Skin barrier composition

Abstract

A skin barrier lotion for protection against contact with irritants comprises: about 5 to 15 percent by weight of a long-chain fatty acid; about 1 to 5 percent by weight of a long-chain fatty alcohol; about 1 to 10 percent by weight of a hydrocarbon oil; about 1 to 30 percent by weight of a silicone skin protectant; about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight of an alkanolamine; about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight of a humectant; about 0.5 to about 10 percent by weight of an inorganic skin protectant; about 0.5 to 15 weight percent of a preservative; and about 50 to 90 percent by weight water. Optionally, the lotion will also contain up to about 5 percent by weight of a fragrance, odor neutralizer or a mixture thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A skin barrier lotion comprising: about 5 to 15 percent by weight of a long-chain fatty acid; about 1 to 5 percent by weight of a long-chain fatty alcohol; about 1 to 10 percent by weight of an oil; about 1 to 30 percent by weight of a silicone skin protectant; about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight of an alkanolamine; about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight of a humectant; about 0.5 to about 10 percent by weight of an inorganic skin protectant; about 0.5 to 15 weight percent of a preservative; and about 50 to 90 percent by weight water.  
     
     
         2 . The lotion of  claim 1 , further comprising up to about 5 percent by weight of a fragrance, odor neutralizer or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid is a substituted or unsubstituted carboxylic acid having about 12 to 22 carbon atoms and a melting point higher than the temperature of skin to which the lotion is to be applied.  
     
     
         4 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid and tricosanoic acid.  
     
     
         5 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid comprises stearic acid.  
     
     
         6 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the long chain fatty alcohol has about 14 to 22 carbon atoms and a melting point higher than the temperature of skin to which the lotion is to be applied.  
     
     
         7 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the long chain fatty alcohol is selected from the group consisting of myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol.  
     
     
         8 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the long chain fatty alcohol comprises cetyl alcohol.  
     
     
         9 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, plant-derived oils and animal-derived oils.  
     
     
         10 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the oil comprises a light mineral oil.  
     
     
         11 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the silicone skin protectant is selected from the group consisting of as amodimethicone, cyclomethicone, hexadecyl methicone, dimethicone, methicone and vinyidimethicone.  
     
     
         12 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the silicone skin protectant comprises dimethicone.  
     
     
         13 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the alkanolamine is selected from the group consisting of ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, isopropanolamine, diisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine and methylethanolamine.  
     
     
         14 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the alkanolamine comprises triethanolamine.  
     
     
         15 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the humectant is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mannitol.  
     
     
         16 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the humectant comprises glycerol.  
     
     
         17 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic skin protectant is selected from the group consisting of calamine, kaolin, zinc oxide and zinc carbonate.  
     
     
         18 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic skin protectant comprises zinc oxide.  
     
     
         19 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the preservative is selected from the group consisting of phenols, alcohols, aldehydes, dyes, surfactants, furan derivatives, quinoline and isoquinoline derivatives, guanidines and amidines.  
     
     
         20 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the preservative comprises an alcohol.  
     
     
         21 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the preservative comprises benzyl alcohol.  
     
     
         22 . The lotion of  claim 1 , wherein the long chain fatty acid is present in stoichiometric excess over that amount needed to form a salt with the alkanolamine.  
     
     
         23 . The lotion of  claim 22 , wherein the long chain fatty acid is present in amounts which produce lotion pH values about 5 to 6.  
     
     
         24 . A skin barrier lotion comprising: about 8 to 11 percent by weight of a long-chain fatty acid; about 1 to 4 percent by weight of a long-chain fatty alcohol; about 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of an oil; about 4 to 8 percent by weight of a silicone skin protectant; about 1 to about 2 percent by weight of an alkanolamine; about 1 to about 2 percent by weight of a humectant; about 0.5 to about 3 percent by weight of an inorganic skin protectant; about 0.5 to 5 weight percent of a preservative; and about 50 to 90 percent by weight water.  
     
     
         25 . The lotion of  claim 24 , further comprising up to about 1 percent by weight of a fragrance, odor neutralizer or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         26 . A skin barrier lotion comprising: about 8 to 11 percent by weight of stearic acid; about 1 to 4 percent by weight of cetyl alcohol; about 0.5 to 5 percent by weight of a light mineral oil; about 4 to 8 percent by weight of dimethicone; about 1 to about 2 percent by weight of triethanolamine; about 1 to about 2 percent by weight of glycerol; about 0.5 to about 3 percent by weight of zinc oxide; about 0.5 to 5 weight percent of benzyl alcohol; and about 50 to 90 percent by weight water.  
     
     
         27 . The lotion of  claim 26 , further comprising up to about 1 percent by weight of a fragrance, odor neutralizer or a mixture thereof.