Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61Q—SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS
  • A61Q19/00—Preparations for care of the skin
  • A61Q19/08—Anti-ageing preparations
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K8/00—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations
  • A61K8/02—Cosmetics or similar toiletry preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K8/0208—Tissues; Wipes; Patches
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M35/00—Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61Q—SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS
  • A61Q19/00—Preparations for care of the skin
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods
  • A61B17/32—Surgical cutting instruments
  • A61B2017/320004—Surgical cutting instruments abrasive

Definitions

• ABSTRACT As a dermatologic treatment, human skin is abraded by rubbing with a soft, resilient, compressible buffing pad comprising a lofty non-woven web of hypoallergic, hydrophobic plastic fibers, the fibers in the web being randomly intermingled and bonded together at randomly spaced points where they cross.
• This invention relates to an improvement in the abrasive treating of human skin for cosmetic and'therapeutic purposes.
• the improvement is the use of buffing pads more selectively abrasive and gentle than abrasive materials heretofore used for this purpose but which buffing pads are sufficiently abrasive to be effective without unduly time-consuming and tiring manual rubbing and which buffing pads are particularly good for skin treatment also because they are very easily maintained in hygienic condition.
• the epidermis of the skin is constantly replacing itself in a process called epidermal turnover.
• New cells are constantly being formed in the basal (lowest) layer of the epidermis. As each new cell is formed it displaces its predecessor, pushing it upwards toward the skin surface.
• the entire epidermis turns over, in normal skin, in the course of 28 days, the time it takes for one cell to be born in the basal layer and to reach the skin sur face where it is spontaneously shed or removed by washing or the abrasive action of clothing. During these 28 days, the cell changes dramatically. In the basal layer it is new, round, moist, succulent and closely conjoined with its neighbors.
• Keratinized cells compose the keratin layer of the skin, the outermost part of the epidermis.
• the keratin layer itself is divided into two important sub-layers: the stratum compactum, the lower, and the stratum disjunctum, the actual skin surface.
• stratum compactum the stratum compactum
• stratum disjunctum the stratum disjunctum
• the stratum compactum the cells are densely compacted and cemented together to form multiple sheets of contiguous flat cells.
• stratum disjunctum By the time'these cells have reached the stratum disjunctum, they have become uncemented, discontiguous and appear loose and flaky under the microscope.
• loose cells on the surface of the skin is frequently referred to as scurf skin.
• abrasive treat ment of the skin is effected by a soft, resilient, compressible buffing pad comprising -a lofty non-woven web of plastic fibers.
• the diameter or major cross sectional dimension (in theevent the fibers are not circular in cross section) of the fibers is preferably no greater than about 0.03 inch and most preferably no greater than about 0.01 inch.
• Thethi'ckness of the web is preferably at least about one-eighth xinch. Due to the random intermingling and bonding of the web has a high void volume. The maximum thickthe fibers and the webs having a substantial thickness,
• the web is spongelike.
• the fibers define, 'in effect, the
• ness of the web is not critical. Economy and ease of handling by the user will generally dictate a thickness no greater than about 4 inches. It is generally convenient to use the web in the form of a pad of about one quarter inch to about 2 inches in thickness and about 2 to about 6 inches across.
• the spongelike character of the web is useful for epidermabrasion.
• the web can be used in the same manner as a conventional sponge or wash cloth with water, soap and water or'a liquid medication for the skin.
• the plastic used in the web is hypo-allergenic and hydrophobic.
• the webs'being hydrophobic means that the fibers themselves do not absorb water but water is absorbed, by capillarity, into the interstices or open cells between the fibers. Hence, the web rinses clean quickly and remains in a sanitary condition merely with such rinsing.
• suitable plastics are nylons, such as nylon-6 or nylon-6,6, polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyolefins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and the like.
