AU2011101662A4 - A dermatological product and method for making same - Google Patents

Abstract

A dermatological product and method for making same Abstract A dermatological product is provided that is formed using base ingredients including a sulphate of aluminium and sodium silicate. A method of producing soap comprises the steps of: (i) combining at least a fat, an alkali solution, a sulphate of aluminium and a silicate to form a mixture; (ii) using a process of saponification to produce soap from the mixture. A method of producing a dermatological product comprises: (i) dissolving a sulphate of aluminium in an alkali solution; and (ii) mixing a silicate into the solution. The dermatological product may be a soap formed through saponification or other products such as a melt and pour soap, a detergent or a cream.

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 Innovation Patent Specification Title: A dermatological product and method for making same Applicant(s): Sarath Silva Inventor(s): Sarath Silva Agent: © COTTERS Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys The following is a full description of the invention which sets forth the best method known to the applicant of performing it.

2 A dermatological product and method for making same Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dermatological product for application to the skin and a 5 method for making the dermatological product. In particular, the present invention relates to a dermatological product in the form of a cream, a soap or other detergent, however, the dermatological product may be embodied in other forms. Background of the Invention 10 Skin irritation and skin diseases such as dermatitis, acne and psoriasis are common human inflictions that are typically treated with topical creams and ointments. Often these creams and ointments contain steroids and other hormones that can have adverse side effects. Further, some skin irritations or diseases are not responsive to topical creams and ointments or symptoms return as soon as application of the creams or ointments is ceased. 15 Soaps are typically made using hot or cold processes in which fats or oils, either separately or in combination with each other, undergo saponification with alkali metal hydroxides. The term "saponification" is commonly used to refer to the reaction of a fat or oil with a metallic alkali to form soap. Animal fats and vegetable oils are fatty esters in the form of 20 triglycerides. In the process of saponification, the metal alkali breaks the ester bond in the fatty ester and releases the fatty acid salt and glycerol. Another method of producing soap is referred to as "melt and pour" soap, in which a soap base is heated to melting and additives are added to the molten soap base. The molten 25 soap base is then cooled in moulds to form bars of soap. Alternatives to traditional soaps, such as liquid hand wash and other surfactants, are also widely used for cleaning the skin. 30 The use of soap and other surfactants to clean skin is important in helping to prevent infection, however typical soaps and other surfactants often aggravate skin irritations making the symptoms worse.

3 Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or to provide a useful alternative. 5 Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of producing soap comprising the steps of: (i) combining at least a fat, an alkali solution, aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate to form a mixture; io (ii) using a process of saponification to produce soap from the mixture; wherein the mass percentage of aluminium potassium sulphate added to the mixture is between 3% and 15% of the total mixture and wherein the mass percentage of sodium silicate added to the mixture is between 5% and 30% of the total mixture. is In a second aspect, the present invention provides a soap product produced by the method of the first aspect. In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of producing a dermatological product, the method comprising: 20 (i) dissolving aluminium potassium sulphate in a solution of sodium hydroxide in water; and (ii) mixing sodium silicate into the solution. In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: 25 (iii) adding the mixture produced in step (ii) to a skin product such as a cream, soap or detergent. In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a dermatological product produced by the method of the third aspect. 30 4 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present invention provides dermatological products and methods of preparing dermatological products such as cream, bars of soap, liquid soap and other skin products. 5 Method 1 - Traditional Soap Making The following method is used to produce a traditional style hand soap. The weights of base ingredients including sodium hydroxide as the alkali metal hydroxide, water and a fat, such as animal fat or vegetable oil, are calculated according to traditional 10 saponification charts for producing mild soap. These calculated weights are then adjusted to accommodate the addition of two extra base ingredients aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate in specific quantities, while still producing a similarly mild soap. Once accurately weighed, the alkali metal hydroxide is dissolved in water to provide an alkali is solution. The fat is then gradually mixed, often at elevated temperatures, with the alkali solution. During the mixing of the fat with the alkali solution aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate are also added into the mixture, usually as solutions in a small amount of water. 20 Alternatively, instead of adding aluminium potassium sulphate into the mixture, by-products can be added, wherein the by-products are by-products that would be formed by the reaction of aluminium potassium sulphate and the alkali solution. Preferably, the mass percentage of aluminium potassium sulphate is between 3% and 15% 25 of the total mixture and the mass percentage of sodium silicate is between 5% and 30% of the total mixture. While these ranges represent the preferred range of proportions for use in this particular method, other proportions may be possible, without departing from the scope of the invention. 30 The mixture is continuously stirred and maintained at a sufficient temperature to facilitate saponification between the fat and the alkali. Once saponification is complete, the soap is poured into moulds and set to form soap bars.

5 Additives including colour, fragrance, vitamins or moisturising agents can be added at various stages during this process. Depending on the amounts and proportional ratio of aluminium potassium sulphate and 5 sodium silicate added to the mixture, different grades of the soap, which are suitable for different applications, can be produced. For example, a high strength, a medium strength and a low strength soap can be provided for different applications and situations. Method 2 - Melt and Pour Soap 10 The following method is used to produce a soap using a melt and pour process. Initially, the chemical interactions that occur when aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate are added to the soap mixture in Method 1 are analysed by either theoretical chemical equation analysis or practical experiment to determine the quantity of by-products is formed in addition to the saponified fat. Appropriate quantities of the by-products are then calculated for addition to a specified quantity of a melt and pour soap base. 20 The melt and pour soap base is heated until thoroughly melted and the appropriate quantities of the by-products are mixed into the molten soap base. Additives including colour, fragrance, vitamins or moisturising agents can also be added. 25 The soap is then cooled in moulds to produce bars of soap. Method 3 - Other Surfactants The following method is used to produce surfactants other than traditional soap, such as liquid hand wash. 30 Initially, the chemical interactions that occur when aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate are added to the soap mixture in Method 1 are analysed by either theoretical chemical equation analysis or practical experiment to determine the quantity of by-products formed in addition to the saponified fat.

