Galderma Research & Development

Ceramoptec Industries, Inc.

Galderma Research & Development Snc

Centre International De Recherches Dermatologiques

Centre International De Recherche Dermatologiques Galderma (c.i.r.d.) Galderma

Chryslain Sumian

Serge Mordon

Martine Bouclier

Franck Pitre

Karine Buffard

Wolfgang Neuberger

Frank Pitre

Alexandre Capon

A device and method is disclosed for permanent or semi-permanent removal of hair through the activation of microparticles introduced into hair follicles. Microparticles are incorporated into a composition that is topically applied to the skin. These microparticles containing or consisting of chromophores or chemically activated molecules are of a variety of shapes and sizes. Microparticles are within a size range of 1 micron to 70 microns, and preferably between 10 and 50 microns. Microparticles of this size and variety of shapes enter hair follicles on all areas of the skin without entering other areas of the skin, such as the stratum corneum or sweat gland channels. Treatment of the skin with electromagnetic radiation, ultrasonic radiation or chemical means activates the chromophore or chemically activated compounds, thus destroying the hair follicle without damaging other areas of the skin. In another embodiment, microparticles further contain nanoparticles released further into the hair follicle by use of a solvent or other method, allowing chromophores or chemically activated molecules to penetrate deeper into the follicle and avoid structures such as the sebaceous gland.

Topical application of chromophores for hair removal

The apparatus for uniting the lips of a wound comprises a laser having an emission wavelength chosen such that it can perform tissue bonding and unite the lips of a wound, and a holding piece suitable for being secured to the tissue around the wound so as to keep the lips of the wound approximated, at least while the wound is being exposed to said laser radiation, the holding piece including at least one region suitable for being positioned over the wound and sufficiently transparent at the wavelength of the laser radiation for the energy from said radiation to be sufficient, after it has passed through said region, to perform the desired tissue bonding.

Apparatus for uniting the lips of a wound, a holding piece, and a cosmetic treatment method

The invention relates to device making it possible to apply a chromophoric composition to the skin, said device including a chromophoric composition containing at least one chromophoric agent. The chromophoric composition is in the form of a layer of constant thickness bonded to one face of backing, at least prior to being applied to the skin, the chromophoric agent or agents being distributed uniformly in said composition, and the type of the composition being chosen such that light energy from laser radiation is transformed locally into heat and/or the chemical structure(s) of the chromophoric agent(s) is/are modified locally.

Device including a chromophoric composition to be applied to the skin, a method of fabricating such a device, and uses therefor

A method for eliminating unwanted hairs is provided. The method includes applying an effective amount of a composition including microparticles to the surface of the skin where the hairs are situated and removing the composition remaining on the surface of the skin. The microparticles contain chromophores and a second material different from the chromophores. At least 80% by weight of the microparticles have a diameter of between 3 &mgr;m and 10 &mgr;m. A composition containing a solvent which dissolves the chromophores may then be applied to the surface of the skin. Laser radiation is then applied in one or more shots. The emitted wavelength of the laser radiation is absorbed by the chromophores. The light energy and the emission duration of the laser energy are sufficient to damage and/or kill the cells responsible for the growth of the hair.

Method for removing superfluous hairs

Mammalian skin is treated and advantageously smoothed, for example to remove wrinkles, lines, warts and scars therefrom, by topically applying thereto a composition which comprises at least one laser-absorbing chromophore formulated into a physiologically acceptable carrier, diluent or vehicle therefor, and laser-irradiating the skin thus treated with an intensity sufficient to locally convert the light energy into heat energy in the applied composition and advantageously effecting tissue ablation of the surface of the treated skin, said applied composition and the thickness thereof having an absorbance at the emission wavelength of the laser such that the light energy transmitted into the skin generates no undesired irreversible tissue or cell damage.

Growing community of inventors

Antibes, France

Chryslain Sumian