Method of treating human skin and a skin care composition for use in such a method

• US 7,943,604 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Estetra SPRL
• Original Assignee: Pantarhei Bioscience B.V.
• Inventors: Bunschoten, Evert Johannes, Holinka, Christian Franz, Coelingh Bennink, Herman Jan Tijmen
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan; Sreeni
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEAN-LOUIS, SAMIRA JM
• Application Number:
  US10/517,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20050215538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,897 Days
• Field of Search: 514/182, 424/401
• US Class Current: 514/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/565 not substituted in position 17 beta by a carbon atom, e.g. estrane, estradiol
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/22 Heterocyclic compounds, e.g. ascorbic acid, tocopherol or pyrrolidones
• 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 8/63 Steroids; Derivatives thereof
• 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: A61P 17/02 for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/10 Anti-acne agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/004 Aftersun preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/08 Anti-ageing preparations

Abstract

The invention relates to cosmetic methods of treating human skin. The method includes applying to the skin a composition containing an estrogenic component and a cosmetically acceptable vehicle. Other aspects of the invention relate to therapeutic methods of treating or preventing vaginal dryness or acne and a therapeutic method of promoting wound healing. Another aspect relates to a skin care composition comprising the aforementioned estrogenic component and a cosmetically acceptable vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of treating or reducing a risk of developing vaginal dryness, wherein the method comprises applying to the vaginal epithelium a composition containing:

(i) at least 5 μ

g/g of an estrogenic component selected from the group consisting of;

estetrol,

precursors capable of liberating estetrol when used in the present method, wherein the precursors are derivatives of estetrol;

wherein the hydrogen atom of at least one of the hydroxyl groups has been substituted by —

CO—

R;

wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl radical comprising 1-20 carbon atoms; and

mixtures of estetrol and the precursors; and

(ii) a cosmetically acceptable vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition contains at least 10 μ

g/g of the estrogenic component.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is applied at least once a day during a period of at least 3 days.

4. The method according to claim 1, which composition is a lotion, salve or a cream.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is for treating vaginal dryness.