System and method for treating skin

Abstract

System and method for treating a skin target. A temperature effector creates a temperature difference between the target and the skin tissue surrounding the target such that the target is at a higher temperature than the surrounding the. One or more RP electrodes are attached to the skin and RE energy is applied.

1 . A system for treating a skin target comprising: 
 (a) one or more RF electrodes configured to be attached to the skin, so as to apply an RF current to the skin;    (b) a temperature effector configured to create a temperature difference between the target and skin surrounding the target such that the target is at a higher temperature than the surrounding tissue.    
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the temperature effector heats the target.  
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the temperature effector comprises a light source configured to apply optical energy to the target.  
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the temperature effector cools the surrounding tissue.  
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4  wherein the temperature effector comprises an irrigation unit cooling a fluid and tubes for allowing the cooled fluid to flow near the surrounding skin.  
     
     
         6 . A method for treating a skin target comprising: 
 (a) creating a temperature gradient between the target and skin surrounding the target such that the target is at a higher temperature than the surrounding skin; and    (b) applying RF energy to the skin.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the temperature gradient is created by heating the target.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the target is heated by applying optical energy to the target.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the temperature gradient is created by cooling the skin surrounding the target.  
     
     
         10 . The met-hod according to  claim 9  wherein the surrounding skin is cooled by contacting the skin with a pre-cooled fluid.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the target is selected from the group comprising a vascular lesion, pigmented lesion, hair follicle, wrinkle and acne.