WO2001080816A1

WO2001080816A1 - Topical composition for permanent removal of hair

Info

Publication number: WO2001080816A1
Application number: PCT/CY2000/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyriaki Kakoulli; Theodoros Kakoullis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-21
Filing date: 2000-04-21
Publication date: 2001-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2002-10-21
Also published as: EP1359893A1; AU4909400A

Abstract

The invention concerns a topical composition for the permanent removal of unwanted hair from the human body. The composition is a compound of Enzyme + Diluter + Activator + Acid, preferably, Horseradish Peroxidase + Water + Hydrogen Peroxide + Sulfuric Acid. The invention also concerns a method comprising removing unwanted hair from a portion of skin and applying the composition on the said portion. The invention operates by spreading the liquid on the required skin area after uprooting of the unwanted hair. The invention introduces a novel method for permanent removal of unwanted hair for purposes of aesthetics and cleanliness.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title of the invention :-

Topical composition for permanent removal of hair

TECHNICAL ASPECT The invention is a topical composition which is created by a mixture of substances Also provided by the Invention is a method for permanent extinction of unwanted hair-growth when the composition is spread on the skin after unwanted hair has been uprooted from a portion of skin The practice of this invention frees people permanently from all unwanted hair PREVIOUS TECHNIQUES

Since ancient times, hair removal has been considered an intrinsic part of personal hygiene and beautification of the human body and, as a result, several methods have been developed to meet this end Some of the present methods of hair removal are the following - (a) Shaving

(b) "Epilatoπes" such as tweezers, waxes and sugaring or "halawa", pluck hairs from below the surface, i e at the root

(c) Electrical epilators or "electrolysis", use electric current to remove hair There are two types, the needle epilator and the tweezers epilator Electrolysis can destroy the hair bulb using the electric current

(d) "Laser" The use, essentially of a standard dermatological laser similar to the one used for treating skin lesions and removing tattoos

(e) "Depilatories", available in gel, cream, lotion, aerosol and roll-on forms, cause hair to disintegrate while leaving the roots intact They contain an alkaline chemical, usually calcium thioglycolate, that dissolves the protein structure of the hair causing it to separate easily from the skin surface They usually have "plant extracts" such as papaya which has papam, a chemical that dissolves dead protein

From the above, it is evident that preparations which would permanently stop re-growth of hair are highly desirable in the cosmetic industry PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

(I) The present invention provides a topical composition, particularly useful for permanently stopping re - growth of unwanted hair, comprising the following ingredients:-

Enzyme + diluter (liquid) + activator (of enzyme) + acid, wherein - "enzyme" denotes all substances included in the category of "enzymes" ,

"diluter" denotes any liquid that has the property of causing the dilution of the enzyme , "activator" denotes any element or compound which helps activating the specific enzyme used , "acid" denotes all substances included in the category of "acids" ,

(II) The terms "enzyme" , "diluter" , "activator" and "acid" will be used hereinbelow in the context described above

The preferred enzyme to be used belongs in the category of

OXIDOREDUCTASES, without excluding the use of any other enzyme from any other category of enzymes

The invention can thus be expressed by the following non-limiting formula -

Enzyme from the category OXIDOREDUCTASES + Diluter + Activator +

Acid — The Invention.

(III) In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the Invention, the preferred enzyme belongs to the sub-category PEROXIDASES, ( of the category OXIDOREDUCTASES, without excluding the use of any other enzyme from any other sub-category)

The Invention can, thus be expressed by the following non-limiting formula -

Enzyme from the sub - category PEROXIDASES ( of the category

OXIDERECTASES) + Diluter + Activator + Acid → The Invention. (IV) In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the Invention, the preferred enzyme is HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE (HRP), belonging in the sub-category PEROXIDASES, without excluding the use of any other enzyme from this or other sub-category The Invention can, thus, be expressed by the following non-limiting formula -

HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE + Diluter + Activator + Acid → The

Invention.

(V) In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the Invention the diluter to be used can be water (H2O ), without excluding the use of oil, fruit juice or any other aqueous ingredient used in the cosmetic industry , the activator to be used can be Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), and the acid to be used can be sulfuπc Acid (H2SO4)

The Invention can, thus, be expressed by the following non-limiting formula - PEROXIDASE (HRP) from Horseradish + Water (H2O) + Hydrogen

Peroxide (H2O2) + Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) → The Invention.

