WO2002102348A1

WO2002102348A1 - Anti-stretch mark product and corresponding method

Info

Publication number: WO2002102348A1
Application number: PCT/IT2002/000288
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurizio Sirchi
Original assignee: Priscilla S.R.L. Unipersonale
Priority date: 2002-05-02
Filing date: 2002-05-02
Publication date: 2002-12-27
Also published as: ITRM20030086A0; ITRM20030086A1

Abstract

An anti-stretch mark product (1), comprising a preparation (6) to treat the skin stretch mark in a stick format and a dispenser (2) receiving said preparation and comprising dispensing means (7) which may be driven by a user to allow the discharge of the preparation for a wished extension.

Description

ANTI-STRETCH MARK PRODUCT AND CORRESPONDING METHOD

DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to an anti- stretch mark product for local use. As it is known, skin stretch marks, more properly called striae atrophicae, form from a laceration of collagen and elastic fibres of skin and are substantially similar to scars.

At first, stretch marks show themselves in form of elongated bands with substantially rectilinear development separated by parts of sound skin. The specific appearance, and the colour in particular, of stretch marks depends upon the evolutional stage thereof. In particular, in the initial stage, commonly called active phase, the stretch mark is rather short, thin and usually slightly turned red, the colour varying anyway from rose to violet or bluish red. Then, in the so-called cicatricial phase, stretch marks become longer and nearer and they stabilize as whitish or pearly traces. Stretch marks may appear almost in any part of the body, except for hands, face, feet and scrotum.

Statistically, women are affected twice than men.

Even if the most affected periods are puberty and pregnancy, stretch marks may appear at any age.

Causes may be hereditary, alimentary, hormonal and even linked to the particular played sport. Furthermore, there are some behaviours which may promote the formation of stretch marks, such as for example wearing very tight clothes, trousers in particular, utilizing corticosteroid-based creams, taking cortisone-or hormon-based drags such as anabolic substances and the contraceptive pill. Often, stretch marks appear without being noted and escape observation, by developing very slowly during time.

At present, anti- stretch mark creams in tube are very widespread, which are manually smeared at the area involved by the stretch mark itself. Nevertheless, just due to such application manual mode, the application itself results necessarily inaccurate. Consequently, the stretch mark may result to be sprinkled with the cream in an unappropriate way and then the treatment may not produce the wished efficacy. Such inconvenience is especially linked to the peculiar structure of the stretch mark itself, which, as already mentioned above, shows itself substantially like a thin and elonged laceration of the skin typically lowered with respect to the level of the surrounding sound skin and then difficult to be located and accurately covered up. The inconvenience is then further stressed by the fact that the stretch marks are generally localized in body areas, such as thighs or glutei, not easy to be reached and treated. Furthermore, still due to said application inaccuracy, a superabundant amount of cream is usually used, since it is necessarily smeared also in a rather broad area surrounding the actual stretch mark and usually with a too thick layer. Moreover, the above-mentioned products of known technique necessarily require that the user dirties her/his hands with the anti- stretch mark cream, by risking then that, in turn, he/she dirties his/her own clothes, the cream tube and other. The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide an anti- stretch mark product enabling to obviate to the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the known art. Such anti- stretch mark product comprises:

- a preparation apt to the reducing treatment of skin stretch marks, having a substantially solid stick format;

- a dispenser, having a main body within which a longitudinal compartment is obtained, which compartment receives said preparation and terminates, at one end of the dispenser, with a dispensing port, wherein said dispenser further comprises dispensing means, operable by a user to enable the discharge of said preparation from said compartment for a desiderate extension.

According to the same inventive concept, the invention also provides an anti- stretch mark product, comprising:

- a preparation substantially in form of emulsion apt to the reducing treatment of skin stretch marks;

- a dispenser, having a main body within which a longitudinal compartment is obtained, which compartment receives said preparation and terminates, at one end of the dispenser, with a dispensing port, wherein said dispenser further comprises dispensing means, apt to draw the preparation received inside said compartment and to slide on the stretch mark to apply a layer of said preparation thereon.

