WO1995003030A1

WO1995003030A1 - Process for controlling oil and perspiration

Info

Publication number: WO1995003030A1
Application number: PCT/US1994/007812
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacqueline A. Sabal
Original assignee: Sabal Jacqueline A
Priority date: 1993-07-19
Filing date: 1994-07-19
Publication date: 1995-02-02
Also published as: AU7330194A

Abstract

A process for balancing the production of oil from the sudoriferous glands and perspiration from the sebaceous glands is provided. The process includes the steps of cleaning the scalp with a mild shampoo and then massaging the scalp. This balances the glandular secretions and manifestations of dandruff, psoriasis, over-perspiration, excess oil, dry hair, dry scalp, and unpleasant odors are minimized or eliminated.

Description

PROCESS FOR CONTROLLING OIL AND PERSPIRATION Related Applications

This is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/092,868, filed July 19, 1993.

Field of the Invention

This relates generally to a process for controlling oil and perspiration production and in particular, to a process for controlling oil and perspiration production by glands in the scalp. Background of the Invention

A person's scalp ordinarily produces oil and perspiration at a rate that is determined by that person's glandular responses. When the amount of oil and perspiration produced is balanced, a healthy scalp is observed.

However, the responses of the sudoriferous and sebaceous glands in the scalp are affected by many factors, which can lead to over or under productivity of oil and perspiration. This can be observed as dandruff, psoriasis, excess oil, dry hair, dry scalp, unpleasant odors and weak hair shafts.

U.S. Patent No. 1,700,035, issued to Ellis on January 22, 1929 relates to a method of degreaεing and cleansing the scalp. The method involves the steps of treating the scalp with a volatile vehicle containing concentrated isopropanol with some tertiary butanol by applying the vehicle to the scalp, and removing the vehicle with an absorbent medium such as a cloth. This is a rinsing technique that affects only the surface of the scalp.

U.S. Patent No. 3,088,469, issued to Berryhill et al. on May 7, 1963 relates to a hair retaining and conditioning device including a fibrous sheet of non- woven fabric large enough to enclose a hairdo. The fibers are coated by electrically charged, fine particles of anhydrous lanolin. The sheet is wrapped around the head of a user and clings to the hair and to itself so that no ties are necessary.

U.S. Patent No. 4,296,763, issued to Priest et al. on October 27, 1981 relates to a hair conditioner and a process for applying hot oil using a foam cap that has been preimpregnated with a hair revitalizing oil composition. The cap is placed in contact with a scalp and an oil impervious film is placed over the exterior. Then heat is applied to melt the composition, release the composition from the cap, and allow the composition to permeate the hair.

U.S. Patent No. 4,658,839, issued to Dallal et al. on April 27, 1987 discloses a flexible carrier formed of a fibrous material with a hair treatment composition retained in the material. The composition includes at least one cationic hair conditioning agent and a water soluble or emulsifiable silicone-based compound at a specified concentration.

U.S. Patent No. 4,758,376, issued to Hirota et al. on July 19, 1988 discloses detergent compositions for cleaning the scalp. The compositions have excellent foam characteristics as well as low-temperature stability, detergency, and mildness and can be effectively employed in shampoos and cleaning agents for infants.

Nothing in the prior art shows a process for controlling the oil produced by the sudoriferous glands and/or the perspiration produced by the sebaceous glands in the scalp.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a process for balancing the production of oil and perspiration.

It is another object of the invention to minimize dandruff.

It is a further object of the invention to minimize psoriasis.

It is still another object of the invention to prevent over perspiration. It is still a further object of the invention to prevent excess oil production.

It is yet another object of the invention to prevent dry hair.

It is yet a further object of the invention to prevent dry scalp.

It is still another object of the invention to prevent unpleasant odor from emanating from the scalp.

It is still a further object of the invention to prevent oily hair.

It is an even further object of the invention to keep hair follicles clean so that emerging hairs can reach the scalp surface.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

Summary of the Invention

In general, a process for balancing the production of oil from the sudoriferous glands and perspiration from the sebaceous glands is provided. The process includes the steps of cleaning the scalp with a mild shampoo and then massaging the scalp. This balances the glandular secretions and manifestations of dandruff, psoriasis, over-perspiration, excess oil, dry hair, dry scalp, and unpleasant odors are minimized or eliminated.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others thereof, which will be exemplified in the process hereinafter disclosed, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The process for balancing the production of oil and perspiration in the scalp provided in accordance with the invention includes the steps of cleaning the scalp with a mild shampoo and massaging the scalp. The cleaning step is carried out without massaging the scalp. This is done to remove toxins and debris from the hair and surface of the scalp.

The shampoo used for the cleaning step should be extremely mild. Suitable mild shampoos include, but are not limited to, pure soap base shampoo, castile shampoo, and baby shampoo. In a preferred embodiment, baby shampoo is used and in an even more preferred embodiment, dilute baby shampoo is used.

The shampoo may also contain other additives such as herbs and/or enzymes. It is essential that the shampoo be extremely mild so that the beneficial effects of the balancing process are not counteracted by a shampoo that contributes to clogged pores and hair follicles.

