Methods of treating acne and rosacea with electrochemically generated zinc ions

• US 7,476,221 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Sun, Ying, Hauschild, James E., Wu, Jeffrey M., Liu, Jue-Chen
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez; Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US10/685,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 604 19- 22, 6048901-8921, 424/78.1, 424/78.2, 424/648, 424/649, 607/75
• US Class Current: 604/501
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• 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 1/303 Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/328 for improving the appearance of the skin, e.g. facial toning or wrinkle treatment

Abstract

The present invention features a method of treating acne or rosacea by applying to the skin electrochemically generated zinc ions. In one embodiment, the method includes topically applying a device including an anode containing zinc.

Claims

1. A method of treating acne or rosacea on the skin, said method comprising applying to said skin a device, said device comprising:

a housing having a skin contacting surface;

a first conductive electrode which is an anode comprising zinc;

a second conductive electrode which is a cathode; and

a carrier;

wherein said first conductive electrode is in electric communication with said second conductive electrode, wherein said first conductive electrode and said second conductive electrode are in ionic communication with said carrier, wherein said carrier is in communication with said skin contacting surface and wherein said device is adapted to be affixed to said skin and to deliver electric current from said first conductive electrode, through said carrier, through said skin, and through said carrier to said second conductive electrode.

2. 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.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein said housing is a non-woven substrate.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein carrier is added to said device by the user prior to application to said skin.

5. A method of claim 2, wherein said device is affixed to said skin.

6. A method of claim 2, wherein said power source produces conventional direct current.

7. 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 0.5 V and said device does not comprise an additional power source.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein the ratio of the distance between the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode and the distance between the first conductive electrode and the baffler membrane contacting surface is at least about 1.

9. A method of claim 7, wherein the ratio of the distance between the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode and the distance between the first conductive electrode and the baffler membrane contacting surface is at least about 5.

10. A method of claim 7, wherein said housing is a non-woven substrate.

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

12. A method of claim 11, wherein said device is affixed to said skin.

13. A method of claim 10, wherein said device is affixed to said skin.

14. A method of claim 7, wherein carrier is added to said device by the user prior to application to said skin.

15. A method of claim 7, wherein said device is affixed to said skin.

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

17. A method of claim 16, wherein carrier is added to said device by the user prior to application to said skin.

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

19. A method of claim 1, wherein said carrier further comprises an anti-acne agent.

20. A method of claim 1, wherein said device is affixed to said skin.