It will be appreciated that the inventive concept underlying the present invention lies in that it provides a product enabling the application of a thin layer of the anti- stretch mark preparation under the form of a strip reproducing exactly the shape of the stretch mark itself.

The invention then also provides an application method of a preparation apt to the reducing treatment of the skin stretch marks, comprising a step of depositing on a stretch mark a layer of said preparation in form of a strip which exactly reproduces the shape of the stretch mark itself, wherein said preparation has a substantially solid stick format and wherein said step provides the use of a dispenser having a main body inside which a longitudinal compartment is obtained, which compartment receives said preparation and terminates, at one end of the dispenser, with a dispensing port, said dispenser further comprising dispensing means, operable by a user to allow the discharge of said preparation from said compartment for a desiderate extension.

The invention also provides an application method of a preparation apt to the reducing treatment of the skin stretch marks, comprising a step of depositing on a stretch mark a layer of said preparation in form of a strip which exactly reproduces the shape of the stretch mark itself, wherein said preparation is substantially under the form of emulsion and wherein said step provides the use of a dispenser having a main body inside which a longitudinal compartment is obtained, which compartment receives said preparation and terminates, at one end of the dispenser, with a dispensing port, wherein said dispenser further comprises dispensing means, apt to draw the preparation received inside said compartment and to slide on the stretch mark to apply a layer of said preparation thereon.

At last, the invention provides a method for the topical cosmetic treatment of a skin stretch mark, comprising a step of applying an anti- stretch mark preparation on said stretch mark according to the above-described method. The present invention provides some important advantages. First of all, it enables to act with extreme precision on that thin skin laceration which is represented by the stretch mark, by allowing to perform a more localized and targeted treatment than another anti- stretch mark product under the form of cream dispensed in tube. In particular, thanks to the provision of the specific dispensing means above introduced, the anti- stretch mark preparation may be applied with extreme accuracy and where it is required only, that is on the stretch mark only and with a layer of wished thickness. This goes to the advantage of the treatment efficacy and at the same time it allows avoiding preparation waste. Furthermore, the application is more comfortable than traditional creams, also because it is not necessary that the user dirties his/her hands and it allows a rapid and targeted application like no other treatment for topical use against stretch marks is able to do.

Other advantages, features and application modes of the present invention will be evident from the following detailed description of some embodiments, illustrated by way of example and not for limitative purposes. The figures of the enclosed drawings will be referred to, wherein: figure 1 shows a partially sectional perspective view of a first embodiment of the anti- stretch mark product according to the present invention; figure 2 shows a perspective view of the product of figure 1 in a dispensing configuration; figure 3 shows a perspective view of the product of figure 1 during the application on a skin stretch mark; figure 4 shows a partially sectional perspective view of another embodiment of the anti- stretch mark product according to the present invention; figure 5 shows a partially sectional perspective view of an additional embodiment of the anti- stretch mark product according to the present invention; figure 6 shows a perspective view of the product of figure 5 in a dispensing configuration; and figure 7 shows a perspective view of a still additional embodiment of the anti- stretch mark product according to the present invention.

By firstly referring to the figures 1 and 2, an anti- stretch mark product according to the invention is designated with 1 as a whole.

The product 1 comprises a dispenser designated with 2 as a whole, which in turn comprises a main body 3 wherein a housing compartment 4 is obtained which compartment terminates, at an end of the main body, with a dispensing port 5.

Inside such housing compartment 4 an anti- stretch mark preparation 6 is received, which in the present embodiment is under the so-called "stick" format and of substantially cylindrical shape, hi the present context under the "stick" term it is meant that the preparation 6 is in a substantially solid aggregation status, having a half-rigid consistency which makes it apt to let it slide on the skin by releasing, at each passage, a thin layer of the preparation itself thereon. According to the invention, the dispenser 2 then comprises dispensing means of the preparation 6, designated with 7 as a whole and which is operable by a user to allow the dischage of the preparation in stick 6 from the compartment 4 for a wished extension.

At last, the product 1 comprises closure means 8 of the dispenser 2, and in particular a cap, designated with 8 too, apt to removably fix itself on the main body 3 of the dispenser 2 to protect the preparation 6 against the contact with the outside.

The components so far introduced will be now described in greater detail.

