Thermal treatment of a pilosebaceous unit with coated metal nanoparticles

A method of localizing thermal damage to a pilosebaceous unit, comprising:

• topically applying a solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to a skin surface;
• wherein the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles has at least one peak absorption wavelength between 750 nm and 1200 nm,
• wherein the concentration of the plasmonic nanoparticles is 109 to 1016 particles per ml of the solution,
• wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a conductive metal portion,
• wherein the conductive metal portion comprises at least one of gold, silver, nickel, platinum, and titanium,
• wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a coating that coats the conductive metal portion, wherein said coating is one of the group consisting of hydrophilic and hydrophobic;
• targeting a pilosebaceous unit by redistributing the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles from the skin surface to the pilosebaceous unit, wherein redistributing solution of plasmonic nanoparticles comprises distribution with a mechanical vibration device;
• removing the solution from the skin surface while leaving the solution localized within the pilosebaceous unit;
• and
• exposing the solution of plasmonic nanoparticles to an energy source to induce a surface plasmon in said plasmonic nanoparticles, thereby localizing thermal damage to said pilosebaceous unit.

A method of treating a pilosebaceous unit, comprising:

• pre-treating a skin surface to increase delivery of a solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to a portion of a pilosebaceous unit,
• applying the solution of unassembled plasmonic nanoparticles to the skin surface,
• wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise at least one of gold, silver, nickel, platinum, and titanium,
• distributing the solution of from the skin surface to the portion of the pilosebaceous unit;
• wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles have a concentration of 109 to 1016 particles per ml of the solution,
• wherein the plasmonic nanoparticles comprise a coating, wherein said coating is one of the group consisting of hydrophilic and hydrophobic,
• 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.