• molten streams of the plastic extruded through orifices may be subjected to jets of compressed air or other gas and the resultant fibers may be directed by the gas jets and/or gravity onto a rotating drum or other collecting surface from which the resultant web is withdrawn. Fusion bonds the fibers together at randomly spaced points where they cross.
• the fibers may be adhered together at randomly spaced points by means of a binder rather than by fusion.
• the binder may be filled with a mineral filler.
• the fibers of the mat are bonded together with a binder comprising a soft resin (e.g., Knoop hardness of no more than about 3).
• a soft resin e.g., Knoop hardness of no more than about 3
• the resin in the binder is flexible, tough, resilient and somewhat elastomeric, a particularly preferred resin being a flexible polyurethane.
• the binder also contains, based on the total volume of binder, from about 10 to about 65% of a finely divided mineral filler which has a Knoop hardness of no more than about 150, and preferably considerably lower. Suitable fillers include calcium carbonate, kaolin and talc. Talc has a Knoop hardness of 12 or less and isthe preferred filler.
• the filler preferably constitutes about one-sixteenth to one-half the volume of binder.
• the fibers preferably have a diameter of about 10 to about 50 microns and, most preferably, about 20 to about 40 microns.
• the fibers are crimped.
• One of the unique qualities of the web is its sclcctive. abrasive, exfoliative action. When the web is used on areas which have multiple, individual hyperkcratotic elevations, the web Concentrates its action on the raised areas. Grainy pastes or creams or keratolytic and exfoliative lotions are unselective, affecting the entire area rather than focusing on the specific carnosities requiring treatment.
• a given web offers a wide variety and range of therapeutic treatmentby simply varying the amount of pressure, speed or duration of use. as well as the frequency of use. By appropriate adjustment of the variables, one can use the web safely and effectively for a wide variety of skin conditions and for all parts of the body from face to feet.
• the web may be used as an adjunct to other therapies and vice versa.
• the web enhances the action of topical preparations, by removing scurf skin and allowing better apposition of the topical preparation.
• the web has been found, in clinical trials and by subjective evaluation, to be both safe and effective in the correction or improvement of several cosmetic and dermatologic skin conditions. These are detailed hereinbelow.
• the web After several uses, the web becomes considerably flatter and less fluffy than it was originally. This compaction of'the abrasive fibers is inevitable and in no way alters the effectiveness of the web since the minimal diminution of abrasive quality of the web itself can be compensated for by increasing pressure, speed, duration or frequency of use. With average normal use the web may last from three to six months without requiring replacement.
• the cosmetic appearance of very superficial scarring and wrinkling has been found to be transiently improved with the use of the web.
• the web is transiently effective in the improvement of the appearance of superficial wrinklingand scarring because of its rubifacient action. Modest selective abrasion of the involved areas increases local circulation in the treated area, making the tissues transiently more turgid. It is this very slight local fullness which may make superficial wrinkles and scars appear less obvious.
• Routine use of the web has been found to be effective in helping to reduce the accumulation of keratin at the sebaceous follicle orifices and thus it helps prevent the formation of comedones.
• the web have a preventive anti-comedo action by gently abrading away excessive keratinous cells, but it also, by selective abrasion of raised areas, helps remove some of the keratin at the sites of already formed comedones.
• the prevention or removal of comedones means the prevention of acne lesions.
• the web has been found effective in helping prevent and remove comedones by selective abrasion ofslightly raised areas of the skin constituted bycomedones.
• Keratoses are usually tiny or small localized raised areas, generally hyperpigmented and constituted by an increased deposition of the keratin layer of the epidermis at the site. Some are caused by excessive sun exposure, in pre-disposed individuals, and are then called actinic keratoses. They may be flat or slightly to markedly raised. Routine daily use of the web has been found effective in the treatment of fully developed as well as incipient keratoses because of the webs unique, selective abrasion of raised areas of the skin surface. Abrasive action is focused on the involved small sites and appropriate pressure applied to gradually, over a period of days to weeks, reduce a raised site.
