WO2007025264A2

WO2007025264A2 - Topical tanning composition containing medication

Info

Publication number: WO2007025264A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/033599
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander A. Bommarito
Original assignee: SPRAY TANNING Inc
Current assignee: SPRAY TANNING Inc
Priority date: 2005-08-26
Filing date: 2006-08-25
Publication date: 2007-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2008-02-26
Also published as: WO2007025264A3

Abstract

A topical, artificial skin tanning composition comprises a mixture of a tanning substance which darkens a person's skin and a medication which is active on and/ or absorbable by such person's skin. The tanning substance may be dihydroxyacetone, the medication may be turmeric, and the mixture is one which may be sprayed or otherwise applied directly to a person's skin. Any objectionable color of the medication is masked by the tanning substance.

Description

TOPICAL TANNING COMPOSITION CONTAINING MEDICATION

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing dates of U.S. Provisional Applications No. 60/711,474 filed August 26, 2005, and No. 60/713,560 filed September 1, 2005.

[0002] This invention relates to a topical, artificial skin tanning composition comprising a mixture of a tanning solution which darkens a person's skin and turmeric or other medication which is absorbable by the person's skin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The use of topical, artificial skin tanning preparations and the use of topical medications are well known. It also is known that some topical medications, such as turmeric and extracts thereof are objectionable to many persons because they discolor the skin in a manner they consider to be unattractive. For example, turmeric products leave a distinctive, fairly bright yellow color on skin to which they have been applied. In addition, turmeric is an excellent dye and, as a consequence, it is not uncommon for clothing to become stained when worn by a person to whose skin turmeric has been applied. [0004] Making medications available for topical application is desirable for many reasons, one of which is that many persons just do not like to take medication orally, even though the oral taking of such medications may be desirable. However, the same persons have no objection to the topical application of medications, and particularly if some positive social or cosmetic experience is achieved. [0005] Thus, transdermal medication delivery can be medically beneficial upon delivery to a person's skin, as well as a solution to a person's reluctance to the taking of medication orally in accordance with a prescribed regimen. [0006] The medical benefits of turmeric have been known for hundreds of years. Among these benefits are those resulting from treatments for burns, including sun burns, psoriasis, and osteoporosis. Natural medicines, including turmeric and vitamin D, may be incorporated in topical products for treating anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antitumor, anti-allergic, and antioxidant causes, as well as cosmetic benefits such as nourishing and softening of the skin and reducing examples of aging, such as superficial wrinkling and scaling. However, the tendency of turmeric to discolor the skin yellow and to stain clothing inhibits the use of turmeric.

[0007] One of the desirable cosmetic effects sought by many people is that associated with tanning of the skin. Tanning can be achieved by exposure to the sun, by exposure to artificial tanning rays, and by the application to the skin of a skin-tanning solution or other preparation. Tanning by exposure to the sun or by exposure to artificial tanning rays is objected to by some persons becaμse of inconvenience, thereby leaving the application of a tanning substance to the skin as the remaining alternative. However, artificial tanning substances currently available do not provide the user with any significant benefits, other than those associated with cosmetics. A tanning substance according to the invention provides not only the cosmetic benefits, but also therapeutic benefits because of the combination of the tanning substance and medications, and in addition, such substance provides some protection as a sunscreen against erythema or sunburn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] One of the most commonly used solutions for artificial skin tanning is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This substance can be combined with colorants or bronzers and other ingredients, such as moisturizers, antimicrobials, thickeners, solvents, emulsifiers, fragrances, surfactants, stabilizers, and pH adjusters. All of these ingredients and how they are combined are well known in the art. [0009] A significant characteristic of the invention is the provision of a topical foam, liquid, lotion, cream, and the like composition comprising a mixture of the skin tanning substance and a medication which is active on or absorbable via the human skin. An appropriate composition is one that includes the aforementioned DHA and turmeric or an extract therefrom, such as curcumin. Both the DHA and the turmeric react with the skin and, after the passage of a few minutes from the application of the composition to a person's skin, the chemical reaction will cause the person's skin to darken and simulate tanning. The tanning solution will not react with the turmeric but will produce a deep tan coloring and mask the yellowing. [0010] An appropriate, absorbable medication which may be included in the mixture is vitamin D. Good tanning levels with local absorption of vitamin D can be achieved without adverse interactions.

