Hair Treatment System and Method

Abstract

A hand held device generates a predetermined number of pulses of electromagnetic radiation having a predetermined electromagnetic spectrum, a predetermined duration, a predetermined inter-pulse interval, and a predetermined total energy. The pulse sequence is delivered to a skin surface to reduce or eliminate Xray or ultraviolet radiation damage to the skin surface.

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A method for treating a skin area of a human subject, the skin area including a surface portion and hair wholly below the surface portion, comprising:
 administering to the subject at the skin area sufficient light to retard growth of the hair,   the sufficient light including a first light application and a second light application, and   the first light application and the second light application separated by a time period, and   the time period extending for a duration less than the amount of time required for protruding growth of the hair following the first light application absent any light application following the first light application.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the first light application includes sufficient light to retard growth of the hair. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the second light application includes sufficient light to retard hair growth of the hair. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the first light application includes sufficient light to retard growth of the hair and the second light application includes sufficient light to retard growth of the hair. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the duration is less than the amount of time required for any protruding growth of hair within the skin area following the first light application and absent any light application following the first light application. 
     
     
         72 . A hair treatment method comprising:
 applying light to a hair before the hair protrudes above the skin,   the light delivered in two separate applications sufficient to retard growth of the hair as compared to the protruding growth of the hair absent any applying of light.   
     
     
         73 . The hair treatment method of  claim 72 , wherein one of the two separate applications includes more than one light pulse. 
     
     
         74 . The hair treatment method of  claim 72 , wherein each of the two separate applications includes more than one light pulse. 
     
     
         75 . The hair treatment method of  claim 72 , wherein one of the two separate applications is sufficient to retard growth of the hair as compared to the protruding growth rate of the hair absent any applying of light. 
     
     
         76 . The hair treatment method of  claim 72 , wherein each of the two separate applications is sufficient to retard growth of the hair as compared to the protruding growth rate of the hair absent any applying of light. 
     
     
         77 . The hair treatment method of  claim 72 , wherein the two separate applications together are sufficient to retard growth of the hair as compared to the protruding growth rate of the hair absent any applying of light. 
     
     
         78 . A light therapy device for use in a hair treatment including administering two doses of light to a skin area of a human subject, the skin area including a surface portion and hair wholly below the surface portion, the administering comprising providing to the human subject at the skin area sufficient light to retard growth of the hair, the sufficient light including a first light application and a second light application, and the first light application and the second light application separated by a time period, and the time period extending for a duration less than the amount of time required for protruding growth of the hair following the first light application absent any light application following the first light application. 
     
     
         79 . The device as described in  claim 78 , further including an intense pulsed light delivery system. 
     
     
         80 . The device as described in  claim 78 , further including a pulsed light delivery system. 
     
     
         81 . The device as described in  claim 78 , further including a laser light delivery system. 
     
     
         82 . The device as described in  claim 78 , further including a continuous light delivery system.