Hair loss abstract
Dermatological/cosmetic compositions for reducing or decelerating
human hair loss comprise an effective hair loss-reducing amount
of combinatory immixture of (a) at least one antifungal agent and
(b) at least one halogenated antibacterial agent other than a macrolide
or pyranoside, characteristically formulated in a topically physiologically
acceptable medium therefor.
Hair loss claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for decelerating hair loss, comprising topically applying
a dermatological/cosmetic composition comprising an effective hair
loss-reducing amount of an immixture of (a) zinc pyrithione and
optionally at least one additional antifungal agent and (b) at least
one halogenated antibacterial agent other than a macrolide or pyranoside.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of antifungal
agent to said at least one halogenated antibacterial agent ranges
from 0.2 to 10.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said administered composition
comprises from 0.1% to 2% weight of at least one antifungal agent.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said administered composition
comprises from about 0.01% to 10% by weight of at least one halogenated
antibacterial agent.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said administered composition
comprises from about 0.01% to 10% by weight of said at least one
halogenated antibacterial agent.
6. The of claim 1 wherein said administered composition comprises
from about 0.1% to 2% by weight of said at least one halogenated
antibacterial agent.
Hair loss description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel dermatological/cosmetic
compositions comprising at least one antifungal agent and at least
one halogenated antibacterial agent, other than those of the genera
macrolide and pyranoside, and to topical applications thereof for
the reduction of hair loss.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has long been known to this art that natural hair loss in humans
reflects the overall equilibrium of hair follicles between the alternating
growth phases (anagenic phases) and the hair loss phases (telogenic
phases). The average ratio of the number of follicles in the anagenic
phase to that in the telogenic phase is on the order of 9 (90/10).
The percentage of follicles in the rest or quiescent phase (catagenic
phase) appears to be very low.
Natural hair loss may be estimated, on average, to be a few hundred
hairs per day for a normal physiological state. For a pathological
physiological state, this number may attain a value of several hundred
per day, leading to alopecia.
Moreover, a microbiological flora exists at the surface of the
scalp, this flora consisting naturally of bacteria and yeasts. When
an imbalance occurs in the natural composition of this flora, hair
loss may be increased.
It too is known, moreover, that certain factors such as hormonal
imbalance, physiological stress or food deficiencies may accelerate
the phenomenon.
In order to reduce hair loss, FR-2,618,068 describes treatment
of the scalp with a composition containing an antifungal agent which
is optionally combined with an anti-inflammatory agent and/or with
an antibiotic agent selected from among the macrolides or the pyranosides.
However, such compositions are not entirely satisfactory since,
although the reduction of hair loss is more pronounced than with
treatment using an antifungal agent alone, topical application of
anti-inflammatory agents have a tendency to bring about variations
in the natural composition of the microbiological flora, thereby
increasing the risks of infection.
Antibiotic agents are not entirely satisfactory either, since they
are often unstable in cosmetic or dermatological compositions. In
addition, they promote bacterial resistance phenomena, thus resulting
in lesser effectiveness of the compositions intended to reduce or
decelerate hair loss.
The topical application of antibacterial agents does not promote
these resistance phenomena, but it appears that most of the conventional
antibacterial agents inhibit the action of antifungal agents, thereby
also reducing the effectiveness of compositions containing this
type of combination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now unexpectedly been determined that compositions intended
to reduce or decelerate hair loss and containing an antifungal agent
are more effective when this agent is combined with a halogenated
antibacterial agent not of the macrolide and pyranoside families;
surprisingly, these halogenated antibacterial agents do not inhibit
the action of antifungal agents as is the case with the nonhalogenated
antibacterial agents.
In addition, such halogenated antibacterial agents are very stable
when they are formulated into the compositions of the invention
and they promote no bacterial resistance.
Briefly, the present invention thus features novel dermatological/cosmetic
compositions comprising at least one antifungal agent and at least
one halogenated antibacterial agent, other than those of the genera
macrolide and pyranoside, and to topical applications thereof for
the reduction of hair loss.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEST MODE AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF
THE INVENTION
More particularly according to the present invention, it is observed
that after a few weeks of treatment, the appearance of the hair
is improved, and the hair is, in particular, shinier, lighter and
less greasy.
According to the invention, by the term "antifungal agent"
is intended any substance capable of inhibiting or preventing the
growth of yeasts, in particular those found at the surface of the
epidermis which is rich in sebaceous glands and especially at the
surface of the scalp such as, for example, Pityrosporum ovale and
varieties thereof (Pityrosporum orbiculare and Malassezia furfur).