As shown by figure 1, the dispenser 2 has a structure similar to the one of the containers usually used to dispense a lipstick or the like. In particular, the main body 3 has a cylindrical shape as a whole and it is made of two parts rotatably connected the one to the other, and specifically of a first body 9 and a second body 10, substantially cylindrical too. The first body 9 is longitudinally hollow so as to define the above-mentioned housing compartment 4 for the preparation 6. This also has an open end at one of the cylinder's bases which defines said dispensing port 5, and a closed end at the opposite base. On the side of the closed end, the first body 9 provides a bottom portion 11 with greater diameter, ending with a circumferential abutment edge 12 whereon the cap 8 is going to abut.

The side wall of the first body 9 has one or more longitudinal openings 13 with substantially rectilinear development, apt to guide the sliding of a support base 14 of the preparation 6 which will be described in a short while. The second body 10 is substantially tubolar and partially circumscribed to the first body 9. It has, at the inner face of its side wall, a continuous groove with substantially elicoidal development 15 (partially visible in figure 1), it too apt to drive the movement of the above-mentioned support base 14. At last, the above-mentioned support base 14 provides a resting plane receiving the base of the preparation in stick 6 and at least a side tongue (not visible in the figures) simultaneously engaging the guiding opening 13 and the elicoidal groove 15. At this point it will be understood that the opening 13 and the groove 15 allow a shape coupling between the support base 14 and the first and second body 9 and 10, and that all these components implement the above-mentioned dispensing means 7. In the present embodiment, the preparation 6 comprises two kinds of ingredients, and precisely a first group of ingrediends implementing a composition apt to the reducing treatment of the stretch marks and to the prevention of an additional atrophic alteration thereof, and an active principle capable of half-permanent pigmenting action apt to react with the skin superficial epithelial layers, by inducing an amber colouration of the stretch marks themselves, colouration which persists for few days, which is not eliminated with a simple washing and which does not dirty clothes. In particular, the above-mentioned composition may provide any group of anti- stretch mark ingredients of known art apt to carry out an elasticizing, hydrating and/or cicatrizing activity for the protection and the reinforcement of the elastine fibres and of the collagene fibres of the skin tissues.

By purely way of example, some possible ingredients of said composition are shown in the following table. The possible quantity of each ingredient in preferred embodiments of the preparation is shown by a respective weight percentage interval and by a particularly preferred value included in said interval.

As it will be well known to a skilled in the art, the centella asiatica has been included in the French pharmacopeia since 1884 and it has been used for years as ingredient for cosmetic preparations, since independent studies have shown the topical efficacy of the centella use for treating the stretch marks. In particular, it was demonstrated that this ingredient has beneficial effects on the venous system, helping to reinforce capillars and promoting a better blood circulation, apart from having a positive effect on the connective tissue too, reinforcing the skin's tensile strength and improving the repair of the damaged tissue.

Since the above-mentioned ingredients are well known to a skilled in the art as well as the anti- stretch mark efficacy thereof is known, one will not further dwell upon this aspect. hi the present embodiment, apart from the ingredients considered sofar, the preparation 6 also comprises the above-mentioned active principle with half- permanent pigmenting capability. As said above, the latter has lasting colouring, and half-permanent in particular, properties on the skin and it is then apt to confer to the preparation a half-permanent colouring capability integrating the reducing properties of the stretch marks of the preparation itself.

In particular, in the present embodiment the use of Dihydroxyacetone, in a weight percentage varying between 0.1 and 10, is provided. The Dihydroxyacetone, whose INCI name is Dihydroxyacetone, is included in the European rventary of the Cosmetic Ingredients and, as it is known, it is a sugar with constitutional formula CH OHCOCH OH, also known as DHA in the abbreviation thereof, which, by means of the so-called Maillard chemical reaction, bonds to the amino acids of the skin corneal layer (cheratine) and it then induces the formation of substantially amber coloured compounds which get the skin dark and colour then the treated area. The reaction of the dihydroxyacetone with the skin follows this scheme:

CH₂OH CHO upon amines or

| in the presence of amines | amino acids polymerization

C=0 -> → → c=o → -» condensation cyclization

CH₂OH CH₃

Dihydroxyacetone pyruvic acid aldehyd

COLOURED COMPOUNDS

According to the above-mentioned Maillard reaction, the dihydroxyacetone, in presence of amines, causes pyruvic acid and other hydroxycarbonylic compounds, which react with amino acids and aminic groups to produce the coloured compounds responsible for the typical amber colouration.

