Patent ID: 8906418

Claim:
A method of treating a pilosebaceous unit, comprising: pre-treating a skin surface to increase delivery of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to a portion of a pilosebaceous unit applying a solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to the skin surface, distributing the solution of from the skin surface to the portion of the pilosebaceous unit; wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles have a concentration of 10 9 to 10 16 particles per ml of the solution, wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise at least one of gold, silver, nickel, platinum, and titanium, wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a coating, wherein said coating facilitates selective removal from the skin surface, selectively removing the solution from the skin surface while leaving the solution localized within the portion of the pilosebaceous unit, and exposing the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles to an energy wavelength in a range of 750 nm to 1200 nm to induce a surface plasmon in said plasmonic nanoparticles, thereby localizing thermal damage to said portion of the pilosebaceous unit.