Apparatus and methods for modifying keratinous surfaces

Abstract

A device for analyzing and treating tonal imperfections on human skin. The device, or apparatus has an applicator comprising a head and one or more nozzles, preferably the nozzles are arranged in an array. The apparatus further has a reservoir comprising a skin treatment composition, a sensor, and a CPU. The sensor takes an image of at least 10 μm2 of skin. The CPU analyzes the image to calculate a localized L value of individual pixels or group of pixels. The CPU then compares the local L value to a background L value to identify one or more skin deviations, and wherein the sensor is in wireless communication with the CPU, and wherein the CPU is adjacent the sensor or is remotely located. Further, the sensor may be enclosed within an apparatus handle and the CPU is either within the handle or external to the handle. In another embodiment of this invention, there are two or more CPUs and the sensor can be in wireless communication with none, one or more than one CPU.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for treating human skin comprising:
 a. an applicator comprising a head and one or more nozzles;   b. a reservoir comprising a skin treatment composition that comprises from about 0.01% to about 25% by weight of the composition of a skin care active;   c. a sensor;   d. a CPU;   wherein the sensor takes the image of at least 10 μm 2  of skin; the CPU analyzes the image to identify one or more skin deviations.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skin care active is an anti-acne active. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skin care active is an oil control agent. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skin care active is selected from the group consisting of salicylic acid, dehydroacetic acid, benzoyl peroxide, vitamin B3 compounds, isomers, esters, derivatives, or salts thereof, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the skin care active is selected from the group consisting of salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skin care active is a vitamin selected from the group consisting of vitamin A, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin C, vitamin E, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the vitamin is a vitamin B3 compound selected from the group consisting of niacinamide, niacinnicotinic acid, tocopheryl nicotinate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the vitamin B3 compound is niacinamide. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skin treatment composition further comprises from about 50% to about 99.99% of a dermatologically-acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the dermatologically-acceptable carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, a polyhydric alcohol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the dermatologically-acceptable carrier is a mixture of water and polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skin treatment composition further comprises an anti-fungal component, an anti-bacterial component, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skin treatment composition further comprises hexanediol, caprylyl glycol, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a handle that contains the sensor, the applicator, the reservoir, and CPU. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a camera capable of taking continuous images at a rate of at least 4 frames per second. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator is a thermal inkjet or piezoelectric printer and cartridge assembly, wherein the cartridge assembly comprises a foam core, solid wax, bladder core, a membrane and combinations of these. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator further comprises one or more of an illumination source, a memory unit, an energy source, and an applicator tip. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises a thermal inkjet printer cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment composition is applied to the skin deviation after the skin deviation is identified. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the skin deviation is acne.