Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Cosmetic – antiperspirant – dentifrice
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-30
2003-11-25
Travers, Russell (Department: 1619)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Cosmetic, antiperspirant, dentifrice
C424S725000, C424S765000, C424S777000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06652868
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a method of peeling as well as to the production of a preparation for its implementation.
In dermo-cosmetological practice, “peeling” conventionally refers to a treatment that consists in causing, by means of chemical products, a destruction of cellular layers that form the epidermis, over a variable depth based on the intensity of the peeling, in order to induce an exfoliation of these layers, then their regeneration, i.e., their replacement by new cellular layers.
The peeling thus makes it possible to eliminate a certain number of imperfections that are present on the surface of the skin such as open pores, blemishes, seborrheic warts, wrinkles, localized hyperkeratoses, superficial scars, etc.
To date, various chemical products have been proposed, which all have in common acting by a powerful keratolytic effect. Among those that are most frequently used, it is possible to cite phenol, resorcinol, trichloroacetic acid, glycolic acid and the other alpha-hydroxylated acids.
The progression of these products within cellular layers of the epidermis and, consequently, their depth of action are sometimes difficult to monitor. Reaching the basal layer of the epidermis, however, and even the underlying dermis, can have extremely negative consequences. Thus, brown spots can appear secondarily in the case of lesion of the basal epidermal layer, while a definitive depigmentation of the skin can develop in the event of the dermis and pilosebaceous passages being reached. Finally, intoxication cases have been reported, in particular with the use of phenol, due to a systemic penetration of the latter.
As a result, peeling as it is practiced to date, if it constitutes a very effective technique for improving the appearance of the skin, exhibits non-negligible risks that justify in particular the fact that it can be used only by professionals in the field of dermo-cosmetology.
Another technique for improving the appearance of the skin, which is also widely used in dermo-cosmetology, consists in eliminating a more or less large portion of the surface layers of the epidermis by an abrasion, i.e., a purely mechanical action.
First of all, there are so-called scrubbing or exfoliating products, also called “scrubs” in English terminology, that come in the form of creams or gels and that contain particles that, when they are used to massage the skin, are able to cause an exfoliation of dead epidermis cells—i.e. the horny layer—by an abrasive action. These scrubbing products, which are described in particular in Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 3-106809 and 6-072827, European Patent Application No. 692 236, International Application PCT No. 94/12151, and the article of NAKAHIRA et al. published in COSMETICS & TOILETRIES (1986, 101, 41-47) are primarily intended for wide-spread public use. They are thus designed to exhibit, under normal conditions of use, only a very superficial exfoliating action, limited to several cellular layers of the horny layer, which makes possible an in-depth cleaning of the skin, but which is unsuitable for eliminating or even reducing the imperfections that the latter may comprise.
Furthermore, the professionals of dermo-cosmetology use a so-called “dermabrasion” technique whose purpose is to eliminate the entire horny layer by fine sanding of the cells of this layer with grinders.
Finally, for several years, the dermatologists have resorted to the use of laser rays that make it possible to cause destruction by burning the epidermis.
If these two latter methods, dermabrasion and laser, are sensible means, in the hands of professionals, for ensuring better monitoring of the depth of the skin destruction than the chemical peeling, it turns out, however, that their use is not totally without undesirable secondary effects such as dyschromias, retractions, weight loss and embrittlement of the skin covering. The dermabrasion, moreover, exhibits the drawback of being extremely uncomfortable for the person in whom it is carried out and cannot be used over the entire face, in particular under the eyes where the skin is too fine. With regard to laser rays, they create the risk of a resurgence of the herpes virus in subjects that have undergone a primary infection that requires taking an antiviral treatment prior to its use.
What is more, the practice of the dermabrasion or the laser should be compared to a true surgical intervention that requires a wide-area local anesthesia, and even a general anesthesia, and that indicates long and sometimes uncertain operating procedures.
The problem is posed, consequently, of using new techniques making it possible to eliminate, or, at the very least, to reduce the imperfections that can be exhibited by the surface of the skin so as to improve the appearance thereof, and that are, in a general manner, free of all of the drawbacks indicated above.
More particularly, the problem is posed of using new techniques that, while making it possible to obtain a satisfactory skin resurfacing, have a limited action in the thickness of the epidermis so as to prevent any lesion of the basal layer of the dermis or of the underlying dermis, and, consequently, the unexpected occurrence of inopportune secondary effects, and even consequences that go against the desired object.
Finally, it is desirable that these techniques be characterized by safety and simplicity of use such that their use does not necessarily impose the intervention of a professional in the field of dermo-cosmetology and is accessible to any person desiring to improve the appearance of his skin.
The inventors, however, noted that it is possible to induce, by the introduction, in the thickness of the horny layer of the epidermis, a multitude of elements of very small size, a separation and a cleavage of this horny layer in its entirety that end in its elimination and its replacement by new cellular layers, and, consequently, in a notable improvement in the appearance of the surface of the skin, and this, without risk of lesion of the basal layer of the epidermis, nor of the underlying dermis.
The inventors therefore developed, on the basis of these findings, a new method for embellishing the appearance of the skin that, although not using a chemical product with keratolytic effect, will be referred to below as “method of peeling,” to the extent that it makes it possible to obtain, like the chemical peeling, an exfoliation of superficial cellular layers of the epidermis and their regeneration.
This invention therefore has as its object a peeling method that is characterized in that it comprises the introduction, in the thickness of the horny layer of the epidermis, of elements whose length is between about 5 and 100 microns and that have a tapered shape and an adequate rigidity to be able to penetrate said horny layer.
Within the meaning of this invention, “tapered shape” element means any element that has the general shape of a needle or pin, i.e., that has a length much greater than its width and whose ends end in points. Furthermore, within the scope of this invention, it is considered that an element has an adequate rigidity to be able to penetrate the horny layer when, this element being deposited on the surface of the skin, it is able, taking into account its tapered shape, to penetrate the horny layer and advance into the thickness of this layer under the effect of a simple manual massage.
According to an advantageous arrangement of this peeling method, the elements that are introduced into the thickness of the horny layer are elements of vegetable origin. Actually, a large number of elements that meet the criteria of size, shape and rigidity mentioned above and that, by their natural origin, offer a perfect safety, which makes their use particularly suitable for the implementation of the peeling method according to the invention, are found among the vegetables.
These elements of vegetable origin are preferably selected from among the fibers, the hairs and the crystals of calcium oxalate.
According to the invention, vegetable fibers of lignin and/or cellulose
Dubourdeaux Michel
Jean Daniel
Simon Veronique
Shoemaker and Mattare
Travers Russell
Yu Gina
LandOfFree
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