Then, in the present invention the Dihydroxyacetone is used to bring back, that is to conform, the stretch mark to the skin natural amber colour and camouflage it with respect to the surrounding skin. It will be understood that in other embodiments of the invention the

Dihydroxyacetone may be replaced by any other active principle capable of inducing an amber colouration to the stretch mark thanks to its capability of pigmenting the skin half-permanently.

Such active principle produces a quantitative and qualitative aesthetical improvement of the real anti- stretch mark treatment, in synergy with the reducing action performed by the above-mentioned substance composition.

It will be appreciated that with the preferred ingredients mentioned sofar, the preparation of the invention is neutral and colourless.

At last, in the present embodiment, to obtain the preparation 6 under the solid form, and in the stick format in particular, excipients are used which liquefy at high temperatures, allowing incorporating the above-mentioned various active principles. The preparation, in such paste form, is then cast in specific stick-shaped moulds and made it to cool down. Once reached the room temperature, the preparation 6 reaches a density corresponding to the above-mentioned half-rigid solid status. As also this kind of processes is known to the skilled in the art, one will not further dwell upon these aspects.

At this point the using modes of the product 1 described sofar will be clear. By referring to the figures 2 and 3, the product 1 is provided to an end user packed and ready to be used. At time of the application on a stretch mark S, the cap 8 is removed.

Then, as shown by figure 2, the preparation 6 in stick format is dispensed simply by rotating the first and the second body 9 and 10 the one with respect to the other. Such relative rotation, in fact, produces, thanks to the above-described shape coupling between the support base 14 and said bodies 9 and 10, the advancement of the base 14 toward the dispensing port 5 and then the discharge of the preparation in stick 6 from the dispenser 2 for a wished extension.

It will be appreciated that the above-mentioned stick shape allows applying the anti- stretch mark preparation 6 with extreme precision on the anatomical seat really involved by the stretch mark and exclusively thereon. The activity of the preparation 6 is divided in two steps. In fact, as from the first application the preparation of the invention carries out a colouring action on the stretch mark, by inducing a self-covering activity which makes the stretch mark itself considerably less visible, by making it uniform to the natural colour of the skin and by camouflaging it with respect to the surrounding skin. Furthermore, if applied with continuity, the preparation 6 exerts on the stretch mark the conventional action of reducing the inaesthetism, typically based upon an elasticization of the involved tissues.

The anti- stretch mark product described sofar is suitable for several alternative embodiments. Some of them will be described hereinafter, by exclusively referring to the aspects which differ from the preferred embodiment shown sofar.

Based upon a second embodiment, the dispenser of the invention may provide dispensing means of the preparation different from the shape coupling between the above-described main body of the dispenser itself and the support base. For example, the support base could be pushed towards the dispensing port by the user himself/herself, by overcoming the strength of elastic returning means associated to the base itself. By now referring to the figure 4, another embodiment of the invention provides that the latter, in this case designated with 100, includes a dispenser 20 having a substantially pen-like shaped main body 30, wherein an inner compartment 40 with elongated shape is obtained terminating at an end of the main body 30 with a dispensing port 50. Inside the compartment 40 a preparation 60 under the form of emulsion is received, and in particular under the form of cream, which has the same ingredients of the first embodiment above described except from the presence of the excipients apt to confer to the preparation itself the above-said solid consistency. A possible composition of the preparation 60, to be meant by way of example of course, is shown in the following table, wherein the possible quantity of each ingredient in preferred embodiments of the preparation is designated by a respective interval of weight percentage.

The dispenser 20 further comprises dispensing means 70 of the preparation, which in this case consists in a half-rigid elongated pad, designated too with 70, fixed with the main body 30. In particular, the pad 70 partially extends inside the compartment 40 and it protrudes for a short part from the dispensing port 50, by implementing a kind of pen's tip.