To accomplish the cleaning step, a small amount of shampoo is placed into the palm of a hand and smoothed onto the hair and scalp. No massaging action is used.

The shampoo is allowed to remain on the scalp for a period of time between about three and five minutes after being applied, preferably about five minutes. The entire process is less effective if the cleaning agent or shampoo is not permitted to remain on the scalp for at least five minutes.

At the end of five minutes, additional shampoo can be applied and permitted to remain on the scalp for another five minutes. This shampoo application or cleaning step can be repeated up to about four times to increase its effectiveness. The shampoo or cleaning agent is rinsed off only after the final application. Accordingly, if the shampoo application is only performed once, the shampoo is rinsed off at the end of five minutes; if the shampoo application is repeated four times, the shampoo is rinsed off only at the end of twenty minutes. The scalp is thoroughly towel dried after the cleaning step. This prepares the scalp for the next part of the process.

It is recommended that a barrier strip or headband be placed around the head prior to beginning the massaging step. The barrier strip or headband should be positioned below the hairline, but above the eyes, nose, and ears. This will prevent any lubricant that is applied to the scalp area during the massaging step from flowing into the eyes, nose, and ears. The barrier strip or headband is preferable made of an absorbent cotton material.

To begin the massaging step, a scalp lubricant is applied to the scalp. Suitable scalp lubricants include, but are not limited to, water, alcohol, witch hazel, and mixtures thereof.

A manually operated vibrator or soft bristle brush is used to massage the scalp lubricant into the scalp using a backward and forward motion. Use of a circular motion is to be avoided as it may cause tangles in the hair. Since the blood capillaries of the scalp have already been partially dilated by the cleansing step, the effect of the lubricant on the scalp is optimized. The manually operated vibrator should have a surface contact with a smooth rubber-like consistency and no projections. It should be soft and non-abrasive. The alternative brush should have soft bristles.

The massage must be gentle in order to aid in the application of the lubricant and to stimulate the blood capillaries. Vigorous massage has been found to be ineffective for these purposes and may cause irritation.

The massage is preferably carried out in six stages. First, the hair is parted down the middle and each side is sectioned into three sections. Specifically, the sections include the front third of the scalp, the middle third of the scalp, and the rear third of the scalp on each side of the part.

Lubricant is applied to a first section and that section is massaged with a manually operated vibrator or a soft bristle brush using a back and forth motion for between about 30 seconds and 2 minutes, preferably about 2 minutes. Additional lubricant is added throughout the massage to avoid any abrasion between the vibrator or brush and the scalp.

Optimal lubrication will result in the vibrator or brush gliding smoothly and unihibitedly along the scalp. Excess lubrication should be absorbed by the barrier or headband. Insufficient lubrication may result in irritation of the scalp. This process is repeated for each of the six sections into which the scalp had previously been divided. Accordingly, a complete massage will take between about 3 and 12 minutes.

The hair and scalp are dried using a commercially available blow dryer or other known drying technique without removal of the lubricant. This permits the lubricant to remain in the hair and on the scalp to the maximum extent possible.

The contraction and expansion of the muscles and nerves in the scalp during the twelve minutes of lubricated massage stimulates the nerves and muscles attached to the glands. This results in balanced glandular production of natural hair oil from the sebaceous glands and perspiration from the sudoriferous glands. Accordingly, manifestations of dandruff, psoriasis, over-perspiration, excess oil, dry hair, dry scalp, and unpleasant odor are minimized on the scalp and emerging hairs.

This process should be used as needed, and is preferably performed in the evening for optimum results.

Treatment can be carried out at least about three times per week and may be carried out on a daily basis. The process can take up to one year to achieve optimum results for particularly persistent or difficult to treat conditions.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above process without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A process for balancing oil and perspiration production in a scalp comprising: cleansing the scalp with a mild shampoo; and, massaging the scalp in the presence of a suitable scalp lubricant.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the shampoo is selected from the group consisting of pure soap base shampoo, castile shampoo, baby shampoo, and mixtures thereof.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the shampoo is dilute baby shampoo.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the shampoo is applied to the scalp without any massaging action.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the cleansing step is repeated up to about four times.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the shampoo remains on the scalp for a period of between about three and five minutes per application.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the process further comprises the step of towel drying the hair after the cleansing step.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the process further comprises the step of positioning a headband between the hairline and the eyes, nose, and ears prior to the massaging step.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the headband is absorbent cotton.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the scalp lubricant is selected from the group consisting of water, alcohol, witch hazel, and mixtures thereof.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein the massage is carried out using manually operated vibrator.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein the massage is carried out using a soft bristle brush.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein the massage is carried out using a backward and forward motion.

14. The process of claim 1 wherein the massage is carried out for a period of between about 3 and 12 minutes.

15. The process of claim 1 wherein the process further comprises dividing the scalp into at least six sections prior to beginning the massage and wherein each section of the scalp is massaged for a period of about 2 minutes.

16. The process of claim 1 wherein the process further comprises drying the scalp after the massage without removing the lubricant.