Patent ID: 7931028
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A skin injury or damage prevention method for at least reducing the incidence or likelihood of non-cancerous visible damage to the skin including radiation dermatitis, sunburns, and poikiloderma, said method comprising periodically applying, in temporally spaced treatment sessions, pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a skin surface of an individual in the absence of an applied exogenous chromophore and in the absence of visible Xray or ultraviolet radiation damage on said skin surface, the applying of said pulses including selecting pulse parameters including pulse duration and total energy so as to at least reduce the incidence or likelihood of non-cancerous visible damage to the skin including radiation dermatitis, sunburns, and poikiloderma caused by exposure of the individual to Xray or ultraviolet radiation, the applying of said electromagnetic radiation to said skin surface in each of said treatment sessions being effectuated within a predetermined interval of the exposure of the individual to Xray or ultraviolet radiation, thereby effectively preventing skin injury or damage by reducing the incidence or likelihood of non-cancerous visible damage to the skin including radiation dermatitis, sunburns, and poikiloderma, the applying of said electromagnetic radiation to said skin surface increasing the local temperature in skin structures including blood vessel cell walls and keratinocytes in the skin to stimulate a healing response and a release of growth factors and other tissue substances, without permanently damaging any skin structures, said pulses of electromagnetic radiation being characterized by parameters including pulse duration of less than about 2 seconds, wavelength and total energy so selected that the applying of said electromagnetic radiation promotes healthy skin and generates no visible damage such as tanning, wherein the number of said treatment sessions in a given time interval is determined at least in part by the frequency or intensity of exposure to Xray or ultraviolet radiation during that time interval.