• Keratosis pilaris is a condition which affects the majority of people but which is usually felt to be of only minor and cosmetic significance. It is characterized by hyperkeratinization at the opening of the hair follicle and in the follicular canal. This leads, ultimately, to the entrapment of the hair within the follicle and the development of a small raised papule at the site. The condition is usually limited to the outside surfaces of the upper arms and legs, giving the affected skin the feel similar to that of goosebumps. Many people live out their lives with a few or many of these papules; rarely is medical treatment sought. Treatment until now has been, for the most part, limited to grainy pastes to be rubbed on the area to remove excessive keratinization, or to other exfoliative and keratolytic (keratindissolving) agents for topical application.
• the web offers a major advance in the treatment of keratosis pilaris because of its unique selective abrasion. Whereas grainy pastes and topical exfoliative and keratolytic agents work unselectively on the entire skin surface, the web concentrates its action on the raised areas of the skin surface. Daily use of the web has been found effective in the gradual removal of already formed papules and continued use will help prevent the formation of new ones. Pressure must be moderately firm on the involved areas and the web must be regularly used if beneficial results are to be obtained and then maintained.
• the web used routinely and firmly, has been found to be a dramatically effective home treatment for toughened, thickened, callused skin resulting from intermittent pressure. lts action is further enhanced by pretreatment soaking of the affected areas to macerate (soften) the skin for easier, quicker removal with the web.
• the web is generally to be used in accordance with the following instructions to obtain beneficial results without unnecessary irritation:
• An emollient preparation may be applied to counteract dryness of skin which may develop in some individuals.
• Some initial dryness may occur. If it persists in spite of use of an emollient preparation, then discontinue use of the web until skin normalizes and then restart the use of the web at a lower level of treatment (less frequent, less pressure, etc.) and continue using the emollient preparation after each use.
• Method of treating human skin comprising manually rubbing the skin with a soft, resilient, compressible buffing pad comprising a web of hydrophobic fibers which are exposed at the surface of the pad, the web being of such abrasiveness that it can be used manually to remove the stratum disjunctum of the epidermis without significantly disturbing the stratum compactum of the epidermis, and continuing the manual rubbing until said removal of the stratum disjunctum without significantly disturbing the stratum compactum has been effected and, at this point, terminating the rubbing.
• Method according to claim 1 including the step of rubbing the skin in facial areas affected by dull complexion.
• Method according to claim 1 including the step of rubbing the skin in an area affected by superficial scarring and wrinkling.
• Method according to claim 1 including the step of rubbing the skin in an area affected by acne.
• Method according to claim 1 including the step of rubbing the skin in an area affected by keratoses.
• Method according to claim 1 including the step of rubbing the skin in an area affected by keratosis pilaris.
• Method according to claim 1 including the step of rubbing the skin in an area affected by hyperkeratosis.
• the fibers have a diameter of about 10 to about 50 microns and are bonded at randomly spaced points by a binder comprising a soft resin having a Knoop hardness of no more than about 3 and, based on the total volume of binder, about 10% to about 65% of a finely divided mineral filler having a Knoop hardness of no more than about 150.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Dermatology (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Anesthesiology (AREA)
• Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine (AREA)
• Birds (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Cosmetics (AREA)
• Massaging Devices (AREA)
• Surgical Instruments (AREA)
• Medicinal Preparation (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=23267157

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (33)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (3)

• 1972
  • 1972-01-22 US US325267*A patent/US3910284A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1974
  • 1974-01-16 GB GB213274A patent/GB1420893A/en not_active Expired
  • 1974-01-19 DE DE2402887A patent/DE2402887C3/de not_active Expired
  • 1974-01-21 FR FR7401929A patent/FR2214464B1/fr not_active Expired
  • 1974-01-22 JP JP49009022A patent/JPS5230790B2/ja not_active Expired
  • 1974-01-22 CH CH84274A patent/CH568037A5/xx not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents