GB2245830A

GB2245830A - Medicament and cosmetics for treating skin and hair conditions

Info

Publication number: GB2245830A
Application number: GB9112619A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ghomi Mina Safai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-06-12
Filing date: 1991-06-12
Publication date: 1992-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-12
Also published as: GB9112590D0; GB2245830B; GB9112619D0

Abstract

Gum tragacanth is effective in reducing inflammation caused by psoriasis and eczema. Topical application of a gel containing 5% gum is effective. Decoctions of cedrus (dried Cedrus spp leaves) are also effective.

Description

MEDICAMENTS AND COSMETICS FOR TREATING SKIN AND HAIR CONDITIONS This invention relates to medicaments and cosmetics for treating skin conditions including but not exclusively dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. The invention also has utility in cosmetic hair treatment by reversing greying.

Psoriasis and eczema cause much distress. Those afflicted suffer from discomfort and pain occasioned by the disease. The degree of discomfort is perhaps not full appreciated by those having the misfortune to suffer. Psoriasis is characterised by unsightly circumscribed red skin patches covered with white scale.

Eczema is characterised by, sometimes intense, itching, redness and oozing vesicular lesions. Those affected suffer not only from as it were the medical effects of the complaint but also the physical effects. Sufferers can be very upset by their physical appearance in that damage is done to the self-image and also the sufferer feels that he or she is being stared at by others.

Eczema while having an indeterminate number of causes is known in may cases to be aggravated by stress. It is possible that a vicious circle can ensue. A person may suffer from a small conspicuous patch of eczema. The stress occasioned by loss of self-image and real or imagined looked from by-passers leads to further spreading and so on.

Greying of hair so far as is known causes no damage to the body. The damage to the ego can be notoriously severe.

The invention seeks to alleviate the symptoms of these complaints in at least some cases. It must however be appreciated that neither psoriasis, dermatitis nor eczema may properly be considered to be single disease.

A more accurate analysis is that the complaints are constellations of similar symptoms invoked by a variety of causes. Accordingly alleviation can not be expected in all cases. Nevertheless the invention has more than a placebo effect.

According to the invention there is provided the use of gum tragacanth in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema or dandruff.

According to the invention there is provided a method of improving the appearance of a mammal afflicted by psoriasis, eczema or dandruff by topical application of gum tragacanth.

According to the invention there is provided Cedrus spp leaves as a medicament.

According to the invention is provided the use of Cedrus spp leaves in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of psoriasis, eczema or dandruff.

According to the invention there is provided a method of improving the appearance of a mammal afflicted by psoriasis, eczema, dandruff or by topical application of Cedrus spp leaves.

Gum tragacanth is well known and is a glassy exudate from Astraalus spp especially Astraalus pummifer.

Typical uses are as an excipient as a thickening agent and as a suspending agent.

It has been unexpectedly found that topical application of Gum Tragcanth is in may cases efficacious in relieving the complaints hereinbefore described.

Typically application regimes include using a gel based on the gum as a shampoo which is used in the usual way. If desired detergent may be added. For the treatment of skin conditions the gel may be applied alone allowed to stand on the skin for a short time, 5 minutes to 1 hours preferably 10 minutes to 30 minutes and then washed off. Alternatively it may be applied together with some form of base material.

The following compositions are non-limiting examples GEL Ingredient Amount/g Gum tragacanth 4 (powdered) Deionized Water 200 The water is warmed to 450C. The gum is added with stirring and the mixture allowed to stand and cool. The gum dissolves to give an almost colourless solution which becomes more viscous on standing. After 8 hours a gel is applied to the afflicted area and washed off after some time. An immediate cooling sensation is noted and after daily or thrice weekly application considerable alleviation of symptoms is noted.

If it is desired to keep the gel for extended periods preservative such as alkyl especially methy hydroxybenzoate should be added.

The gum tragacanth can be incorporated in other composition such as for example a soap-based shampoo.

Soap-based Shampoo Ingredient Amount/g Potassium coconut oil soap 25 Potassium olive oil soap 5 95% Ethanol 12 Glycerol 1 Gum Tragacanth 4 Methyl hydroxybenzoate 0.2 Potassium citrate 1 Deionized Water 50 The gum tragacanth is dispersed in half the water which is warmed and contains the sodium citrate. The remaining ingredients are dissolved in the rest of the water. The two solutions are stirred together to give a viscous liquid shampoo suitable for hair and or body.

