Amphoteric compositions and polymeric forms of alpha hydroxyacids, and their therapeutic use

• US 5,091,171 A
• Filed: 08/15/1989
• Issued: 02/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tristrata Technology Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Eugene J Van Scott, Ruey J. Yu
• Inventors: Yu, Ruey J., Van Scott, Eugene J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Mukund J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ward, E. C.
• Application Number:
  US07/393,749
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 514/2, 514/12, 514/23, 514/114, 514/349, 514/399, 514/419, 514/518, 514/561, 514/562, 514/567, 514/947, 514/532, 514/547, 514/558, 514/19, 424/642, 424/691
• US Class Current: 424/642
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/19 Carboxylic acids, e.g. valproic acid salicylic acid A61K31/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/191 having two or more hydroxy groups, e.g. gluconic acid
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/192 having aromatic groups, e.g. sulindac, 2-aryl-propionic acids, ethacrynic acid cannabinoids A61K31/658
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/194 having two or more carboxyl groups, e.g. succinic, maleic or phthalic acid
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/195 having an amino group
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/20 having a carboxyl group bound to a chain of seven or more carbon atoms, e.g. stearic, palmitic, arachidic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/202 having three or more double bonds, e.g. linolenic eicosanoids, e.g. leukotrienes A61K31/557
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/365 Lactones
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/366 having six-membered rings, e.g. delta-lactones
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/40 having five-membered rings with one nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom, e.g. sulpiride, succinimide, tolmetin, buflomedil
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/405 Indole-alkanecarboxylic acids; Derivatives thereof, e.g. tryptophan, indomethacin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/415 1,2-Diazoles
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/445 Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/66 Phosphorus compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/70 Carbohydrates; Sugars; Derivatives thereof sorbitol A61K31/047
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/7048 having oxygen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. leucoglucosan, hesperidin, erythromycin, nystatin , digitoxin or digoxin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/715 Polysaccharides, i.e. having more than five saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic linkages; Derivatives thereof, e.g. ethers, esters
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/765 Polymers containing oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 45/06 Mixtures of active ingredients without chemical characterisation, e.g. antiphlogistics and cardiaca
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/12 : Carboxylic acids; Salts or anhydrides thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/14 : Esters of carboxylic acids, e.g. fatty acid monoglycerides, medium-chain triglycerides, parabens or PEG fatty acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/183 : Amino acids, e.g. glycine, EDTA or aspartame
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/20 : containing sulfur, e.g. dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO], docusate, sodium lauryl sulfate or aminosulfonic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/24 : containing atoms other than carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, halogen, nitrogen or sulfur, e.g. cyclomethicone or phospholipids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/26 : Carbohydrates, e.g. sugar alcohols, amino sugars, nucleic acids, mono-, di- or oligo-saccharides; Derivatives thereof, e.g. polysorbates, sorbitan fatty acid esters or glycyrrhizin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/26 : Aluminium; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/27 : Zinc; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/347 : Phenols
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/362 : Polycarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/365 : Hydroxycarboxylic acids; Ketocarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/37 : Esters of carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/375 : the alcohol moiety containing more than one hydroxy group
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/41 : Amines
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/416 : Quaternary ammonium compounds A61K8/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/42 : Amides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/43 : Guanidines
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/44 : Aminocarboxylic acids or derivatives thereof, e.g. aminocarboxylic acids containing sulfur; Salts; Esters or N-acylated derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/4913 : having five membered rings, e.g. pyrrolidone carboxylic acid
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/494 : with more than one nitrogen as the only hetero atom
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/4953 : containing pyrimidine ring derivatives, e.g. minoxidil
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/4973 : with oxygen as the only hetero atom
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/55 : Phosphorus compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/553 : Phospholipids, e.g. lecithin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/585 : Organosilicon compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/60 : Sugars; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/63 : Steroids; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/64 : Proteins; Peptides; Derivatives or degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/671 : Vitamin A; Derivatives thereof, e.g. ester of vitamin A acid, ester of retinol, retinol, retinal
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/675 : Vitamin B3 or vitamin B3 active, e.g. nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, nicotinyl aldehyde tocopheryl nicotinate A61K8/678
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/678 : Tocopherol, i.e. vitamin E
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/68 : Sphingolipids, e.g. ceramides, cerebrosides, gangliosides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8152 : Homopolymers or copolymers of esters, e.g. (meth)acrylic acid esters; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/85 : Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0014 : Skin, i.e. galenical aspects of topical compositions non-active ingredients are additionally classified in A61K47/00; A61K9/0009, A61K9/0021, A61K9/7015, A61K9/7023 take precedence; cosmetic preparations A61K8/00, A61Q; preparations for wound dressings or bandages A61L26/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/00 : Drugs for dermatological disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 15/00 : Anti-perspirants or body deodorants deodorisation of air A61L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/00 : Barrier preparations; Preparations brought into direct contact with the skin for affording protection against external influences, e.g. sunlight, X-rays or other harmful rays, corrosive materials, bacteria or insect stings
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/005 : Antimicrobial preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/04 : Topical preparations for affording protection against sunlight or other radiation; Topical sun tanning preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 : Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/007 : Preparations for dry skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/008 : Preparations for oily skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/02 : for chemically bleaching or whitening the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/08 : Anti-ageing preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/10 : Washing or bathing preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/00 : Preparations for care of the hair
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/006 : Antidandruff preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/02 : Preparations for cleaning the hair
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 7/00 : Preparations for affecting hair growth
• CPC Class Codes: B24D 11/02 : Backings, e.g. foils, webs, mesh fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: B24D 18/00 : Manufacture of grinding tools or other grinding devices, e.g. wheels, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Preventive as well as therapeutic treatment to alleviate cosmetic conditions and symptoms of dermatologic disorders with amphoteric compositions containing alpha hydroxyacids, alpha ketoacids, related compounds or polymeric forms of hydroxyacids is disclosed. The cosmetic conditions and the dermatologic disorders in which the amphoteric compositions and the polymeric compounds may be useful include dry skin, dandruff, acne, keratoses, psoriasis, eczema, pruritus, age spots, lentigines, melasmas, wrinkles, warts, blemished skin, hyperpigmented skin, kyperkeratotic skin, inflammatory dermatoses, skin changes associated with aging, and skin requiring cleansers.

