majority of microelements; and
(c) withdrawing said microstructure from said skin, and thereby removing a large majority of said skin cells that have accumulated upon said microstructure within said open areas between said side walls of adjacent microelements, wherein during said step of rubbing the microstructure against the skin, vellus hair is also removed along with skin cells.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said microstructure is substantially flexible and able to fit a curved area of skin.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said majority of microelements have a length and shape that tend to scrape skin cells loose without penetrating entirely through a stratum corneum layer of skin.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said microstructure is coated so as to alter a friction characteristic of said microelements.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said microstructure is coated so as to act as a feedback indicator during use.
6. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein said majority of microelements exhibits at least one substantially sharp edge and does not create substantial focal discrete points of pressure on skin.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein said majority of microelements exhibits at least three of said side walls, and a lowermost portion of one of said side walls of a first of the majority of microelements substantially abuts a lowermost portion of one of said side walls of an adjacent, second of the majority of microelements.
8. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein said majority of microelements exhibits three of said side walls which form a three-sided truncated pyramid, such that the lowermost portions of the three side walls are spaced-apart from one another at a minimum distance, and the uppermost portions of the three side walls are spaced-apart from one another at a greater distance, and further comprising an upper surface that contacts the uppermost portions of the three side walls at said at least one substantially sharp edge.
9. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein said majority of microelements exhibits a substantially sharp peak at their uppermost points.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein said majority of microelements exhibits at least three of said side walls, and a lowermost portion of one of said side walls of a first of the majority of microelements is substantially directly in contact with a lowermost portion of one of said side walls of an adjacent, second of the majority of microelements.
11. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein said majority of microelements exhibits three of said side walls which form a three-sided pyramid, such that the lowermost portions of the three side walls are spaced-apart from one another at a maximum distance, and the uppermost portions of the three side walls come together at said substantially sharp peak.