Treatment of inflammatory skin conditions
The invention relates to the use of one or more antimicrobial metals, most preferably silver, preferably formed with atomic disorder, and preferably in a nanocrystalline form, for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions. The nanocrystalline antimicrobial metal of choice may be used in the form of a nanocrystalline coating of one or more antimicrobial metals, a nanocrystalline powder of one or more antimicrobial metals, or a solution containing dissolved species from a nanocrystalline powder or coating of one or more antimicrobial metals.
1 . A method of reducing inflammation of an inflammatory skin condition which comprises:
contacting a problem area of a patient, with a therapeutically effective amount of one or more antimicrobial metals in a crystalline form to provide a localized anti-inflammatory effect, wherein the one or more antimicrobial metals are characterized by sufficient atomic disorder, such that the metal, in contact with an alcohol or water-based electrolyte, releases atoms, ions, molecules, or clusters of at least one antimicrobial metal at a concentration sufficient to provide a localized anti-inflammatory effect.
2 - 94 . (canceled)