Claims

1. A composition comprising in combination an amphoteric or pseudoamphoteric agent and an alpha hydroxyacid, an alpha ketoacid or a related compound present in a therapeutically effective amount in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for topical treatment of cosmetic conditions or dermatologic disorders, said amphoteric or pseudoamphoteric agent being at least one member selected from the group consisting of amino acids, dipeptides, polypeptides, proteins, creatine, aminoaldonic acid, aminouronic acids, lauryl aminopropylglycine, aminoaldaric acids, neuraminic acid, desulfated heparin, deacetylated hyaluronic acid, hyalobiuronic acid, chondrosine, deacetylated chondroitin, creatinine, stearamidoethyl diethylamine, stearamidoethyl diethanolamine, stearaminopropyl dimethylamine, cocoamphoglycino cocoamphopropionate, cocoampho, propylsulfonate, phosphatidyl, ethanol-amine, phosphatidylserine and sphingomyelin, and zine oxide and aluminum oxide, said amphoteric or pseudoamphoteric agent being present in a concentration effective to form an amphoteric or pseudoamphoteric system with said alpha hydroxyacid, alpha ketoacid or related compound;

said alpha hydroxyacid being at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkyl alpha hydroxyacid, aralkyl and aryl alpha hydroxyacid, polyhydroxy alpha hydroxyacid and polycarboxylic alpha hydroxyacid having the following chemical structure;

##STR1## wherein Ra and Rb are H, F, Cl, Br, alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or non-isomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and in addition Ra and Rb may carry OH, CHO, COOH and alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, said alpha hydroxyacid existing as a free acid or lactone form, or in salt form with an organic base or an inorganic alkali, and as stereoisomers, and D, L, and DL forms when Ra and Rb are not identical;

said alpha ketoacid being at least one member selected from a group of compounds represented by the following chemical structure;

