| abstract |
This invention is a skin treatment process for the removal of superficial epidermal skin cells (12); the reduction or removal of unwanted hair (28); and the mitigation of skin conditions such as acne and seborrhea. A contaminant (4) having a high absorption at a wavelength of light is topically applied to a skin section. A preferred contaminant is a mixture of 20 % of one micron graphite particles in mineral oil. Portions of the contaminant are forced into spaces between the superficial epidermal skin cells, into hair ducts in the skin, and/or into adjacent sebaceous glands. The skin section is illuminated with laser pulses at the matching wavelength, so as to impart sufficient energy to the contaminant to cause explosion of the particles in the contaminant. The energy released by the explosions blows off layers of dead skin cells, and/or destroys tissue responsible for hair growth, and/or sebum production. |