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.

1 . An applicator for treating skin using abrasion lotion with particulate, the applicator for use with an appliance configured to move the applicator, the applicator comprising: 
 a base for engaging with the appliance; and    a substantially unresilient application surface for vectoring particulate upon skin when the surface is contacting skin and the applicator is moving.    
   
   
       2 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the application surface includes an embossed field having a plurality of bosses.  
   
   
       3 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the bosses are arcuate in section.  
   
   
       4 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the appliance rotates the applicator and wherein the applicator rotates about an axis and channels are defined between adjacent bosses; 
 the bosses urging abrasion lotion through the channels when the application surface is contacting skin and the applicator is rotating.    
   
   
       5 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 2  wherein a plurality of the bosses are disposed about a periphery of the application surface.  
   
   
       6 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 5  wherein at least one of the bosses protrudes beyond the periphery of the application surface.  
   
   
       7 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the bosses include a plurality of intaglios.  
   
   
       8 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the application surface includes a relief field.  
   
   
       9 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the relief field includes troughs defined between ridges.  
   
   
       10 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the particulate of the abrasion lotion has a diameter and wherein the troughs have a depth less than the diameter of the particulate.  
   
   
       11 . An applicator for treating skin using abrasion lotion with particulate, the applicator for use with an appliance configured to move the applicator, the applicator comprising: 
 a base for engaging with the appliance; and    a substantially inabsorbent application surface for vectoring particulate upon skin when the surface is contacting skin and the applicator is moving.    
   
   
       12 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the application surface includes an embossed field having a plurality of bosses.  
   
   
       13 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the bosses are arcuate in section.  
   
   
       14 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the appliance rotates the applicator and wherein the applicator rotates about an axis and channels are defined between adjacent bosses; 
 the bosses urging abrasion lotion through the channels when the application surface is contacting skin and the applicator is rotating.    
   
   
       15 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 12  wherein a plurality of the bosses are disposed about a periphery of the application surface.  
   
   
       16 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 15  wherein at least one of the bosses protrudes beyond the periphery of the application surface.  
   
   
       17 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the bosses include a plurality of intaglios.  
   
   
       18 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the application surface includes a relief field.  
   
   
       19 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the relief field includes troughs defined between ridges.  
   
   
       20 . An applicator as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the particulate of the abrasion lotion has a diameter and wherein the troughs have a depth less than the diameter of the particulate.  
   
   
       21 . Apparatus for treating skin using abrasion lotion with particulate, the apparatus comprising: 
 an appliance including an applicator and a motor for rotating the applicator;    the applicator including a substantially unresilient and inabsorbent application surface for vectoring particulate upon skin when the surface is contacting skin and the motor is activated.    
   
   
       22 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the motor rotates the applicator at a rate of at least about 20 revolutions per minute.  
   
   
       23 . A method for treating skin, the method comprising: 
 providing abrasion lotion with particulate;    providing an appliance including an applicator and a motor for rotating the applicator, the applicator including a substantially unresilient and inabsorbent application surface including a plurality of bosses;    placing the application surface against skin with the abrasion lotion with particulate therebetween; and    activating the motor such that the bosses of the application surface vector particulate upon the skin.    
   
   
       24 . A method as claimed in  claim 23  further comprising: 
 moving the application surface over an area of skin.    
   
   
       25 . A method as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the abrasion lotion is a microdermabrasion lotion.