##STR2## wherein Ra and Rb are H, alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or non-isomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and in addition Ra may carry F, Cl, Br, I, OH, CHO, COOH and alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, said alpha ketoacid existing as a free acid or an ester form, or in a salt form with an organic base or an inorganic alkali; and

said related compound being at least one member selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, quinic acid, isocitric acid, tropic acid, trethocanic acid, 3-chlorolactic acid, cerebronic acid, citramalic acid, agaricic acid, 2-hydroxynervonic acid, aleuritic acid and pantoic acid.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said amphoteric or pseudoamphoteric agent is at least one member selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, serine, threonine, cysteine, cystine, methionine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glutamic acid, glutamine, arginine, lysine, 5-hydroxylysine, histidine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, 3-hydroxyproline, 4-hydroxyproline, proline, homocysteine, homocystine, homoserine, ornithine, citrulline, creatine, aminoaldonic acids, aminouronic acids, aminoaldaric acids, lauryl aminopropylglycine, neuraminic acid, desulfated heparing, deacetylated hyaluronic acid, hyalobiuronic acid, chondrosine, deacetylated chondroitin, creatinine, 3-amniopropanoic acid, 2-aminobutanoic acid, 4-aminobutanoic acid, 2-amino-2-methylpropanoic acid, 2-methyl-3-aminopropanoic acid, theanine, phenylglycine, canavanine, canaline, 4-hydroxyarginine, 4-hydroxyornithine, homoarginine, 4-hydroxyhomoarginine, β

-lysine, 2,4-diaminobutanoic acid, 2,3-diaminopropanoic acid, 2,6-diaminopimelic acid, 2-amino-3-phenylbutanoic acid, 2-methylserine, 3-phenylserine, beataine, taurine, cysteinesulfinic acid, methionine sulfoxide, methionine sulfone, 3,5-diiodotyrosine, thyroxine, monoiodotyrosine, pipecolic acid, 4-aminopipecolic acid, 4-methylproline, glycylglycine, carnosine, anserine, ophidine, homocarnosine, β

-alanyllysine, β

-alanylarginine, glutathione, ophthalmic acid, norophthalmic acid, bradykinin, glucagon, protamines, histones, cocoamphoglycine, cocoamphopropionate, cocoamphopropylsulfonate, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl serine, sphingomyeline, stearamidoethyl diethylamine, stearamidoethyl diethanolamine, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine, quaternary ammonium hydroxide, quaternium hydorxide, aluminum oxide or zinc oxide.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said alkyl alpha hydroxyacid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2-Hydroxyethanoic acid (Glycolic acid), 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid (Lactic acid), 2-Methyl 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (Methyllactic acid), 2-Hydroxybutanoic acid, 2-Hydroxypentanoic acid, 2-Hydroxyhexanoic acid, 2-Hydroxyheptanoic acid, 2-Hydroxyoctanoic acid, 2-Hydroxynonanoic acid, 2-Hydroxydecanoic acid, 2-Hydroxyundecanoic acid, 2-Hydroxydodecanoic acid (Alpha hydroxylauric acid), 2-Hydroxytetradecanoic acid (Alpha hydroxymyristic acid), 2-Hydroxyhexadecanoic acid (Alpha hydroxypalmitic acid), 2-Hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (Alpha hydroxystearic acid), 2- Hydroxyeicosanoic acid (Alpha hydroxyarachidonic acid).