It will then understood that the pad 70 is impregnated by the preparation in emulsion 60 in the compartment 40 and it then allows a precise application of a thin strip of the preparation itself on the stretch mark. The product 100 also comprises cap-like closure means 80 substantially similar to the ones already described.

An additional embodiment of the product, represented in the figures 5 and 6 and designated with 101, provides then a dispenser 200 having a main body 30 with a pen-like shape analogous to the one of the preceding embodiment, and pad-like dispensing means 700 analogous too to the ones already described. The dispenser 200 also provides pad-retraction means 700, generally designated with 16 and represented in figure only schematically since they are implemented with a shape coupling analogous to the one of the above-described first embodiment. Such retraction means 16 is operable by a user to wholly retract the pad 700 inside said main body 30. It will be appreciated that the elongated shape of the dispensers of all the embodiments described sofar allows an easy manipulation of the dispenser itself by a user.

Another embodiment may provide as dispensing means of a preparation in emulsion a small sphere rotatably connected to the main body at the dispensing port, and in contact with the preparation on the inner side of the dispenser.

At last, an additional embodiment of the invention product, designated with 102, is represented in figure 7. This provides a dispenser 201, comprising in turn a substantially cylinder-like shaped main body 300, ending at one end with a dispensing port 500, and brush-like dispensing means 701. The latter provides, at one end, grasping means 702, under the form of a cylindrical body apt to cooperate with the main body 300, at the dispensing port 500 thereof to close it. In particular, in the present embodiment the coupling between cylindrical body 702 and main body 300 is of screw-like kind.

The dispensing means 701 then comprises an elongated stem 703, apt to be received in a compartment of the main body 300 housing a preparation in emulsion according to the invention analogous to the above-described one. The stem 703 ends with a little brush 704 apt to allow the application of a thin layer of the preparation exactly at a skin stretch mark.

It will be understood that, in these last embodiments providing a preparation under the form of emulsion, such emulsion may have any level of viscosity/fluidity. The product of the invention may naturally have cosmetic, herboristical, pharmacological, medical (that is Medical Device) nature and so on. It will also understood that the present invention also provides a method for applying an anti- stretch mark preparation on a stretch mark utilizing a dispenser as those sofar described with regard to the product of the invention, dispenser apt to apply a thin layer of the anti- stretch mark preparation under the form of a strip which exactly reproduces the shape of the stretch mark itself. The invention also provides a method for treating a skin stretch mark providing the above-mentioned application method.

Such treatment method may have a cosmetic and/or a pharmacological nature. The present invention has been sofar described by referring to preferred embodiments. It is to be meant that other embodiments underlying the same inventive concept can exist, all however comprised within the protective scope of the herebelow reported claims.

Claims

CLA S

1. An anti- stretch mark product (1), comprising:

- a preparation (6) apt to the reducing treatment of skin stretch marks, having a substantially solid stick format; - a dispenser (2), having a main body (3) within which a longitudinal compartment

(4) is obtained, which compartment receives said preparation and terminates, at one end of the dispenser, with a dispensing port (5), wherein said dispenser further comprises dispensing means (7), operable by a user to enable the discharge of said preparation from said compartment for a desiderate extension.

2. The product (1) according to claim 1, wherein said main body (3) is made in two rotatably connected parts (9, 10) and wherein said dispensing means (7) comprises a resting base (14) of said preparation under the stick format (6), connected to said main body by a shape coupling (13, 15) such that the relative rotation between said parts produces the advancement of said base towards said dispensing port (5).

3. An anti- stretch mark product (100; 101; 102), comprising:

- a preparation (60) substantially in form of emulsion apt to the reducing treatment of skin stretch marks;

- a dispenser (20; 200; 201), having a main body (30; 300) within which a longitudinal compartment (40) is obtained, which compartment receives said preparation and terminates, at one end of the dispenser, with a dispensing port (50;

500), wherein said dispenser further comprises dispensing means (70; 700; 701), apt to draw the preparation received inside said compartment (40) and to slide on the stretch mark to apply a layer of said preparation thereon.

