Apparatus and methods for modifying keratinous surfaces

Abstract

An apparatus and method for depositing a particulate containing composition onto mammalian skin such that when the particles contact the mammalian skin they have a momentum defined by ρvr, which is within the range of about 0.1 kg/ms≦ρvr≦about 12.0 kg/ms. The particles can be in the range of from about 10 nanometers to about 10 micrometers, in size. And the particles may be selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, glass, silica and mixtures thereof. The particles are imbedded below the first layer of dead skin cells in the stratum corneum but they do not pass all the way through the stratum corneum into the living cells of the epidermis or dermis layers of the skin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for depositing a particulate containing composition onto mammalian skin such that when the particles contact the mammalian skin they have a momentum defined by ρvr within the range of about 0.1 kg/ms≦ρvr≦about 12.0 kg/ms. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are in the range of from about 10 nanometers to about 10 micrometers, preferably from about 200 nanometers to about 10 micrometers, in size. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, glass, silica and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are imbedded below the first layer of dead skin cells in the stratum corneum and they do not pass all the way through the stratum corneum into the living cells of the epidermis or dermis layers of the skin. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are injected into the stratum corneum but no deeper than from about 10 micrometers to about 40 micrometers into the mammalian skin. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are injected into the stratum corneum and remain there for at least one day. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are injected into the stratum corneum to achieve a skin benefit selected from the group consisting of a cosmetic, UV protection, skin radiance and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the cosmetic or skin radiance benefit is provided by injecting particles that are inorganic or organic cosmetic pigmentary grade particles that are preferably selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, glass, silica and mixtures thereof, which are in the range of from about 10 nanometers to about 20 micrometers, preferably from about 150 nanometers to about 20 micrometers, in size, and which scatter less than 10% of light in the wave lengths of from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the UV protection benefit is provided by injecting particles selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and mixtures thereof, which are smaller than about 200 nanometers, preferably from about 10 nanometers to about 100 nanometers, in size, and which scatter at least 90% of UV light in the wave lengths of from about 290 nanometers to about 400 nanometers. 
     
     
         10 . A method for depositing a particulate containing composition onto mammalian skin such that when the particles contact the mammalian skin they have a momentum defined by ρvr within the range of about 0.1 kg/ms≦ρvr≦about 12.0 kg/ms. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the particles are in the range of from about 10 nanometers to about 10 micrometers, preferably from about 200 nanometers to about 10 micrometers, in size. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the particles are selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, glass, silica and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the particles are imbedded below the first layer of dead skin cells in the stratum corneum and they do not pass all the way through the stratum corneum into the living cells of the epidermis or dermis layers of the skin. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the particles are injected into the stratum corneum but no deeper than from about 10 micrometers to about 40 micrometers into the mammalian skin. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the particles are injected into the stratum corneum and remain there for at least one day. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the particles are injected into the stratum corneum to achieve a skin benefit selected from the group consisting of a cosmetic, UV protection, skin radiance and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cosmetic or skin radiance benefit is provided by injecting particles that are inorganic or organic cosmetic pigmentary grade particles that are preferably selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, glass, silica and mixtures thereof, which are in the range of from about 10 nanometers to about 20 micrometers, preferably from about 150 nanometers to about 20 micrometers, in size, and which scatter less than 10% of light in the wave lengths of from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the UV protection benefit is provided by injecting particles selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and mixtures thereof, which are smaller than about 200 nanometers, preferably from about 10 nanometers to about 100 nanometers, in size, and which scatter at least 90% of UV light in the wave lengths of from about 290 nanometers to about 400 nanometers.