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said aralkyl and aryl alpha hydroxyacid is selected from the group consisting of 2-Phenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid (Mandelic acid), 2,2-Diphenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid (Benzilic acid), 3-Phenyl 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (Phenyllactic acid), 2-Phenyl 2-methyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid (Atrolactic acid), 2-(4'"'"'-Hydroxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-(4'"'"'-Chlorophenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-(3'"'"'-Hydroxy-4'"'"'-methoxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-(4'"'"'-Hydroxy-3'"'"'-methoxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 3-(2'"'"'-Hydroxyphenyl) 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, 3-(4'"'"'-Hydroxyphenyl) 2-hyroxypropanoic acid, or 2-(3'"'"',4'"'"'-Dihydroxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said polyhydroxy alpha hydroxyacid and polycarboxylic alpha hydroxyacid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2,3-Dihydroxypropanoic acid (Glyceric acid), 2,3,4-Trihydroxybutanoic acid (Isomers;

erythronic acid, threonic acid), 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydroxypentanoic acid (Isomers;

ribonic acid, arabinoic acid, xylonic acid, lyxonic acid), 2,3,4,5,6-Pentahydroxyhexanoic acid (Isomers;

allonic acid, altronic acid, gluconic acid, mannoic acid, gulonic acid, idonic acid galactonic acid, talonic acid), 2,3,4,5,6,7-Hexahydroxyheptanoic acid (Isomers;

glucoheptonic acid, galactoheptonic acid etc.), 2-Hydroxypropane-1,3-dioic acid (Targtronic acid), 2-Hydroxybutane-1,4-dioic acid (Malic acid), 2,3-Dihydroxybutane-1,4-dioic acid (Tartaric acid), 2-Hydroxy-2-carboxypentane-1,5-dioic acid (Citric acid), 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydroxyhexane-1,6-dioic acid (Isomers;

saccharic acid, mucic acid, etc.), or lactone forms (gluconolactone, galactonolaotone, glucuronolactone, galacturonolactone, gulonolactone, ribonolactone, saccharic acid lactone, pantoyllact one, glucoheptonolactone, mannonolactone, galactoheptonolactone, etc.).

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said alpha ketoacid and its ester is at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2-Ketoethanoic acid (Glyoxylic acid), Methyl 2-ketoethanoate, 2-Ketopropanoic acid (Pyruvic acid), Methyl 2-ketopropanoate (Methyl pyruvate), Ethyl 2-ketopropanoate (Ethyl pyruvate), Propyl 2-ketopropanoate (Propyl pyruvate), 2-Phenyl-2-ketoethanoic acid (Benzoylformic acid), Methyl 2-phenyl-2-ketoethanoate (Methyl benzoylformate), Ethyl 2-phenyl-2-ketoethanoate (Ethyl benzoylformate), 3-Phenyl-2-ketopropanoic acid (Phenylpyruvic acid), Methyl 3-phenyl-2- ketopropanoate (Methyl phenylpyruvate), Ethyl 3-phenyl-2-ketopropanoate (Ethyl phenylpyruvate), 2-Ketobutanoic acid, 2-Ketopentanoic acid, 2-Ketohexanoic acid, 2-Ketopheptanoic acid, 2-Ketooctanoic acid, 2-Ketododecanoic acid, or Methyl 2-ketooctanoate.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein said cosmetic conditions, and dermatologic disorders include dry sin, zerosis, ichthyosis, dandruff, brownish spots, keratoses, melasma, lentigines, age spots, liver spots, pigmented spots, wrinkles, blemishes, skin lines, oily skin, acne, warts, eczema, pruritic skin, psoriasis, inflammatory dermatoses, disturbed deratinization, skin changes associated with aging, nail or skin requiring cleansers, conditioning or treatment, and hair or scalp requiring shampooing or conditioning.

8. A therapeutic composition for topical treatment of warts, nail infections, age spots, wrinkles and aging related skin changes comprising an alpha hydroxyacids, alpha ketoacids or related compounds said alpha hydroxyacids, alpha ketoacids or related compounds being selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, 2-methyl 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, 2-phenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2,2-diphenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-phenyl 2-methyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-phenyl 3-hydroxypropanoic acid, 2-ketopropanoic acid, methyl 2-ketopropanoate and ethyl 2-ketopropanoate present as a free acid lactone, ester or in salt form with an organic base or an inorganic alkali in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