(VI) PREFERRED POSOLOGY

In accordance with the non-limiting preferred embodiment of the Invention included in paragraph (V) above, the following preferred posologies are provided -

ENZYME (Peroxidase) - The activity of peroxidase can be from 50 units/mg up to 500 units/mg Preferred 200 units/mg ACTIVATOR (Hydrogen Peroxide) - The concentration of peroxide that can be safely used (to avoid irritation and burns on the skin) is preferably from 0 1% up to 20% Preferred preferably, 15%

ACID (Sulfunc Acid ) - The concentration of acid that can be safely used

(to avoid irritation and burns on the skin) is preferably from 0 1 - 20%

Preferred preferably, 15%

The ingredients of the composition and their activity or concentration are described in the non-limiting table below -

PREPARATION OF THE COMPOSITION

The enzyme (for example Horseradish Peroxidase) is diluted using the diluter (for example water) , the activator (for example hydrogen peroxide) is then added and finally the acid (for example sulfunc acid) is added using the following non-limiting analogies - For each 1mg of enzyme, 0,5 ml diluter, 1ml activator and 0,5 ml acid. METHOD OF USE OF THE INVENTION

Also provided by the invention is a cosmetic method, for removal of unwanted hair, comprising removal of unwanted hair off a skin portion and applying the composition of the invention onto the skin portion after uprooting of the hair More specifically the preferred process is as follows - (a) The unwanted hair is uprooted from a portion of the skin from which hair is to be removed using tweezers, wax, sugaring or any other method whereby hair is un - plucked from below the surface, i.e. at the root

(b) The composition is then applied on the portion of the skin where uprooting of unwanted hair has been applied.

(c) The composition is left on the skin for a period of 1 up to 60 minutes, preferably 30 minutes and then is washed off using water.

EXPERIMENTS

The following non-limiting experiments are descriped below:- (i) Experiments applied on skin with hair- Experiment 1 :-

Enzyme + Water -» Composition 1

After Composition 1 was applied on the skin, no changes were observed. Experiment 2 :-

Enzyme + Water + Hydrogen Peroxide → Composition 2.

After Composition 2 was applied on the skin, no changes were observed

Experiment 3:-

Water + Hydrogen Peroxide + Acid → Composition 3

After Composition 3 was applied on the skin, no changes were observed

Experiment 4:-

Enzyme + Water + Hydrogen Peroxide + Acid -» Composition 4 - The

Invention

After Composition 4 - Invention was applied on the skin, no changes were observed. Conclusion :- The use of the Composition 4 - Invention on skin with hair is ineffective and causes no changes on hair The same applies to compositions 1 , 2 and 3

(ii) Experiments applied on skin without previous uprooting of hair (e.g. using razor-blade):-

Experiment 1 :- Enzyme + Water → Composition 1

After Composition 1 was applied on the skin hair re-growth was observed

Experiment 2 :-

Enzyme + Water + Hydrogen Peroxide → Composition 2

After Composition 2 was applied on the skin hair re-growth was observed Experiment 3 :-

Water + Hydrogen Peroxide + Acid - Composition 3

After Composition 3 was applied on the skin hair re-growth was observed

Experiment 4 :-

Enzyme + Water + Hydrogen Peroxide + Acid -> Composition 4 →

Invention.

After the application of Composition 4 - Invention on the skin hair re-growth was observed

Conclusion : -

The use of the Composition 4 - Invention on skin without previous uprooting of unwanted hair, does not result in hair extinction, that is hair is re-grown. The same applies to compositions 1 , 2 and 3

(iii) Experiments applied on skin after uprooting of unwanted hair :-

Experiment 1 :-

Enzyme + Water -» Composition 1 The application of Composition 1 on the skin after the unwanted hair was uprooted had the result of hair growth two weeks after the experiment Experiment 2 :-

Enzyme + Water + Hydrogen Peroxide → Composition 2

The application of Composition 2 on the skin after the unwanted hair was uprooted had the result of hair growth two weeks after the experiment Experiment 3 :-

Water + Hydrogen Peroxide + Acid → Composition 3

The application of Composition 3 on the skin after the unwanted hair was uprooted had the result of hair growth two weeks after the experiment

Experiment 4:-

Enzyme + Water + Hydrogen Peroxide + Acid → Composition 4 →

Invention.

The application of Composition 4 - Invention on the skin immediately after the unwanted hair was uprooted had the result of permanent extinction of the unwanted hair.