6 Appropriate quantities of the by-products are calculated for addition to a specified quantity of the surfactant. 5 The by-products are then added to the surfactant and thoroughly mixed in. Additives including colour, fragrance, vitamins or moisturising agents can also be added. Method 4 - Other formulations of by-products Soaps and other surfactants may also be prepared using different base ingredients that 10 when mixed together form a product containing the same by-products formed from mixing aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate with a soap mixture as described in Method 1 above. These alternate base ingredients may be added during the process of forming a soap or is surfactant product or may be added to an existing soap or surfactant product to result in a product that contains the same by-products formed from mixing a fat, an alkali solution, aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate as described in Method 1 above. Method 5 - Intermediate product as an additive or as a dermatological product 20 The following method is used to produce an intermediate product that can be used either as it is or as an additive in the production of skin products such as creams, soaps and detergents. Initially, a measured quantity of aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium hydroxide (an 25 alkali metal hydroxide) are dissolved in a measured quantity of water to provide a solution. A measured quantity of sodium silicate is then mixed into this solution to form an intermediate product or dermatological additive. This dermatological additive can then be used as is or added to cream bases, soaps or 30 detergents to produce a range of skin products. The quantities of sodium hydroxide, aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate are estimated in such quantities to produce an intermediate product with a pH value suitable for skin applications, preferably around a pH of 6.

7 The quantities of sodium hydroxide and aluminium potassium sulphate are estimated in such quantities to have a complete interaction. A quantity of sodium silicate is estimated to be just sufficient to interact with the sodium hydroxide and aluminium potassium sulphate 5 mixture. Once estimated quantities of sodium hydroxide, aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate are mixed together in water, an extra quantity of aluminium potassium sulphate may be added as required to adjust the pH to a value suitable for skin applications. The quantity of water used in the process is the minimum quantity which is sufficient to fully dissolve the quantity of aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium hydroxide and also have io a suitable consistency in the intermediate product. It is also possible to use quantities of sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate in any proportion together with a sufficient quantity of water and a sufficient amount of aluminium potassium sulphate to achieve an intermediate product with a pH value suitable for skin applications. 15 Preferably, the mass percentages of the ingredients are estimated so as to achieve a product with a pH range suitable for skin applications, such as around a pH of 6. In order to achieve an acceptable pH level in the intermediate product, additional small 20 amounts of any of the ingredients (aluminium potassium sulphate, sodium silicate or sodium hydroxide) may be added as required to the solution. After adjusting the pH value this intermediate product can be used as is or added in suitable quantities to cream bases, soaps or to other detergents to make a range of products for 25 applications to the skin. When adding this intermediate product to soaps it is possible either to add in to "melt and pour" soaps or to add to the mixture when soap is manufactured using hot or cold process in which fats and oils, either separately or in combination with each other, undergo 30 saponification with alkali metal hydroxides. It is also possible to obtain the by-products that are formed during the mixture of aluminium potassium sulphate, sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide as separate chemicals and which 8 can be added to cream bases, soaps or to other detergents to get a similar range of products. It is possible that other forms of chemicals that will form the same by-products as formed 5 during the mixture of aluminium potassium sulphate, sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide could also be used to manufacture this product range. The estimated range of mass percentages of aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate used in this invention are based on the use of sodium hydroxide as the alkali metal 10 hydroxide. The range of mass percentages of sodium silicate referred to in this specification is based on Grade N40. It should be noted that the percentages of sodium silicate have to be adjusted, if alternate grades of sodium silicate are used. 15 It should also be noted that it is possible to replace the aluminium potassium sulphate with aluminium sulphate and potassium sulphate without departing from scope of this invention. It is also possible to replace the aluminium potassium sulphate with aluminium sulphate. 20 Applications Dermatological products made according to the above methods are beneficial for use as skin products without aggravating skin irritations for diseases such as dermatitis, acne, acne scars, psoriasis, split heels, sun spots, skin burns. 25 Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (5)

1. A method of producing soap comprising the steps of: (i) combining at least a fat, an alkali solution, aluminium potassium sulphate and sodium silicate to form a mixture; (ii) using a process of saponification to produce soap from the mixture; wherein the mass percentage of aluminium potassium sulphate added to the mixture is between 3% and 15% of the total mixture and wherein the mass percentage of sodium silicate added to the mixture is between 5% and 30% of the total mixture.

2. A soap product produced by the method of claim 1.

3. A method of producing a dermatological product, the method comprising: (i) dissolving aluminium potassium sulphate in a solution of sodium hydroxide in water; and (ii) mixing sodium silicate into the solution.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of: (iii) adding the mixture produced in step (ii) to a skin product such as a cream, soap or detergent.

5. A dermatological product produced by the method of claims 3 or 4. Sarath Silva By Patent Attorneys for the Applicant ©COTTERS Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys