Microstructures and method for treating and conditioning skin which cause less irritation during exfoliation

A method for removing cells from skin, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of inverted microelements, wherein a majority of said microelements extends from a first surface of said substrate and which exhibit a substantially empty space within said microelements, and wherein said majority of microelements exhibits at least one substantially sharp edge along a second surface of said substrate, said second surface being opposite the first surface of said substrate;
• (b) placing the second surface of said microstructure on skin and then rubbing the microstructure against said skin, thereby scraping and accumulating skin cells within said substantially empty space within said majority of microelements;
• and
• (c) withdrawing said microstructure from said skin, and thereby removing a large majority of said skin cells that have accumulated within said substantially empty space within said majority of microelements.

A method for removing cells from skin, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of microelements, wherein a majority of said microelements are of at least one predetermined size and shape, and each exhibit at least one side wall that extends above said first surface of the substrate, and wherein said majority of microelements are oriented in a closely-packed arrangement such that any spacing between portions of said side walls of adjacent microelements is substantially minimized;
• (b) placing said microstructure on skin then rubbing the microstructure against said skin, thereby scraping and accumulating skin cells in areas between said majority of microelements;
• and
• (c) withdrawing said microstructure from said skin, and thereby removing a large majority of said skin cells that have accumulated upon said microstructure.

A microstructure apparatus, comprising:

• a substrate and a plurality of microelements affixed upon a first surface of said substrate;
• said plurality of microelements being of predetermined sizes and shapes for use in scraping skin cells from skin when said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one direction;
• said plurality of microelements each having at least one side wall that extends above said first surface of the substrate;
• and wherein said plurality of microelements are oriented in a closely-packed arrangement such that any spacing between portions of said side walls of adjacent microelements is substantially minimized.