The citrate serves to reduce the viscosity of the gum.

The hydroxybenzoate is a preservative.

Colour and fragrance may be added if desired.

Preferably they are not used as they can irritate sensitive skin.

Soapless Shampoo Ingredient Amount/g Triethanolamine dodecyl 38 sulphate Laurylethanolamide 12 Sodium citrate 0.5 Methyl hydroxybenzoate 0.2 Propyl hydroxybenzoate 0.05 Gum Tragacanth 5 Water 45 The water is warmed and the ingredients dispersed into it with stirring.

GEL Amount /g Ingredient 95% Ethanol 10 Gum tragacanth 5 Glycerol 2 Water 9.5 The gum, ethanol and water (70g) are stirred vigorously. The glycerol is added with stirring. Water is added to make up to 100 ml. The composition forms a gel which can be applied to the skin. It dries to give a film and should be washed off after about 20 minutes.

Other active ingredients may be added if desired but this is not essential. There are no clearly defined limits to the amount of gum of use in the invention.

Compositions containing more than about 15wt% are generally too viscous whereas those containing less than about 0.5wt% contain too little active to be rapidly effective. Preferred ranges are of the order of 1 to 10 wt% more preferably 2 to 8 wt% especially 3 to 6 wt%.

Both gum tragacanth and cedrus compositions are also effective in reducing skin inflammation, non specific erythrema and itching. It may be desirable to apply them for example to sun-burn as cooling compositions. Both compositions are usuable as skin cleansers for sensitive skin and are effective as excortication agents.

Cedrus spp leaves have also been found to have utility in alleviating the aforementioned conditions.

Cedrus leaves are collected from a range of species especially Cedrus libani primarily from the Middle East including Iraq and Iran. The leaves are dried at low temperature and crushed to give a fine, pale green powder. Because Cedrus spp are not deciduous and leaves are always in a range of states of development the time of harvesting is not of crucial importance. A decoction of the powder prepared with hot water is pale coloured.

When applied o the skin it has been found to reduce inflammation especially when caused by psoriasis or eczema. Application may be required daily or thrice weekly for some time before a significant improvement is noted.

The following compositions are non-limiting examples Ingredient Amount/ml Powdered dried cedrus 5 Deionized Water 200 Warm water at 450C is poured over the powder and stirred. The liquor rapidly acquires some colour but is allowed to cool by standing. The liquor is decanted from the powder. Afflicted skin areas are bathed with the liquor. After allowing contact for about five minutes the skin is patted dry.

The cedrus may be incorporated into a conventional shampoo or cream base for application. Ethanolic or other organic extraction of the leaves results after removal of the solvent in an oil which is efficacious. The oil or powder or decoction may be incorporated in any base for topical treatment. Examples include the shampoo bases hereinbefore described with or without the gum, preservative and citrate. Application to the hair can reduce or reverse age-related greying of the hair.

Suitable strengths of decoction can be found by routine experiment. It is unlikely that any significant extra benefit can be obtained by using more than 20% cedrus (based on dry powder to final composition by volume). Similarly less than 0.58 is unlikely to have significantly greater than placebo effect. Preferred amounts are in the range of 1 to 15%, more preferably 2 to 10%, especially 3 to 6%.

The cedrus leaves may be presented in other forms.

Claims

1. A cosmetic method of improving the appearance of a mammal afflicted with psoriasis, eczema, dandruff or age related grey hair by topical application of a composition comprising an extract of dried leaves of Cedrus spp.

2. A cosmetic method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the Cedrus spp is Cedrus libani

3. A cosmetic method of improving the appearance of a mammal by topical application of an extract of Cedrus spp leaves substantially as described herein.

4. The dried leaves of Cedrus spp especially as a Cedrus libani medicament.

5. The use of dried leaves of Cedrus spp especially Cedrus libani in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of psoriasis, eczema or dermatitis.

6. A cosmetic method of improving the appearance of a mammal afflicted with psoriasis, eczema or dandruff by topical application of a composition comprising gum tragacanth to afflicted areas.

7. A cosmetic method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the composition is an aqueous gel of gum tragacanth.

8. A cosmetic method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the composition further comprises detergent, preservative or viscosity reducing agent.

9. A cosmetic method of improving the appearance of a mammal by topical application of gum tragacanth substantially as described herein.

10 Gum tragacanth as a medicament.

11. The use of gum tragacanth in the manufacture of a medicament of the treatment of psoriasis and eczema.