Patent ID: 7008647

Claim:
A method of treating acne conditions, the method comprising: contacting an acne problem area of a patient with a therapeutically effective amount of one or more antimicrobial metals in a nanocrystalline form to provide a localized antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect, wherein: the one or more antimicrobial metals in nanocrystalline form have sufficient atomic disorder so that the one or more antimicrobial metals in nanocrystalline form, when in contact with an alcohol or water-based electrolyte, releases atoms, ions, molecules, or clusters of the one or more antimicrobial metals in nanocrystalline form into the alcohol or water-based electrolyte on a sustainable basis and at a concentration sufficient to provide a localized antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect; and the one or more antimicrobial metals are provided as a coating on, or filler in, a dressing, or in a pharmaceutical composition with one or more pharmaceutically and dermatologically acceptable carriers, diluents or excipients suitable for topical administration.