[0011] If the composition also includes a coloring agent, such as NF caramel, which instantly colors a person's skin, it is easier to obtain a uniform application of the composition to the skin because the coloring of the skin will indicate to the applier where the solution has been applied, thereby minimizing the creation of streaks and different shades of coloring.

[0012] The use of NF caramel is preferred over other caramels because it provides initial masking of the turmeric yellowing and has no objectionable interaction with the medications.

THE PERFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] A topical, artificial skin tanning composition according to the invention comprises a mixture of a tanning substance which darkens a person's skin and a medication which is active and may be locally or systemically absorbable by such person's skin. The tanning substance preferably comprises dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which may contain an appropriate amount of water and other additives such as a coloring agent capable of masking medications, biologies, and natural medicines. The medication preferably comprises turmeric or extracts therefrom, such as curcumin or curcuminoids. The mixture can be of such viscosity as to be sprayable in a fine mist from a spray bottle or the like. The mixture also can be in the form of a solution, foam, cream, or lotion for topical application and should contain no insoluble particles such as would interfere with the activity on or absorbance by the skin. The mixture also should contain appropriate solvents for the other ingredients in the composition. Aqueous solvents are adequate for topical agents that easily penetrate the skin. Hydroalcohol solvents will provide acceptable absorption for other agents. [0014] The invention makes possible the incorporation of turmeric and its active ingredients into topical skin care foams, creams, lotions, ointments, and sprayable solutions without turning the skin yellow or staining clothing worn by the person to whose skin the substance is applied. Turmeric is commercially available as a dry powder having the standard characteristics known in pharmacognosy. Since turmeric can vary in its concentration of active ingredients due to growing conditions and harvesting techniques, a known source and standard of turmeric can and should be used. A suitable powder source is McCormick & Co., among others, and a suitable source of turmeric extract is Camden Gray Company, among others.

[0015] In the preparation of the topical skin care product according to the invention a quantity of turmeric powder is weighed and a known weight of such powder is added to a solvent system for extraction of the active ingredients (curcumin, curcuminoids) of the turmeric. Appropriate solvent systems are well known and a good review thereof is available in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry (2003). A typical procedure combines lOOcc of ethanol with lOOcc of isopropyl alcohol and lOOcc of acetone with 30 grams of turmeric powder. However, other procedures and concentrations may be used. [0016] The active ingredients of turmeric are in the soluble liquid portion of the mixture. If allowed to dry, two distinct layers will be formed. The top layer will include the color red mixed with the characteristic yellow color. In the procedure of this invention the liquid phase containing the many active ingredients of turmeric is used. They are added to a composition containing blueberries, coffee berries or beans, green tea extract, or pomegranate extract formulated to receive the turmeric and eliminate or mask its characteristic yellow color.

[0017] In the preparation of the blueberry-turmeric mixture, for example, the blueberries or skins thereof are broken and mixed well with lemon or other citrus juice in about equal parts. The mixture is heated to a level below the boiling temperature of the mixture until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. The heating step assists in the proper color development or biochemical extraction of the active phytochemicals. Following the heating step the liquid phase of the mixture is separated from the solid phase by allowing the mixture to stand, or by filtration. The liquid phase then is combined with the turmeric or extract at the desired concentration. The filtrate may be at ambient or a somewhat higher temperature as a result of heating. Acceptable concentrations range from about 0.5cc to 4.0cc of turmeric extract to lOcc blueberry lemon juice mixture. The resulting solution provides an adequate therapeutic concentration of the turmeric active ingredients for topical use without the yellow staining characteristics.

