Device and method for treating dermatitis, psoriasis, acne and other disorders of the skin

A skin treatment device for treating skin comprising:

• an enclosure configured to selectively admit and expel air and water, said enclosure comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a hollow center defining a chamber closed at the distal end and having an opening at the proximal end, wherein the enclosure has sufficient elasticity for repeated compression and decompression along a longitudinal axis thereof;
• a lip provided around a perimeter of the opening at the proximal end of the enclosure, and having sufficient elasticity for repeated compression and decompression;
• protrusions and channels on a proximal surface of the lip, wherein the protrusions and channels have sufficient elasticity for repeated compression and decompression and are configured to selectively:
• (i) permit a flow of air and water to be expelled from the chamber of the enclosure through the channels as the skin treatment device is initially compressed against the skin;
• (ii) terminate the flow of air and water from the chamber when the lip, protrusions and channels have been sufficiently compressed against the skin to form a seal between the lip and the skin;
• and (iii) permit air to enter the chamber through the channels when the seal is broken by decompression of the lip, protrusions and channels upon decompression of the device;
• and
• at least one outlet valve on the enclosure which is configured to permit an additional flow of air and water out of the chamber to regulate pressure as the enclosure is being compressed against the skin, and to resist admission of air or water into the chamber as the enclosure is being decompressed.