United States Patent:  6,103,273

Appl. No.: 262953

A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of alopecia areata and male pattern baldness is preferably made from boric acid, zinc oxide, and starch. The method of the present invention comprises applying the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention to a person's scalp. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can comprise 10 parts by weight starch, 60 parts by weight boric acid, 40 parts by weight zinc oxide, and 500 parts by weight water. The dry ingredients (starch, boric acid, and zinc oxide) are mixed together, then the water is added. The mixture is boiled for 20 minutes, stirring continuously. The mixture will thicken, become smooth, and the final consistency will have minute lumps within the liquid. Preferably, before the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is applied to the scalp, the bald spots are scrubbed with either pure lamb's wool or a soft-bristled brush made of animal hair. This cleanses the residue from the skin. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is then rubbed on the bald spots. After 25 minutes, the scalp is rinsed, removing any excess composition. This procedure is repeated daily for 15 days. The inventor has found that it usually takes three-fifteen days for pores to open and fifteen days to three months for fuzzy hair to appear. The inventor has found that it takes approximately one to six months for hair to grow to the point where it appears normal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a pharmaceutical composition which has been found to encourage hair growth in humans. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention consists essentially of water, a compound comprising boron, a compound comprising zinc, and starch ((C₆ H₁₀ O₅)_x). The method of the present invention comprises applying a pharmaceutical composition containing a compound comprising boron, a compound comprising zinc, starch, and water to a person's scalp to treat alopecia areata or male pattern baldness.

Typically, when hair loss is limited to the scalp area, about 30 ml of the pharmaceutical composition is administered topically at least five times per week for three weeks, and is rinsed off approximately 20-30 minutes after being administered topically. More of the pharmaceutical composition is typically used if hair loss is not limited to the scalp area.

The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can consist essentially of, by weight, 0.143%-3.93% starch, 1.00%-23.8% boron-containing compound, 0.625%-15.8% zinc-containing compound, and the balance water.

Preferably, in the pharmaceutical compound of the present invention and in the pharmaceutical compound used in the method of the present invention, the compound comprising boron is boric acid and the compound comprising zinc is zinc oxide.

One can mix the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention with commercially available shampoo for normal hair to help maintain the work of the pharmaceutical composition between treatments.

Claim 1 of 24 Claims

1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising 0.143%-3.93% by weight starch, 1.00%-23.8% by weight of a compound comprising boron, 0.625%-15.8% by weight of a compound comprising zinc, and 69.4%-97.8% water.

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