Title:  Composition and method for control and treatment of cutaneous inflammation

United States Patent:  6,300,326

Appl. No.:  631165

A composition for treating cutaneous inflammation by topical application comprises a range of percentages of anti-infective solvent, water, an emollient agent, and anti-inflammatory/anti-pruritic agents. The composition is sufficiently viscous to be applied as a spray. There is also disclosed a method of treating the dermal areas of mammals using the composition as a topical medication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a composition that is effective in treating the inflammation and irritation associated with skin disorders such as dermatitis with pruritic activity.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a composition that is effective in treating inflammation and irritation associated with skin disorders such as dermatitis which incorporates a lower concentration of active ingredient, allowing longer-term treatment with reduced risk to the patient.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composition that is of an appropriate liquid character to facilitate application in spray form.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a composition that is sprayable for topical application and in which the liquid carrier evaporates and leaves the active medicaments in the treated area as a dry film.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of treating dermal areas of mammals that is both pleasant and easy in application and effective in result.

Additional objects, advantages and other novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, an inventive composition is disclosed having ingredients which, in combination, result in an effective formulation for topically treating the inflammation and irritation associated with such skin conditions as allergic contact dermatitis. The composition preferably contains a range of from about 5.0 percent to about 80.0 percent by volume anti-infective solvent, and from about 10.0 percent to about 90.0 percent by volume water. Denatured lower alcohols such as isopropyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol are desirably used as the solvents. These components when mixed together provide a medium for active medicaments resulting in a sprayable liquid that is used for topical application.

In the particular preferred formulation, the composition includes from about 50 percent to about 80 percent by volume water. Furthermore, the anti-infective solvent ranges from about 5 percent to about 30 percent by volume.

The inventive composition is also contemplated to include from about 5.0 percent to about 40.0 percent by volume emollient agent. It has been determined that the most desired volumetric composition range for this component is from about 10.0 percent to about 30.0 percent. The presently preferred embodiment of the composition utilizes propylene glycol as the emollient agent. It should be appreciated, however, that the compositions envisioned in the present invention may contain, e.g. glycerol, acetylated lanolin alcohol, cetyl alcohol, or any suitable emollient agent known in the art.

The composition may further include from about 2.0 percent to about 7.5 percent by volume astringent agent. Witch hazel is a particularly preferred astringent. However, any suitable astringent known in the art may be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention.

The composition of the present invention may also include from about 0.01 percent to about 0.5 percent by weight of a suitable anti-pruritic agent to address the problem of itching associated with certain dermatoses. A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention contains menthol. However, it should be appreciated that, e.g., camphor, phenol, or any suitable anti-pruritic known in the art may be used.

The composition preferably also includes from about 0.005 percent to about 0.10 percent by volume of anti-inflammatory agent. Various corticoid compounds are contemplated as being utilized as an antiinflammatory agent in the novel formulation. A preferred example of a topical anti-inflammatory corticoid is triamcinolone acetonide and is included to comprise from about 0.010 percent to about 0.05 percent by volume of the composition.

The preferred composition is used in a method for treating dermal areas of mammals with a topical medication having anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic activity. The makeup of the composition allows the active medicaments to be sprayed on the specific body area where treatment is desired. The large amount of anti-infective solvent facilitates evaporation of the liquid carrier so as to leave the active medicaments as a film in a dry environment at the treated area.

Still other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the description will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Claim 1 of 31 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A composition for topical use in treating cutaneous inflammation, comprising:

from about 5.0 percent to about 80.0 percent by volume anti-infective solvent;

from about 10.0 percent to about 90.0 percent by volume water;

from about 5.0 percent to about 40.0 percent by volume emollient agent;

from about 2.0 percent to about 7.5 percent astringent agent;

from about 0.1 percent to about 0.5 percent anti-pruritic agent;

from about 0.1 percent to about 1 percent preservative; and

from about 0.005 percent to about 0.10 percent by volume anti-inflammatory agent.

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