Acne treatment
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus ( 100 ) are provided for treating acne using pulsed radiant energy ( 246 ) to destroy or partially destroy one or more hairs ( 112 ), without damaging the skin, or, alternatively, to destroy or partially destroy one or more acne-related structures without damaging either skin or hair.
1. A method of treating acne comprising:
destroying a hair associated with a focus of acne using heat on a first occasion; and
pulsed heating the focus of acne on a second occasion to at least partially destroy an acne-related structure,
wherein heating on a second occasion comprises:
heating a hair associated with a focus of acne; and
conducting energy from the hair to at least one acne-related structure to at least partially destroy the structure without causing damage to the skin or hair.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein an acne-related structure comprises a structure associated with the acne focus.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said heating on a second occasion is generated by coherent radiant energy.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said heating on a second occasion is generated by incoherent radiant energy.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein heating a hair comprises:
heating the air outside the skin; and
conducting heat by the hair to the acne-related structure, to at least partially destroy the structure without causing damage to the skin or hair.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said heating is generated by coherent radiant energy incident on the skin.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said heating is generated by incoherent radiant energy incident on the skin.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said heating is generated by conduction of heat from air outside the skin.
9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said heating is generated by radiant energy that preferentially heats the focus or sebum associated with the focus as compared to the skin.
10. A method according to claim 1 wherein an acne related structure comprises an acne cyst or nodule.
11. A method according to claim 1 wherein an acne related structure comprises a sebaceous gland.
12. A method according to claim 1 wherein an acne related structure comprises a papilla.
13. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises an acne papule.
14. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises an acne pistule.
15. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises an intrafollicular hyperkeratosis.
16. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises a sweat gland.
17. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises a hemorhagic follicular plug.
18. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises a blockage.
19. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises a bacterium.
20. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises a Propionibacterium acnes bacterium.
21. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises a pilosebaceous follicular blockage.
22. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises a pilosebaceous follicular blockage comprising a closed comedone (whitehead).
23. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises a pilosebaceous follicular blockage comprising an open comedone (blackhead).
24. A method according to claim 1 or wherein an acne related structure comprises a pseudofolliculitis.