1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae, skin bumps, and/or skin irritation resulting from waxing and/or shaving.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a condition commonly referred to as ‘razor bumps’, which most often occurs in the beard area of men of African American, Mediterranean, or Jewish descent and other people with curly hair. The condition is commonly a direct result of shaving. The act of shaving sharpens the end of highly curvy hairs, which grow back into the skin resulting in inflammation and/or a foreign body reaction. Similar results often occur when other areas of the body are shaved, such as under the arm, on the leg, or in the groin area.
An effective prevention method for avoidance of pseudofolliculitis barbae is to let the hair or beard grow as once hairs get to be a certain length they will not grow back into the skin. However, clean shaven skin is preferred by many individuals.
For treatment of pseudofolliculitis, some men use: shaving powders to avoid the irritation, a single blade razor to avoid shaving too closely, or hair removing techniques, such as electrolysis or laser hair removal to minimize PFB. Still others try shaving every other day, rather than daily, to reduce pseudo-folliculitis barbae. Yet still others soften the beard first with a hot, wet washcloth for five minutes.
Compounds exist for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae. For example, medications used to speed healing of the skin include glycolic acid, antibiotic gels, or oral antibiotics. However, these compounds are different in chemical composition from the present invention. Further, the fact that pseudofolliculitis barbae is still a serious condition is ample evidence that a more effective remedy is needed.
Patents related to the current invention are summarized here.
There exists in the art a need for a treatment and/or prevention composition and method of application thereof for pseudofolliculitis barbae, which does not irritate the skin, peel skin, or alter the pH of skin and its corresponding functionality.
The invention comprises a composition for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae and method for the application thereof.
The invention comprises a composition for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae and method for the application thereof. Various embodiments of the composition are described, infra. In use, all or part of the composition is applied to the skin surface and optionally enters into the skin and/or penetrates into a hair follicle, pore, wound, pustule, and/or papule. The composition is optionally pH balanced so as to not irritate the skin or alter its functionality.
Pseudofolliculitis barbae, PFB, is a medical term for persistent irritation caused by shaving. Pseudofolliculitis is also colloquially referred to as “razor bumps”. Pseudofolliculitis is most common on the male face, but it also results on other parts of the male or female body where hair is shaved or plucked, especially areas where hair is curly and the skin is sensitive, such as in genital shaving, which is also referred to as PFB and more specifically as pseudofolliculitis pubis.
Curly hair tends to curl into the skin instead of straight out the follicle and in some instances pierces the skin leading to any of: an inflammation reaction, itchiness, redness, an creation of pimples. In some instances, the inflamed regions result in papules or pustules especially if an infection results. Papules and pustules are specific examples of pseudofolliculitis barbae or outcomes of pseudofolliculitis barbae.
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In one embodiment, a composition is used for prevention of and/or treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae or skin bumps. A preferred composition includes L-arginine with any of aspirin or acetylsalicyclic acid or salicyclic acid. Additional optional compositions include L-arginine with any of:
In another embodiment, an the composition includes: at least one amino acid and at least one of α-hydroxy acid, salicyclic acid, and acetyl salicyclic acid. While any amino acid is optionally used, the amino acids of arginine, lysine, and/or histidine are preferred as they are of a basic pH and do not result in deproteinization of the aforementioned acids. The hydrogen ion is held in a complex with the amino acid. By not removing the proton, the acid is intact and more readily penetrates the skin. Additionally, the acid pH of the amino acids does not result in a free proton, which is otherwise corrosive to the skin. Lysine, histidine, and arginine are preferred, but any protein is optionally used and hydrolyzed. For example, collagen or protein is used as a composition component and is hydrolyzed in the composition to result in amino acids, which react as described herein with one or more of α-hydroxy acid, salicyclic acid, and acetyl salicyclic acid.
In yet another embodiment, the composition includes at least one amino acid; at least one of α-hydroxy acid, salicyclic acid, and acetyl salicyclic acid; and a base.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the composition contains one of and preferably both of L-arginine and acetylsalicyclic acid and at least one of or any combination of: water, aloe vera gel, propylene glycol, lecithin, lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid, shea butter, a lipid, a lipid material, retinoic acid, ascorbic acid, xanthan gum, and/or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose.
A first optional active ingredient, active material, or active element of the composition is L-arginine, an enantiomer of arginine, and/or arginine, with a concentration range of 0.1 to 40 percent. L-arginine is an essential amino acid, C6H14N4O2. The recommended daily intake of L-arginine is two grams per day. The free amino acid is also generated by hydrolysis or digestion of plant and/or animal protein. L-arginine is a vasodilator than increased blood flow, is a fat solubilizer, and cures wounds. The free amino acid increases insulin secretion and is converted to urea in the liver by arginase.