In one case hair has not re-grown after as many as 10 years.

In this case, as well as with all others, no dermatological, or other problems have been observed. Conclusion :

The composition 4 - Invention applied after unwanted hair is uprooted results in permanent extinction of hair This does not apply to compositions 1 , 2 and 3 since hair re-growth is observed. Note :-

The Invention is effective after proper uprooting of hair Methods of hair removal which result in cutting as opposed to uprooting of the hair, are ineffective Quantity :-

The quantity of liquid required, is analogous to the area of skin requiring permanent hair removal

Skin biopsy:- After the application of the Invention and the accomplishment of permanent hair extinction, a piece of skin (area of 1 2 x 0 5 x 0 3cm) was removed by a specialist doctor, and was subjected to histological laboratory tests to detect any tissue changes It was concluded that no such changes had taken place (2). ADVANTAGES IN COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS TECNIQUES :- (i) In relation to temporary hair removal methods :-

All existing hair removal methods, except in some cases electrolysis, do not result in permanent hair removal Electrolysis may be complicated by temporary irritation from the procedure or later, by pit like scarring Also, incomplete destruction may allow hair re-growth Laser is known to cause some reduction of hair for a certain percentage of people Some side effects like redness, darkening of hght-complexioned skin, scarring, etc are reported Electrolysis and Laser can be very time consuming and extremely costly Depilatories can be useful and cheap, but do not result in permanent hair removal

The most important new feature of the Invention is that it offers a permanent extinction of unwanted hair on different parts on the body, thus freeins people from the trouble of ever having to spent time and money on hair removal

(B) The only requirement for the composition to have 100% effect is to have uprooting of unwanted hair, prior to using the composition

The Invention does not require special equipment, expensive appliances or machines (as used for example in electrolysis or laser)

The simplicity of use of the Invention (by application on the skin) as well as its low price, which is paid only once, makes it easily and widely accessible to all people who need it The invention according to experiments that have taken place over a long time and the laboratory tissue tests, has no side effects on the skin or on the human organism in general

Thus the invention has the following advantages to people -

(a) It frees them from the continuous search for hair removal methods which often cause stress, pain and inconvenience

(b) It saves valuable time to people who, for reasons of aesthetics or cleanliness, are obliged to undertake hair removal on different parts of their body frequently (sometimes between 1 to 4 times per month)

(c) It saves money (d) Frequent hair removal often has adverse effects on the skin, making it rougher Using of the hair removal liquid makes the skin smoother

Claims

THE CLAIMS

1. A topical composition comprising the following :-

(a) Enzyme

(b) Diluter (c) Activator of enzyme (d) Acid

2. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the enzyme belongs to the category of OXIDOREDUCTASES.

3. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the enzyme belongs to the sub- category Peroxidases.

4. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the enzyme is Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP).

5. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the diluter is water, oil, fruit juice or any other aqueous ingredient used in the cosmetic industry.

6. A composition according to Claim 1 , 3 and 4 wherein the activator is Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) 7. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the acid is Sulfhuric Acid

(H2SO4). 3. A method comprising removing unwanted hair from a portion of skin and applying on the said portion a composition according to Claims 1 - 7.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[n_c -.....: ' ,'ιe International Bureau on 10 May 2001 (10 "■ ^' 01); e - i_'.' imil c laims 1 -8 replaced by new claims 1- 10 (1 αg J A topical composition performing a permanent and total extinction of unwanted hair-growth comprising the following and which is used after removal of unwanted hair with any method:

(a) Enzyme

(b) Diluter

(c) Activator of enzyme

(d) Acid A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the enzyme belongs to the category of OXIDOREDUCTASES. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the enzyme belongs to the sub - category Peroxidases. A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the enzyme is Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP). A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the diluter is water, oil, fruit juice or any other aqueous ingredient used in the cosmetic industry. A composition according to Claim 1 , 3 and 4 wherein the activator is Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) A composition according to Claim 1 wherein the acid is a non organic acid A composition according to Claim 1 and 7 wherein the non organic acid is Sulfhuric Acid (H2SO4) A composition according to Claim 1 and 7 wherein the diluter is water, oil, fruit juice or any other aqueous ingredient used in the cosmetic industry. A method comprising permanent removing unwanted hair from a portion of skin and applying on the said portion a composition according to Claims 1 - .

f|CT,C~ ^■-., r- i i '-T ARTICLE 19)