GB2584599A

GB2584599A - Alcohol gels for the treatment of athletes foot

Info

Publication number: GB2584599A
Application number: GB1904752.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alun Wynne Morgan James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-04-04
Filing date: 2019-04-04
Publication date: 2020-12-16
Also published as: GB201904752D0

Abstract

An alcohol based gel comprises denatured alcohol together with alcohol, aqua, glycerin, carbomer, aminomethyl propanol, benzophenone 1, parfum, citronellol, coumarin, limonene, alpha-isomethyl ionone, geraniol, hexyl cinnamal, butyl methylpropional and linalool. The gel is used to treat fungal infections such as athlete’s foot, including those caused by dermatophytes. It may also treat bacterial infections.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE:

ALCOHOL GELS FOR THE TREATMENT OF ATHLETES FOOT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to gels, particularly alcohol containing gels, for the treatment of athlete-s foot. The invention further relates to materials and methods for maintaining ethanol or similar solvents in the treatment area to enable disinfection and to maintain a suitable environment for moisture control as part of the treatment process.

PRIOR ART

It is known that alcohol gel based products are widely used for the disinfection of hands in order to undertake processes where the hands need to be cleaned such as personnel administering first aid, those involved in clean room/theatre activities, handling foods or entering/leaving areas where infections need to be controlled such as hospital wards, children play activity areas or public farm areas to name but a few examples. Alcohol is widely known as a microbial disinfectant used to clean instruments materials and hard surfaces, it has also been used to clean or treat the skin at injection sites and disinfection of wounds. In this regard alcohol usually in the range of 60 to 95% is known to be a microbial disinfectant. However, when included in a gel formulation the material is designed to maintain the alcohol in contact with the treatment area for longer, help control moisture conditions and can contain materials that aid disinfection and treatment of the skin.

Many anti fungal creams ointments and sprays are available for the treatment of athletes foot. Alcohol can be present in sorre antifungal sprays used for the treatment of this condition, this can help preserve the product on the shelf, aid sol ubi I i ty of the compound, and help administer the product to the surface. Once applied the alcohol will evaporate quickly limiting and effect it may have.

The combination of alcohol in a gel based formulation to both disinfect and control skin moisture during the treatment of athletes foot is considered novel.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present inventor has identified that gel/ethanol preparations can be effectively used to treat athletes foot, quickly and simply.

Condition Athletes foot is a term often used to describe a fungal infection of the human foot (T inea pedis) usually in the areas between the toes where the skin becomes inflamed, reddened and can peal, crack and form sores. It commonly occurs in people whose feet have become very sweaty or wet while confined within tight fitting shoes. While it is commonly a condition often described resulting from a fungal infection, there is an element of confusion surrounding this as on many occasions bacteria can be considered the primary agent causing this condition, or a bacterial component becomes involved alongside the fungal infection. This confusion is due to the symptoms being displayed (red, inflamed itchy skin) being identical regardless of aetiology. In all of these wet, damp or sweaty feet promote the conditions that result in the microbial imbalance leading to the symptoms. Inregard to this patent the term:athletes foot-relates to the symptoms displayed and either a fungal infection or bacterial inbalance in this area of the foot.

Historical Treatment and Problems While many creams and sprays are available for the treatment of athletes foot their application can also hinder recovery as the creams can hold too much moisture or moisten the treatment area which provides conditions that promote the fungal i nfecti on or bacterial imbalance leading to prolonged treatment times or an unsuccessful outcome and continuation of symptoms.

GEL

The use of an alcohol gel provides a novel way of treating this condition. The alcohol acts as a disinfectant helping to eliminate both bacterial and fungal microorganisms in the area, rebalancing the microbial load in the treatrrent area. The gel maintains the alcohol in the treatment area for a longer period, its action is therefore enhanced. The presence of the gel also provides a cooling, calming effect that makes the treatment more tolerable and effective than it would otherwise be. Isopropyl alcohol, ethanol or n-propanol in the range of 60 to 95% can be considered appropriate for use in the mixture, although other alcohols may be used provided they are tolerated by the human skin. Lower or higher alcohol concentrations could be included but at these levels they would be less effective. Glycerol is included to prevent drying at the skin although other materials may be included to fulfil this purpose. Quaternary ammonium cations such as benzakoni um chloride upto 200 parts per million along with other ingredients with further antimicrobial activities, tissue growth promoting or repair activities, or skin calming effects and often added to disinfectant gels to improve efficacy, stability and application. In addition col ourants and perfumes may be added to improve the perceived appearance and smell of the product or treatment area but are not significant in term of the action of the product Gels also contain water.

