Skin treatment apparatus and methods

Abstract

Apparatus for treating skin using abrasion lotion with particulate includes an appliance and an applicator. The appliance may include a motor for actuating the applicator, for example, by rotation or oscillation. The applicator may include an application surface for impressing and urging particulate upon skin when the surface is contacting skin and the motor is activated. The application surface may be made from a substantially unresilient material or a substantially inabsorbent material. To treat skin, abrasion lotion may be applied either on the surface of the applicator or directly on the skin. The surface may then be placed against skin, and the motor may be activated. When in motion, the application surface impresses particulate of the lotion upon the skin and urges the impressed particulate across the skin, thereby abrading and exfoliating the skin. The applicator may be moved over an area of the skin for complete treatment. The application surface may include a field and a plurality of bosses disposed on the field, with channels defined between adjacent bosses. When the applicator is in motion and the surface contacts skin, the bosses urge and push the abrasion lotion into and through the channels, thereby moving and redistributing the abrasion lotion during operation. Alternatively, the application surface may include a relief field for vectoring particulate upon the skin.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to skin treatment apparatus and methods. [0002] Professional skin treatment procedures are expensive and time consuming. For example, microdermabrasion procedures require a patient to travel to a facility and undergo treatment by a certified professional utilizing specialized equipment. Such sessions involve pneumatic abrasion of the skin with microscopic crystals, such as aluminum oxide or magnesium oxide. [0003] As an alternative to profession treatment sessions, home treatment typically involves facial scrubs or microdermabrasion creams applied by hand. Although time and money are saved, the quality of the treatment and the level of skin abrasion are sacrificed. Some commercially available products include those wherein a vibrating or spinning foam pad is used to apply cream to the face. However, the foam absorbs the cream and becomes clogged, wasting the expensive cream. In addition, the foam pad is highly resilien...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The apparatus effectively exfoliates the skin with minimal irritation and cream wastage, offering a cost-effective and efficient alternative to professional treatments by using a motor-actuated applicator with a surface designed to minimize deformation and absorption, ensuring thorough treatment with reduced friction.

Problems solved by technology

Professional skin treatment procedures are expensive and time consuming.

However, the foam absorbs the cream and becomes clogged, wasting the expensive cream.

This pressure increases the friction between the pad and the skin, thereby generating heat and causing irritation.

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