Hair removal using optical pulses

A method for the simultaneous removal of a plurality of hairs from a skin region, each hair being in a follicle extending into the skin from a skin surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing an applicator in contact with the skin surface in said skin region;
• and
• (b) applying optical radiation of a selected wavelength and of a selected fluence through said applicator to said skin region, said applying step lasting for a predetermined time interval;
• said applicator converging the optical radiation applied to said skin region.

A method for the simultaneous removal of a plurality of hairs from a skin region, each hair being in a follicle extending into the skin from a skin surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing an applicator in contact with the skin surface in said skin region;
• and
• (b) applying optical radiation of a selected wavelength and of a selected fluence through said applicator to said skin region, said applying step lasting for a predetermined time interval;
• pressure being applied to the applicator during steps (a) and (b) so as to cause the applicator to deform the skin region thereunder.

A method for the simultaneous removal of a plurality of hairs from a skin region, each hair being in a follicle extending into the skin from a skin surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) applying optical radiation of a selected wavelength and of a selected fluence to said skin region, said applying step lasting for a predetermined time interval;
• and
• (b) cooling the skin surface in said skin region to a selected depth prior to step (a) and during step (a), said selected fluence and said predetermined time interval being selected such that there is at most minimal heating of skin in said skin region to said selected depth, while causing sufficient heating of at least one of hairs and follicles below said selected depth to at least damage said hairs and follicles without causing significant damage to tissue surrounding said follicles;
• whereby at least one of the hairs and follicles is heated and damaged without causing significant damage to the skin surface in said skin region up to said selected depth.

Apparatus for the simultaneous removal of a plurality of hairs from a skin region containing said plurality of hairs, each hair being in a follicle extending into the skin from a skin surface, the apparatus comprising:

• an applicator which is adapted to be in pressure contact with a portion of the skin surface containing a plurality of hairs in said skin region;
• a source of optical radiation of a wavelength between 680 and 1,200 nm, a fluence between 10 and 200 J/cm.sup.2 and a pulse duration between 50.mu.s and 200 ms;
• and
• means for applying the optical radiation from said source to said applicator, the optical radiation being passed through the applicator to said skin region.