Gel for treatment of skin diseases and for disinfection of the skin

Abstract

Gel for local treatment of skin diseases and for prophylaxis, characterized by containing more than 90% of a drying and/or protein coagulating, short-chained alcohol or alcohol mixture, primarily ethanol, and possibly adjuvants or additives and by containing a gelling agent, that possesses good skin-adhesive properties, that gives a matrix formation of alcohol or alcohol mixtures, that creates an evaporation inhibiting effect, gives a prolonged effect, and form a protective plaster when the gel has dried.

1 . A method of treating a skin disorder caused by an insect bite or sting wherein a composition comprising more than 90% by weight alkanol selected from C 1-4  alkane-mono-ols, -diols and -triols and less than 10% by weight water, is applied to the area of skin affected by said disorder, and is retained in contact with the said area of skin for a period in the range 1 minute to 48 hours, whereby the sting or bite is cured.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the said period is in the range 5 minutes to 6 hours.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  in which a first dose of said composition is retained in contact with the skin for a period in the range 5 minutes to 6 hours and then a second dose of the composition is applied to the said area of skin and is retained in contact with the said area of skin for a further period in the range 5 minutes to 6 hours.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a polymeric gelling agent dispersed or dissolved in the alkanol.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein the active sting or bite curing ingredient consists essentially of said alkanol.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the said active consists essentially only of said alkanol.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 4  wherein said composition consists essentially only of alkanol, gelling agent and water.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the alkanol is ethanol.  
     
     
         9 . A method of treating skin affected by an outbreak of herpes, wherein an antiviral composition consisting essentially of more than 90% by weight alkanol selected from C 1-4  alkane-mono-ols, -diols and -triols and less than 10% water, is contacted with the area of skin affected by said outbreak and is retained in contact with said area for a period of at least about 1 hour.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein a first dose of the said composition is retained in contact with said area for a first period of about 1 hour and then one or more further doses of said composition is (are) applied to and retained in contact with said area each for a further period of at least about 1 hour.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein, following said further doses, one or more follow-up doses of said composition is (are) applied to and retained in contact with said area each for a period of about 3 to about 5 hours until said outbreak is cured.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the composition comprises an effective gelling amount of a polymeric gelling agent dissolved or dispersed in the alcohol.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the polymeric gelling agent has a molecular weight of at least about 10 4  kDa and is -present in the composition in an amount in the range 0.1 to 10% by weight.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the polymeric gelling agent is present in an amount in the range 0.5 to 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the said outbreak is of herpes labialis or herpes genitalis.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the composition is applied to and retained in contact with said area of skin from a cotton ball impregnated with said composition.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the concentration of alkanol in the composition is at least 95%.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein said concentration is about 99%.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein said first period is about 1 hour.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein each said further period is about 1 hour and in which there are 2 to 4 said further periods.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said concentration of alkanol is at least 95% by weight.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein said concentration is about 99% by weight.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 9  in which said alkanol is ethanol.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 16  in which said alkanol is ethanol.  
     
     
         25 . A method of treating a skin eruption caused by an intracellular infection of herpes virus by applying to the infected tissue an antiviral composition consisting essentially of more than 90% by weight from C 1-4  alkane-mono-ols and -diols, and less than 10% by weight of water.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25  in which the alkanol is selected from methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the alkanol is selected from n-propanol and isopropanol and mixtures.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 26  in which the alkanol is n-propanol.  
     
     
         29 . A method of treating a skin eruption caused by an intracellular infection of herpes virus by applying to the infected tissue a composition comprising at least 70% by weight n-propanol, and less than 30% by weight water.  
     
     
         30 . A method of treating a skin eruption caused by an intracellular infection of herpes virus by applying to the infected tissue a composition comprising at least 80% by weight alkanol, selected from C 3 - and C 4 -alkane mono-ols and mixtures and less than 20% by weight water.  
     
     
         31 . A composition for treating skin disorders comprising more than 90% by weight of an alkanol selected from isopropanol, n-propanol, mixtures of isopropanol and n-propanol, mixtures of propanol, selected from isopropanol, n-propanol and mixtures thereof, and ethanol in which the ratio of propanol to ethanol is in the range 10:1 to 1:10, a polymeric gelling agent in an amount in the range 0.1 to 10% by weight and less than 10% by weight water.  
     
     
         32 . A composition according to  claim 31  comprising further an effective amount of an additional active ingredient selected from a local anaesthetic, an analgesic, an antihistamine and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         33 . A composition for treating skin disorders comprising more than 90% by weight of an alkanol selected from C 1 , C 3  and C 4  alkanols, mixtures thereof and mixtures thereof with ethanol wherein the ratio of (C 1  C 3  and/or C 4  alkanol): ethanol is in the range 1:10 to 10:1, a polymeric gelling agent in an amount in the range 0.1 to 10% by weight and less than 10% by weight water.  
     
     
         34 . A composition according to  claim 33  comprising further an effective amount of an additional active ingredient selected from a local anaesthetic, an analgesic, an anti-histamine and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         35 . A composition according to  claim 33  comprising further one or more vitamins dissolved or dispersed in the alcohol.  
     
     
         36 . A composition according to  claim 33  wherein the gelling agent is present in an amount in the range 0.5 to 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         37 . A method of treating a skin disorder by applying to the skin a composition comprising more than 90% by weight of an alkanol selected from isopropanol, n-propanol, mixtures of isopropanol and n-propanol, mixtures of propanol, selected from isopropanol, n-propanol and mixtures thereof, and ethanol in which the ratio of propanol to ethanol is in the range 10:1 to 1:10, a polymeric gelling agent in an amount in the range 0.1 to 10% by weight and less than 10% by weight water.  
     
     
         38 . A method of treating a skin disorder by applying to the skin a composition comprising more than 90% by weight of an alkanol selected from C 1 , C 3  and C 4  alkanols, mixtures thereof and mixtures thereof with ethanol wherein the ratio of (C 1  C 3  and/or C 4  alkanol): ethanol is in the range 1:10 to 10:1, a polymeric gelling agent in an amount in the range 0.1 to 10% by weight and less than 10% by weight water.  
     
     
         39 . A composition for treating skin disorders comprising at least 70% by weight n-propanol, less than 30% by weight water and 0.1 to 10% by weight polymeric gelling agent.  
     
     
         40 . A composition for treating skin disorders comprising at least 80% by weight of an alkanol selected from C 3  and C 4  alkane-mono-ols and mixtures thereof, 0.1 to 10% by weight of a polymeric gelling agent and less than 10% by weight water.