Cosmetic uses of electromagnetic radiation

1. A method of cosmetically treating a superficial area of mammalian skin comprising irradiating the skin with a source of divergent electromagnetic radiation centered around 1072 nm,

wherein the cosmetic treatment provides at least one effect selected from the group consisting of:

(i) reducing, alleviating, removing or diminishing wrinkles or fine lines;

(ii) reducing skin surface area;

(iii) rejuvenating skin;

(iv) retarding or reversing visible signs of aging; and

(v) improving skin elasticity or elastic characteristics of skin, tone, texture and appearance,

wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a bandwidth in a range of about 10 to 120 nm.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the skin comprises the outermost epidermis, basal layer and dermis of face, breast, arm, buttock, thigh, stomach or neck.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the divergent light is in a range of between 10° to 50°.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is continuous or pulsed.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein when the electromagnetic radiation is continuous, the intensity is in a range from at least 500 μWatts/cm 2 to 500 mWatts/cm 2 .

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein when the electromagnetic radiation is pulsed, the intensity is at least 500 μWatts/cm 2 peak power and the average power is up to 500 mWatts/cm 2 .

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein when the electromagnetic radiation is pulsed, the average power of the intensity is in a range of from 50 to 100 μWatts/cm 2 .

8. The method according to claim 4 , wherein when the electromagnetic radiation is pulsed, it is applied for a period of time in a range from at least 10 to 15 μseconds.

9. The method according to claim 4 , wherein when the electromagnetic radiation is pulsed, the frequency/repetition rate is in the range from 300 to 900 Hz.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the frequency/repetition rate is at, or about, 600 Hz.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is applied to the skin for a period of time in a range from at least 30 seconds to a few minutes.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation source is a light emitting diode.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the radiation source emitter comprises at least one or more PN junctions arranged to emit radiation with a wavelength centered at or about 1072 nm.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the wavelength has a waveband of about 50 nm.