Methods of exfoliating the skin with electricity

• US 20050015042A1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Sun, Ying, Liu, Jue-Chen, Wu, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428

Abstract

The present invention features a method of exfoliating the skin by applying to skin in need of such exfoliating a device including a housing having a skin contacting surface, a first conductive electrode, a second conductive electrode, and a carrier including an agent selected from an alpha-hydroxy acid, beta-hydroxy acid, and salts thereof; wherein the first conductive electrode is in electric communication with the second conductive electrode, wherein the first conductive electrode is in ionic communication with the carrier, wherein the carrier is in communication with the skin contacting surface, and wherein the skin contacting surface is placed in contact with the skin.

Claims

1. A method of exfoliating the skin, said method comprising applying to skin in need of such exfoliating a device comprising:

a housing having a skin contacting surface;

a first conductive electrode;

a second conductive electrode; and

a carrier comprising an agent selected from the group consisting of an alpha-hydroxy acid, beta-hydroxy acid, and salts thereof;

wherein said first conductive electrode is in electric communication with said second conductive electrode, wherein said first conductive electrode is in ionic communication with said carrier, wherein said carrier is in communication with said skin contacting surface, and wherein said skin contacting surface is placed in contact with said skin.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein said housing contains both said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid, maleic acid, and salicylic acid, and salts thereof.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein said agent is present in said carrier at a concentration of between about 0.1 to about 50% by weight of such carrier.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a power source wherein said power source is in electric communication with said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the difference of the standard potentials of said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode is at least 0.2 V and wherein the electrons that pass between said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are generated as a result of said difference of the standard potentials.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein said second conductive electrode is also in ionic communication with said carrier.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein said housing is a non-woven substrate.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein said housing contains both said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein carrier is added to said device by the user prior to application to said skin.

11. A method of exfoliating the skin, said method comprises topically applying a composition to said skin, said composition comprising a first conductive electrode in the form of a particulate, a second conductive electrode in the form of a particulate, and an agent selected from the group consisting of an alpha-hydroxy acid, beta-hydroxy acid, and salts thereof wherein the difference of the standard potentials of said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode is at least 0.2 V.

12. A method of claim 11, wherein said first conductive electrode comprises zinc and said second conductive electrode comprises silver.

13. A method of claim 11, wherein prior to application, said first conductive electrode is stored separately from said composition.

14. A method of claim 11, wherein said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode on the same particulate.

15. A method of claim 11, wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid, maleic acid, and salicylic acid, and salts thereof.

17. A method of claim 11, wherein said first conductive electrode comprises zinc and said second conductive electrode comprises silver.

18. A method of claim 11, wherein said first conductive electrode is stored separate from said carrier.

19. A method of claim 12, wherein said first conductive electrode is suspended in said carrier and said second conductive electrode is contained separate from said carrier.

20. A method of claim 11, wherein wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid, maleic acid, and salicylic acid, and salts thereof.

16. A method of promoting a composition comprising a first conductive electrode in the form of a particulate, a second conductive electrode in the form of a particulate, and an agent selected from an alpha-hydroxy acid, beta-hydroxy acid, and salts thereof, wherein the difference of the standard potentials of said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode is at least 0.2 V, said method comprising promoting the topical application of said composition for exfoliating the skin.