The amino acid side chain of arginine includes a 3-carbon aliphatic straight chain, the distal end of which is capped by a complex guanidinium group. With a pKa of 12.48, the guanidinium group is positively charged in neutral, acidic and even most basic environments, and thus imparts basic chemical properties to arginine. Because of the conjugation between the double bond and the nitrogen lone pairs, the positive charge is delocalized, enabling the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds, H-bonds. Referring now to
Arginine plays an important role in cell division, the healing of wounds, removing ammonia from the body, immune function, and the release of hormones. The benefits and functions attributed to oral supplementation of L-arginine include:
In another embodiment, any of: L-arginine; arginine; lysine; glycine; histidine; a pH basic amino acid, such as an amino acid having at least one pKa greater than 7.0; and/or a fat solubilizer is used as an active ingredient in the formulation or composition used in the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae. The percentage of L-arginine, lysine, and/or glycine alone or in combination is preferably about 0.1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 percent by volume or mass. Optionally, any source of amino acids is used, such as hydrolysed collagen or a protein hydrolysate. Optionally glucosamine and/or n-acetylglucosamine are used to dampen, adjust, or buffer the pH of the resulting composition.
A second optional active ingredient, active material, or active element of the composition is acetylsalicyclic acid, with a concentration range of 0.1 to 40 percent. Acetylsalicyclic acid and its metabolized form of salicyclic acid each decrease inflammation. Addition of the acetyl group to salicyclic acid results in a molecule that is more non-polar than salicyclic acid. The more polar acetylsalicyclic acid is more readily absorbed into skin cells and more readily transports across a lipid membrane of a skin cell. Once inside the cell, the acetyl group is removed to form an active ingredient of salicyclic acid. Hence, acetylsalicyclic acid is a preferred constituent of the composition for treating pseudofolliculitis barbae. However, an optional embodiment of the composition for treatment of PFB contains one or more of: salicyclic acid and/or any α-hydroxy acid, in the absence of acetylsalicyclic acid.
The inventor has determined that used by itself, acetylsalicyclic acid acts as a skin peeler, as the pKa is about 1. The low pKa results in an acidic solution having a pH of about 1.9, which damages skin and results in skin peeling in the hours and/or days following application to skin. Particularly, application of acetylsalicyclic acid in a composition having a pH of about 3.8 or less results in one or more of the detrimental effects of: an acid burn of the skin, inflammation, itching, sensitizing, dermatitis, and/or skin peeling. The inventor discovered that adjusting the pH of a composition used to treat pseudofolliculitis barbae containing acetylsalicyclic acid or salicyclic acid to about 5.5 or about 4.0 to 6.5 reduces and/or eliminates the above described detrimental effects.
In another embodiment, any of acetylsalicyclic acid, salicyclic acid, and or α-hydroxy acid is used as an active ingredient in the formulation or composition used in the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae. The percentage of acetylsalicyclic acid, salicyclic acid, and or α-hydroxy acid alone or in combination is preferably about 0.1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 percent by volume or mass.
L-arginine and acetylsalicyclic acid are preferred active ingredients, constituents, or elements of a composition or formulation for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae. Additional or substitute optional active elements are described herein. One optional active element is retinoic acid. A preferred concentration range of retinoic acid is 0 to 0.05 percent. Retinoic acid is an oxidized from of Vitamin A and contains only partial functionality of Vitamin A. Retinoic acid acts faster on pseudofolliculitis barbae as the acid is more non-polar than Vitamin A and hence transports across, into, or through skin layers more efficiently. An additional optional active element is Vitamin A. Both retinoic acid and Vitamin A remove swelling and/or remove dead skin. Yet another optional active element is lactic acid, which is an α-hydroxy acid. Lactic acid is a preservative, which is optionally used in place of and/or in combination with aspirin and/or acetylsalicyclic acid in the composition. Still yet additional active elements include any of: lysine, histidine, hydrolysed collagen, and protein hydrolysate.
Water is an optional component of the composition. Water is a carrier and/or diluent. When used, the percentage of water is preferably about 20 to 99 percent and more preferably about 40, 50, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 70, or 80 percent by volume or mass.
Each of aloe vera gel, propylene glycol, lecithin, shea butter, or a solubilizer are both (1) optional composition components and (2) perform as skin moisturizers. Shea butter, lecithin, and/or a lipid material is optionally used independently or in combination to enhance penetration of the active material, such as L-arginine and/or acetylsalicyclic acid, into the skin 100. Propylene glycol additionally performs as a penetration enhancer and performs as a solubilizer for salicyclic acid and/or acetylsalicyclic acid. The percentage of aloe vera gel, propylene glycol, lecithin, shea butter, or a solubilizer alone or in combination is preferably about 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 percent by volume or mass.
