Body care in 2018 is about so much more than moisturised knees and elbows. The sum total of the following patents is dimple, blemish and hair-free bodily skin.
The following patents include compositions and methods for the removal of tattoos, the prevention and treatment of stretch marks and skin conditions, and depilatory compositions.
1. Compositions and methods for the removal of tattoos
US Patent 9,801,799
Application No 14/914,929
Granted 31 October 2017
Assignee Dalhousie University
Professional tattoos are created using a rapidly reciprocating needle, which drives tattoo inks into the dermis to a depth of 0.6-2.2mm, where they become enclosed within phagocytes.
Removal is difficult, and is generally by laser, dermabrasion and surgical treatments.
Tattooed eyebrows, eyeliner and lip liner are also difficult to remove.
The patent describes a method for fading or removing a tattoo by administering a composition comprising an effective amount of a bisphosphonate and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
The bisphosphonate is clodronate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof combined with hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine in liposome form.
The composition also contains 5-15% ethanol and sorbitan monooleate plus other pharmaceutically acceptable ingredients to improve product application and shelf life.
The composition may be administered as a solution by injection, as a transdermal patch or as an emulsion by topical application.
After topical application to the tattoo, the liposomal formulation was found to penetrate the skin into the deeper dermis, where it was able to colocalise with areas of tattoo ink.
It is believed by the applicants that the administration of the bisphosphonate compositions reduce or fade the visible tattoo by depleting and destroying phagocytic cells that have phagocytosed tattoo ink.
The destruction of these residual phagocytic cells in the perivascular areas of the dermis results in the tattoo ink pigment and particles being transported to the lymphatic nodes for disposal, resulting in the fading of the tattoo in the area treated.
Multiple doses over an extended period may be necessary to completely remove the tattoo.
2. Vitamin C composition for use in the prevention and treatment of stretch marks, radiation dermatitis, and other skin conditions and methods of using the same
US Patent 9,585,830
Application No 13/738,125
Granted 7 March 2017
Inventor Kaplan, David L
The same properties that make vitamin C an excellent antioxidant render it difficult to create stable vitamin C formulations, because it rapidly oxidises upon exposure to air, and in the presence of water, light and high temperatures.
The patent describes a stable composition comprising ascorbic acid in solution with a hygroscopic compound that may be used for the prevention, inhibition and treatment of striae gravidarum, radiation dermatitis, rhytids, lentigos, dyschromia, sun-damage induced hyperpigmentation, cellulite, scars and purpura.
The hygroscopic solvent is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, sucrose, sorbitol, dextrose and corn syrup, which is heated in an enclosed container fitted with an agitator to between 40-55°C before adding the ascorbic acid to form a solution. The preferred hygroscopic compound is glycerine.
Additional ingredients are mentioned: dimethicone or cyclomethicone are added to increase the aesthetic pleasure of the formulation.
Panthenol and propylene glycol are added for their moisturising properties; pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is included as an essential nutrient required to sustain life; and ethanol is included because of its ability to increase the stability and absorption of the solution.
Tocopherol and its derivatives are included for their antioxidant properties and are commonly used as components to stabilise formulations that have high potential for oxidative degradation.
One composition comprises 5-20% ascorbic acid; 95-85% hygroscopic compound; 0-3% silicone-based organic polymer; 0-5% pantothenic acid; 0-5% tocopherol; 0-30% propylene glycol; and 0-20% ethanol.
The patent explains in detail how the compositions have a beneficial effect on various skin disorders including stretchmarks and radiation dermatitis.
3. Cosmetic compositions and uses thereof
US Patent 9,463,155
Application No 14/204,553
Granted 11 October 2016
Assignee Mary Kay
Cellulite is fatty tissue deposits in the subcutaneous tissue layers deep under the skin, which manifests in a dimpled or bumpy appearance or texture.
The patent describes a composition to reduce the appearance of cellulite and improve skin texture comprising a combination of Rubus fruticosus extract, Argania spinosa kernel oil, Coleus barbatus extract, glycolic acid, and a mixture of caffeine, escin and algae extract.
The patented composition may be included in various cosmetically acceptable formulations suitable for topical application as exemplified in table 1.
Table 1
4. Depilatory compositions
US Patent 9,974,735
Application No 15/498,070
Granted 22 May 2018
Assignee Reckitt & Colman
Typically, depilatory creams are heated to about 50°C before being applied to the skin, where they are left for 15 minutes to dissolve body hair before removal.
Such creams rapidly lose heat after application, which degrades their efficacy.
The patent describes a depilatory composition comprising a depilatory active and a combination of materials that enables the composition to retain heat for better hair removal.
The depilatory active is a compound capable of degrading keratin.
Preferred is 10-15% potassium thioglycolate, which may be produced by mixing thioglycolic acid with potassium hydroxide to give pH9-12.5 in the final composition.
The combination of materials that alter the thermal properties of the depilatory consists of saturated hydrocarbons, fatty acids, fatty alcohols and esters, and hydrated inorganic salts thereof.
Silica aerogels and fumed silica and mica, clay, bentonite and kaolin may also be included.
This combination of components enables the depilatory composition to have an improved cooling profile and is present at a level of 9.5-10%.
A combination appearing in the claims comprises talc, water, magnesium trisilicate, sodium gluconate, calcium hydroxide, sorbitol 70%, glycerin, TiO2, propylene glycol, mineral oil, cetearyl alcohol, ceteareth-20, lotus flower milk extract, acrylates copolymer, urea, lithium magnesium sodium silicate, potassium thioglycolate solution, a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and hexadecane, and potassium hydroxide solution.
The final composition may also include a skin feel enhancing agent such as 1-2% C30-C45 alkyl methicone, while talc at 1-2% and Nylon-12 at 1-3% confer a powdery after feel.
Emollients play an important role in providing the depilatory cream composition with its desired skin feel characteristics and include mineral oil at 0.5-5%; silicone oil at 1-4%; and emollient esters at 1-3%.
The silicone oil is a mixture of dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane and dimethiconol.
Urea is added to accelerate the depilatory action and glycerin, fragrance and chelating materials improve product aesthetics and stability.
Note: Throughout these abstracts, percentages are by weight relative to the total weights of the compositions.