EXAMPLE 1

A person with recurrent athletes foot who's foot had previously been treated with two types of creams, a foot spray and an iodine wound spray over a 3 month period was again showing the initial signs of this condition: redness between the toes, skin peeling away in small areas, an itching sensation and slight burning pain in the region. Both feet were showing the same symptoms slightly more severe between the fifth (little) and fourth (ring) toe than the fourth and third (middle) toe. The areas between the first and third toes showed no symptom of athletes foot The skin on the upper area above the join of the fifth and fourth toe was inflamed and red.

An alcohol based gel containing: A I cohol Denat. ( 70 g Ethanol per 100g), Aqua, Glycerin, Carborner, A rind nornetiryl Propanol, 6 enzopherione-1, Parium C itronel I ol, C ournari L i rnonene, At phe-Isornethyl ionene, Geraniol, H exyt C nnarnaL BuLylpheny I Methyl propional, L nal ool, C I 42051, was applied to the area so that the gel was covering the treatment region between the fifth and fourth toes, fourth and third toes and the foot area (ca. 1cm2) above where these toes join. After the gel had dried a re-application was undertaken so that the area was treated for longer. This was left to thy and fresh socks were used to cover both feet. Re-treanent of both feet was undertaken after 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours. After this treatment was continued daily for 3 days but with only one application of gel during each treatment.

Within 24 hours of application of the gel a significant improvement in the treatment area was noticed, itching was reduced, the burning pain/sensation had disappeared and the skin on top of the foot above the join of the fifth to fourth toes was returning to its normal colour. This improvement continued over the next few days and all symptoms were eliminated after 5 days. Following this a maintenance treatment was applied where the gel was placed between the previously affected toes every 3 to 4 days with the aim of preventing a reoccurrence of the symptoms. No reoccurrence of symptoms was noticed within 2 weeks of initial treatment.

The treatment was considered simple and effective, and in comparison to earlier treatments relief from pain/itching was faster and the treatment area returned to a healthy state quicker. While an increase in localised pai n was noticed during initial application of gel in some treatment areas (where the skin was more damaged at the start), the pain was short lived and the overall reduction in long term pain and discomfort in the area meant that this initial pain was considered a minor side effect

SCOPE

Gels are described for the treatment of athlets foot. It is considered that the type of gel used may be varied (different chemical composition), its principle in holding the active alcohol ingredient in place and soothing the area is used to illustrate that such variations would be encompassed within this current patent; as such changes would not alter its intended action. In addition the alcohol levels present in the gel may be increased or decreased but while it remains within the levels required for antimicrobial activity, it would therefore be encompassed within the scope of this patent. F urthermore the type of alcohol used could be varied without affecting activity as many alcohols are known to be antimicrobial. Such changes in the type of alcohol used would also fall within the scope of this patent Athletes foot caused by a fungal infection or bacterial infection/imbalance resulting in the typical symptoms of this condition are included within the scope of this patent.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A gel to be applied to the foot that contains an alcohol disinfectant for the treatment of athletes foot.
2. A gel according to claim one where the alcohol is denatured ethanol in the range of 60 to 95%.
3. A gel according to claim one where the alcohol is 70g denatured ethanol per 100g of final product.
4. A gel according to claim one where the alcohol is isopropyl alcohol, ethanol or npropanol in the range of 60 to 95%.
5. A gel according to claims one through to four where the gel contains A I cohol Denat. (60 to 95 g Ethanol per 100g), Aqua, G ycerin, Carborner, A mi o melt-1y 1 Propanol, and Benzophenone-1.
6. A gel according to claims one through to four where the gel contains Alcohol Denat. (60 to 95 g E thano per 100g), Aqua, Gycern, Carborner, A ma nornetyl Proparol, Benzophenone-1, Pariumy CtroneIoL C oumann. L imonene, A pha-isomethyi ionone, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnarnal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Lir:310d, CI 42051
7. A gel according to claims one to six to be applied to the foot that contains an alcohol disinfectant for the treatment of athletes foot caused by a fungal infection.
8. A gel according to claims one to six to be applied to the foot that contains an alcohol disinfectant for the treatment of athletes foot caused by a fungal infection by dermatophytes.
9. A gel according to claims one to six to be applied to the foot that contains an alcohol disinfectant for the treatment of athletes foot caused by a fungal infection by Trichophyton rubrurn. T. mentagrophytes and E pi dermophyton floccosurn.
10. A gel according to claims one to six to be applied to the foot that contains an alcohol disinfectant for the treatment of symptoms of athletes foot (red, itchy skin between the toes, possibly skin in the area cracked, blistered or painful) with the underlying cause unidentified, caused by a combined fungal and bacterial infection, or solely caused by a bacterial infection.