Ascorbic acid is another optional composition constituent, which performs as an anti-oxident. Ascorbic acid is a water soluble sugar acid with antioxidant properties. One form of ascorbic acid is commonly known as vitamin C. In another embodiment, ascorbic acid is optionally used in vitamin A, as an anti-oxidant, in a composition used to treat pseudofolliculitis barbae. Additional optional composition elements include each of xanthan gum and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, which perform as composition thickeners. Further, the xanthan gum performs as a rheology modifier.
pH
The pH of skin is about 5.5. When the pH of the skin surface is less than about 3.8, skin peeling results. Additionally, side effects of skin adjusted to a pH of less than about 3.8 include: skin inflammation, dermatitis, itching, and/or sensitizing of the skin.
The inventor has determined that, in still yet another embodiment, a preferred pH range of the composition is in the range of about 4.0 to 6.0, which prevents the above described skin inflammation, dermatitis, itching, and/or sensitizing of the skin. A more preferred pH of the composition or formulation for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae is about 4.5, 5.0, or 5.5.
A preferred composition or formulation for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae is provided in Table 1. The combination results in a pH in the range of 4.0 to 6.0. For example, the pKa of L-arginine of 12.48 adjusts the pH of the acetylsalicyclic acid up into the desired pH range of 4.0 to 6.0 and prevents the acid peeling resulting from the unbuffered and/or non pH adjusted acetylsalicyclic acid. Further, the application of a composition for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae with a pH of about skin does not disrupt normal skin functioning.
In another embodiment, a formulation or composition for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae is provided. The combination results in a pH in the range of 4.0 to 6.0, includes a carrier, active ingredient, solubilizer, and skin moisturizer. The preferred formulation is provided in Table 1. However, each of the constituents present in Table 1 is optionally present in a range of concentrations. In another embodiment, the formulation contains: water in the range of about 20 to 99 percent, acetylsalicyclic acid in the range of about 0.1 to 40 percent, L-arginine in the range of about 0.1 to 40 percent, and propylene glycol in the range of about 0 to 40 percent, where percent is by either volume or mass. For example, the concentration of a first active ingredient of L-arginine is preferably about 9 percent; however a range of percentages of about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 percent are acceptable and the concentration of a second active ingredient of acetylsalicyclic acid is preferably about 9 percent; however a range of percentages of about 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 percent are acceptable, with the balance of the water and propylene glycol adjusted. The percentage of water is preferably about 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, or 65 percent. The percentage of propylene glycol is preferably about 18, 19, 20, 21, or 22 percent.
In yet another embodiment, a formulation or composition for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae is provided in Table 2.
In still yet another embodiment, a formulation or composition or formulation for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae is provided in Table 3. Percentages are optionally by mass or by volume. The formulation is optionally any combination of elements listed in Table 3 with a pH 4.0 to 6.0 or an adjusted pH of 4.0 to 6.0.
In yet still another embodiment, the composition contains at least aspirin adjusted to a pH of about 4.0 to 6.0.
The formulation or composition is applied through a method of application of a thin veneer of the formulation to the shaved area. The shaved area is any of a beard area and any other areas of the body that are shaved, such as under the arm, the leg, or in the groin area. The formulation is applied immediately before shaving, during shaving, after shaving, and/or between shaves to any shaved region or region to be shaved. The formulation is optionally applied as a component of a cosmetically acceptable lotion, cream, ointment, soap, shaving foam, stick, gel, or solution. As skin bumps may result from ingrown hair in the absence of shaving, the formulation or composition for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae and/or skin bumps includes use in the absence of shaving.
Preferably, the formulation is sufficiently viscous to allow the formulation to remain on the affected area of the skin for a sufficient time period to reduce the pseudofolliculitis inflammation and/or to allow partial absorption of the composition into the skin.
In yet still another embodiment, any combination or permutation of any of the above described constituents is used to form a composition for the treatment of bromhidrosis.
In still yet another embodiment, any combination or permutation of any of the above described constituents is used to form a formulation, composition, and/or mixture, cream, lather, foam, ointment, soap, liquid, or gel for application to the skin for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae and/or skin bumps.
Although the invention has been described herein with reference to certain preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other applications may be substituted for those set forth herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention should only be limited by the Claims included below.
This application claims: the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/304,461 filed Feb. 14, 2010; andthe benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/306,519 filed Feb. 21, 2010,all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference thereto.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61304461 | Feb 2010 | US | |
61306519 | Feb 2010 | US |