9. Method of topical treatment for warts, nail infections, age spots, wrinkles and aging related skin changes comprising topically applying a therapeutically effective amount of alpha hydroxyacids, alpha ketoacids, or related compounds in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for topical treatment;

said alpha hydroxyacid being at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkyl alpha hydroxyacid, aralkyl and aryl alpha hydroxyacid, polyhydroxy alpha hydroxyacid and polycarboxylic alpha hydroxyacid represented by the following chemical structure;

##STR3## wherein Ra and Rb are H, F, Cl, Br, alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or non-isomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and in addition Ra and Rb may carry OH, CHO, COOH and alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, said alpha hydroxyacid existing as a free acid or lactone form, or in salt form with an organic base or an inorganic alkali, and as stereoisomers as D, L, and DL forms when Ra and Rb are not identical;

said alpha ketoacid being at least one member selected from a group of compounds represented by the following chemical structure;

##STR4## wherein Ra and Rb are H, alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or non-isomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and in addition Ra may carry F, Cl, Br, I, OH, CHO, COOH and alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, said alpha ketoacid existing as a free acid or an ester form, or in a salt form with an organic base or an inorganic alkali; and

said related compound being at least one member selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, quinic acid, isocitric acid, tropic acid, trethocanic acid, 3-chlorolactic acid, cerebronic acid, citramalic acid, agaricic acid, 2-hydroxynervonic acid, aleuritic acid and pantoic acid.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said alpha hydroxyacids, alpha ketoacids or related compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, 2-methyl 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, 2-phenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2,2-diphenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-phenyl 2-methyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-phenyl 3-hydroxypropanoic acid, 2-ketopropanoic acid, methyl 2-ketopropanoate or ethyl 2-ketopropanoate.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein said alkyl alpha hydroxyacid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2-Hydroxyethanoic acid (Glycolic acid), 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid (Lactic acid), 2-Methyl 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (Methyllactic acid), 2-Hydroxybutanoic acid, 2-Hydroxypentanoic acid, 2-Hydroxyhexanoic acid, 2-Hydroxyheptanoic acid, 2-Hydroxyoctanoic acid, 2-Hydroxynonanoic acid, 2-Hydroxydecanoic acid, 2-Hydroxyundecanoic acid, 2-Hydroxydodecanoic acid (Alpha hydroxylauric acid), 2-Hydroxytetradecanoic acid (Alpha hydroxymyristic acid), 2-Hydroxyhexadecanoic acid (Alpha hydroxypalmitic acid), 2-Hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (Alpha hydroxysteraic acid), 2-Hydroxyeicosanoic acid (Alpha hydroxyarachidonic acid).

18. The method of claim 9 wherein said aralkyl and aryl alpha hydroxyacid is selected from the group consisting of 2-Phenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid (Mandelic acid), 2,2-Diphenyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid (Benzilic acid, 3-Phenyl 2-hydroxypropanoic acid (Phenyllactic acid), 2-Phenyl 2-methyl 2-hydroxyethanoic acid (Atrolactic acid), 2-(4'"'"'-Hydroxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-(4'"'"'-Chlorophenyl) 2-hydroxyethanioc acid, 2-(3'"'"'-Hydroxy-4'"'"'-methoxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 2-(4'"'"'-Hydroxy-3'"'"'-methoxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid, 3-(2'"'"'-Hydroxyphenyl) 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, 3-(4'"'"'-Hydroxyphenyl) 2-hyroxypropanoic acid, or 2-(3'"'"',4'"'"'-Dihydroxyphenyl) 2-hydroxyethanoic acid.