[0018] If desired, the solution containing the turmeric extract and blueberry-lemon juice mixture may be incorporated into an ointment base which accepts a liquid solution. For example, 10 grams of an ointment base, such as a hydrophilic absorption base available under the trademark AQUAPHOR from Biersdof, Inc., will accept an equal amount of fluid or approximately lOcc of the above mixture. Instead of incorporating the active ingredients and the blueberry-lemon mixture in an ointment base, it can be added to other topical lotions, foams, creams, or sprayable solutions, including moisturizers. . [0019] A mixture containing the other ingredients referred to above may be prepared in substantially the same way. Such other ingredients also may be included with the blueberry-based substance in desired proportions if an increase in the concentration of turmeric is desired. [0020] The combining of the ingredients is easily accomplished in known ways by persons skilled in the art. [0021] If the turmeric active ingredients referred to above are combined only with common body solutions, lotions, ointments, or the like, the resultant substance will have a yellow appearance and, if applied to a person's skin, will stain the skin yellow. However, combining the same concentration of the turmeric active ingredients with the blueberry-lemon juice mixture and then incorporating the combination in a solution, lotion, ointment, or the like results in a product having a blue, tan, or brown appearance according to the concentration of the turmeric. The resulting product does not possess the staining properties common to blueberries or turmeric or the active ingredients thereof. [0022] Although blueberries and lemon juice are preferred, it is possible to use huckleberries, coffee beans, green tea extract, pomegranate, bilberries, bearberries, moonseed berries, mountain currant (ribes novadense), and blue/ purple grapes of many varieties, in lieu of the blueberries. Instead of lemon juice other citrus juices may be used. Other coloring, natural or synthetic, also may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. [0023] The composition mixture may contain the tanning substance, DHA, with colorants to reveal application areas concurrently with application and assist in masking the color of medications, biologic, and natural medicines. Color additives can include NF caramel, at approximately .01% to 5%; yellow 5 food coloring at approximately 0.01 to 1%; blue 1 food coloring at approximately 0.01 to 3%; or red 4 food coloring at approximately 0.01% to 3%, or other natural colors as needed. AU percentages are by volume. [0024] The composition also can contain vitamin D at an approximate concentration of 100 IU to 2000 IU/ml. [0025] The composition may contain turmeric or extracts thereof at approximately 0.1% to 15%, by volume, utilizing solvent extraction by means of water, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, and their mixtures in all proportions or hydrodistillation or supercritical extraction using carbon dioxide and cosolvents. [0026] If the tanning composition includes both vitamin D and turmeric products, the vitamin D should be at a concentration of about 100 IU to 2000 IU/ml and the turmeric products at the percentages specified. [0027] The tanning composition can include other medications, such as biologic or natural medications, for topical use at therapeutic concentrations. For example, ibuprofen in a concentration of 10% - 20% can be dissolved in a hydroalcohol base solution having a pH of about 5.0. [0028] Natural medications, such as green tea, pomegranate, coffee beans, and amino acids have been included in the composition at volume percentages from 0.01 to 6.0 with good results. Glutamine as an amino acid and pomegranate may be included in such product. No reactions or breakdowns of DHA have occurred in stability testings at the preferred concentrations.

[0029] The inclusion in the mixture of DHA and turmeric has been found to have some effect as a sunscreen in avoiding sun burning of some person's skin. [0030] This disclosure is representative of presently preferred forms of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A topical, artificial skin tanning composition comprising a mixture of a tanning substance which darkens a person's skin and a medication which is locally or systemically absorbable by said person's skin.

2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said medication comprises turmeric.

3. The composition according to claim 2 wherein said medication is curcumin extracted from turmeric.

4. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said tanning substance constitutes between about 0.5% and 15% by volume of said composition.

5. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said tanning substance is dihydroxyacetone.

6. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said mixture is in a sprayable liquid form.

7. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said mixture includes at least one vitamin.

8. The composition according to claim 7 wherein said vitamin is vitamin D.

9. The composition according to claim 8 wherein the content of said vitamin D is between about 100-2000 IU/ml.

10. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said mixture is in non- spray able form.

11. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said mixture is in lotion form.

12. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said mixture is in cream form.

13. A topical composition applicable to a person's skin comprising a therapeutic mixture of turmeric having a characteristic yellow color capable of staining a person's skin yellow and a substance which reacts with said turmeric in such manner as to prevent yellow staining of the person's skin.

14. The composition according to claim 13 wherein said substance includes the juice of blueberries.

15. The composition according to claim 13 wherein said substance includes citrus juice.

16. The composition according to claim 13 wherein in the formation of said substance said mixture is heated to a temperature less than the boiling temperature of said mixture.

17. The composition according to claim 13 wherein said mixture has a concentration of between about 0.5cc to 4.0cc of turmeric and about lOcc of said substance.

18. The composition according to claim 13 wherein said composition includes vitamin D.

19. The composition according to claim 13 wherein said mixture forms a sunscreen.