Among the antifungal agents suitable for formulation according
to the invention, particularly representative are terbinafine, zinc
pyrithione, selenium sulfide, tars and derivatives thereof, undecylenic
acid an salts thereof and hydroxypyridone derivatives such as CICLOPIROX,
i.e., 6-cyclohexyl-1-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(1 H)-pyridone, or OCTOPIROX,
i.e., 1-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,'4-trimethylpentyl)-2-(1 H)-pyridone.
These antifungal agents are preferably present in the compositions
in accordance with this invention at a concentration ranging from
0.01% to 5% by weight approximately relative to the total weight
of the composition. Even more preferably, the concentration of antifungal
agents may range from 0.1% to 2% by weight relative to the total
weight of the composition.
Also according to the invention, by the term "halogenated
antibacterial agent" is intended any substance containing at
least one halogen atom and capable of inhibiting or preventing the
growth of the bacterial flora present at the surface of epidermis
which is rich in sebaceous glands.
The halogenated antibacterial agents according to the present invention
are preferably benzene derivatives.
Among the halogenated antibacterial agents suitable for formulation
according to the invention, particularly exemplary are chlorinated
antibacterial agents such as triclosan, i.e., 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol,
marketed under the trademark IRGASAN by Ciba-Geigy, chlorhexidine
and derivatives thereof, chloramphenicol and 1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-1-(1
H-imidazolyl)-3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone, marketed under the trademark
CLIMBAZOLE by Bayer. These halogenated antibacterial agents are
preferably present in the compositions in accordance with the invention
at a concentration which may range from 0.01% to 10% by weight approximately
relative to the total weight of the composition. Even more preferably,
the concentration of antibacterial agents may range from 0.1% to
2% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
The weight ratio of the antifungal agents to the halogenated antibacterial
agents may vary over wide limits. In particular, this weight ratio
preferably ranges from 0.2 to 10.
The compositions in accordance with this invention may be in various
forms typically employed in cosmetics or in dermatology for the
treatment of the scalp.
They may, more particularly, be formulated with a topically physiologically
(dermatologically/cosmetically) acceptable vehicle, carrier or diluent
in the form of lotions, shampoos, foams, creams, gels, sticks, sprays,
balms, ointments, milks, salves, emulsions, powders, or solid or
liquid soaps.
The physiologically acceptable medium generally comprises water
or of a mixture of water and at least one organic solvent which
is physiologically acceptable for the purpose of a topical application.
Among these solvents, exemplary are acetone, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 lower
alcohols such as ethanol and
isopropyl alcohol, alkylene glycols such as ethylene glycol and
propylene glycol, ethylene glycol monomethyl, monoethyl or monobutyl
ethers, the monoethyl ethers of propylene glycol and of dipropylene
glycol, the C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl esters of short-chain acids and
polytetrahydrofuran ethers. When these are indeed present, such
solvents preferably constitute from 1% to 80% by weight of the total
weight of the composition.
The medium may be thickened using thickening agents typically employed
in cosmetics or in pharmaceuticals.
Among these thickening agents, particularly exemplary are cellulose
and derivatives thereof such as cellulose ethers, heterobiopolysaccharides
such as xanthan gum, scleroglucans, and polyacrylic acids which
either may or may not be crosslinked.
The thickening agents are preferably present in proportions ranging
from 0.1% to 5% by weight approximately relative to the total weight
of the composition.
Depending on the intended application of the subject compositions,
one skilled in this art can easily select the particular compounds
and adjuvants that are necessary and characteristically employed
to formulate these compositions.
Among these adjuvants or additives, especially representative are
preservatives, stabilizing agents, pH regulators, osmotic pressure
modifiers, emulsifying agents, sunscreen agents, antioxidants, fragrances,
colorants, anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric or zwitterionic
surface-active agents or mixtures thereof, polymers, and the like.
In addition to the particular antifungal/antibacterial species
according to the invention, the subject compositions may also contain
compounds already known for reducing or decelerating hair loss.
This invention also features a cosmetic treatment for the hair
and/or the scalp, comprising applying thereto a composition as described
above, for the purpose of reducing hair loss.
The preferred regime or regimen of application comprises applying
1 to 20 g of the composition to all or to certain parts of the scalp,
at a frequency of one to two applications per day, for 1 to 7 days
per week, for a period of time of from 1 to 6 months or even longer.
In order to further illustrate the present invention and the advantages
thereof, the following specific examples are given, it being understood
that same are intended only as illustrative and in nowise limitative.
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