19. The method of claim 9 wherein said polyhydroxy alpha hydroxyacid and polycarboxylic alpha hydroxyacid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2,3-Dihydroxypropanoic acid (Glyceric acid), 2,3,4-Trihydroxybutanoic acid (Isomers;

erythronic acid, threonic acid, threonic acid), 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydroxypentanoic acid (Isomers;

ribonic acid, arabinoic acid, xylonic acid, lyxonic acid), 2,3,4,5,6-Pentahydroxyhexanoic acid (Isomers;

allonic acid, altronic acid, gluconic acid, mannoic acid, gulonic acid, idonic acid galactonic acid, talonic acid), 2,3,4,5,6,7-Hexahydroxyheptanoic acid (Isomers;

glucoheptonic acid, galactoheptonic acid etc.), 2-Hydroxypropane-1,3-dioic acid (Tartronic acid), 2-Hydroxybutane-1,4-dioic acid (Malic acid), 2,3-Dihydroxybutane-1,4-dioic acid (Tartaric acid), 2-Hydroxy-2-carboxypentane-1,5-dioic acid (Citric acid), 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydroxyhexane-1,6-dioic acid (Isomers;

saccharic acid, mucic acid, etc.), or lactone forms (gluconolactone, galactonolactone, glucuronolactone, galacturonolactone, gulonolactone, ribonolactone, saccharic acid lactone, pantoyllactone, glucoheptonolactone, mannonolactone, galactoheptonolactone, etc.).

20. The method of claim 9 wherein said alpha ketoacid and its ester is at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2-Ketoethanoic acid (Glyoxylic acid), Methyl 2-ketoethanoate, 2-Ketopropanoic acid (Pyruvic acid), Methyl 2-ketopropanoate (Methyl pyruvate), Ethyl 2-ketopropanoate (Ethyl pyruvate), Propyl 2-ketopropanoate (Propyl pyruvate), 2-Phenyl-2-ketoethanoic acid (Benzolyformic acid), Methyl 2-phenyl-2-ketoethanoate (Methyl benzolyformate), Ethyl 2-phenyl-2-ketoethanoate (Ethyl benzolyformate), 3-Phenyl-2-ketopropanoic acid (Phenylpyruvic acid), Methyl 3-phenyl-2-ketopropanoate (Methyl phenylpyruvate), Ethyl 3-phenyl-2-ketopropanoate (Ethyl phenylpyruvate), 2-Ketobutanoic acid, 2-Ketopentanoic acid, 2-Ketohexanoic acid, 2-Ketoheptanoic acid, 2-Ketooctanoic acid, 2-Ketododecanoic acid, and Methyl 2-ketooctanoate.

11. A therapeutic composition for topical treatment of cosmetic conditions or dermatologic disorders, comprising dimeric or polymeric forms of hydroxyacids represented by the following chemical structure:

##STR5## wherein Ra and Rb are H, alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or non-isomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and n=2 or any number up to 200;

Ra and Rb in monomer unit 2 through 200 may be the same or the different groups from that in monomer unit 1;

the hydrogen atom in Ra and Rb may be substituted by a halogen atom or a radical of lower alkyl, aralkyl, aryl or alkoxy of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or non-isomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and the dimeric and polymeric forms of hydroxyacids being present as a free acid, ester or in a salt form with an organic base or inorganic alkali in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

12. The composition of claim 11 wherein said dimeric or polymeric forms of hydroxyacids are selected from the group consisting of glycolyl glycollate, lactyl lactate, mandelyl mandellate, atrolactyl atrolactate, phenyllactyl phenyllactate, benzilyl benzillate, glycolyl lactate, lactyl glycollate, triglycolic acid, trilactic acid, polyglycolic acid or polylactic acid.

13. The composition of claim 11 further comprising a cosmetic or pharmaceutic agent incorporated as a combination ingredient in said composition.

14. A therapeutic composition for topical treatment of cosmetic conditions or dermatologic disorders, comprising dimeric or polymeric forms of hydroxyacids represented by the following chemical structure:

##STR6## wherein Ra and Rb are H, alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or non-isomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and n=2 or any number up to 200, and Ra or Rb may be identical or not identical in the monomer units in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

15. The composition of claim 14 wherein said dimeric or polymeric forms of hydroxyacids are selected from the group consisting of glycolide, lactide, mandelide, atrolactide, phenyllactide, benzilide, methyllactide, lactoglycolide or glycolactide.

16. The composition of claim 14 further comprising a cosmetic or pharmaceutic agent incorporated as a combination ingredients in said composition.