4. The product (100; 101) according to claim 3, wherein said dispensing means (70; 700) is fixed with said main body (30) and extends through said dispensing port (50).

5. The product (100; 101) according to claim 4, wherein said dispensing means comprises a pad (70; 700) apt to be impregnated by said preparation (60).

6. The product (101) according to claim 5, comprising retraction means (16) of said pad (700), operable by a user to wholly retract said pad inside said main body (30).

7. The product (100; 101) according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein said main body (30) has a substantially pen-like shape.

8. The product (102) according to claim 3, wherein said dispensing means (701) is of brush-like kind (704).

9. The product (1; 100; 101; 102) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said main body (3; 30; 300) has an elongated shape.

10. The product (1; 100; 101; 102) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising removable closure means (4; 40; 702) of said dispensing port (5; 50; 500) to protect said preparation (6; 60) against contact with the outside.

11. The product (1; 100; 101) according to the preceding claim, wherein said closure means (4; 40) is cap-like shaped and apt to externally engage with reversible fixing said main body (3; 30).

12. The product (1; 100; 101; 102) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said preparation (6; 60) comprises an active principle having a pigmenting capability for inducing a substantially amber half-permanent colouration to the stretch marks.

13. The product (1; 100; 101; 102) according to the preceding claim, wherein said active principle is dihydroxyacetone.

14. The product (1; 100; 101; 102) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the weight percentage of said active principle having pigmenting capability is about 0.1 up to 10 with respect to the total weight of said preparation (6; 60).

15. The product (1; 100; 101) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said preparation (6; 60) comprises centella asiatica.

16. An application method of a preparation (6) apt to the reducing treatment of skin stretch marks, comprising a step of depositing on a stretch mark a layer of said preparation in form of a strip which exactly reproduces the shape of the stretch mark itself, wherein said preparation has a substantially solid stick format and wherein said step provides the use of a dispenser (2) having a main body (3) inside which a longitudinal compartment (4) is obtained, which compartment receives said preparation and terminates, at one end of the dispenser, with a dispensing port (5), said dispenser further comprising dispensing means (7), operable by a user to allow the discharge of said preparation from said compartment for a desiderate extension.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said main body (3) is implemented in two rotatably connected parts (9, 10) and wherein said dispensing means (7) comprises a resting base (14) of said preparation in stick format (6), connected to said main body by means of a shape coupling (13, 15) such that the relative rotation between said parts produces the advancement of said base towards said dispensing port (5).

18. An application method of a preparation (60) apt to the reducing treatment of skin stretch marks, comprising a step of depositing on a stretch mark a layer of said preparation in form of a strip which exactly reproduces the shape of the stretch mark itself, wherein said preparation is substantially under the form of emulsion and wherein said step provides the use of a dispenser (20; 200; 201) having a main body (30; 300) inside which a longitudinal compartment (40) is obtained, which compartment receives said preparation and terminates, at one end of the dispenser, with a dispensing port (50; 500), wherein said dispenser further comprises dispensing means (70; 700; 701), apt to draw the preparation received inside said compartment (40) and to slide on the stretch mark to apply a layer of said preparation thereon.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein dispensing means (70; 700) is fixed with said main body (30) and extends through said dispensing port (50).

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said dispensing means comprises a pad (70; 700) impregnated by said preparation (60).

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said dispenser (101) comprises retraction means (16) of said pad (700), which is operable by a user to wholly retract said pad inside said main body (30).

22. The method according to any of claims 19 to 21, wherein said main body (30) has a substantially pen-like shape.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein said dispensing means (701) is of brush-like kind (704).

24. The method according to any of the claims 16 to 23, wherein said main body (3; 30; 300) has an elongated shape.

25. The method according to any of claims 16 to 24, wherein said dispenser (1; 100; 101) comprises removable closure means (4; 40; 702) of said dispensing port (5;

50; 500) to protect said preparation (6; 60) against the contact with the outside.

26. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein said closure means (4; 40) is cap-like shaped and apt to externally engage with reversible fixing said main body (3; 30).

27. A method for the topical cosmetic treatment of a skin stretch mark, comprising an application step of an anti- stretch mark preparation on said stretch mark according to the method of any of claims 16 to 26.