Composition for removing abnormal keratinous material

Abstract

The present invention discloses a pharmaceutical preparation comprising urea, a hydrophilic film-forming agent, water and/or a water-alcohol mixture that is suitable for the removal of abnormal keratinous material.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical preparation comprising 
 a) one or more nonvolatile contituents    b) urea in an amount from 40 percent by weight to 70 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation,    c) a hydrophilic film-forming agent, and    d) water or an alcohol-water mixture.    
     
     
         2 . The preparation of  claim 1 , wherein urea is present in an amount from 41 percent by weight to 69 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile contituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         3 . The preparation of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic film-forming agent is present in an amount from 29 percent by weight to 59 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         4 . The preparation of  claim 1 , wherein urea is present in an amount from 45 percent by weight to 65 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         5 . The preparation of  claim 1 , wherein urea is present in an amount from 46 percent by weight to 63 percent by weight, realtive to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         6 . The preparation of  claim 1 , wherein urea is present in an amount from 55 percent by weight to 63 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         7 . The preparation of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic film-forming agent is a compound selected from among acrylic/methacrylic acid ester copolymers, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyvinyl alcohols, vinyl acetate/vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, vinyl acetate/crotonic acid copolymers, methyl vinyl ether/maleic acid copolymers, polyesters, polyester amides, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The preparation of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic film-forming agent is a polyvinylpyrrolidone.  
     
     
         9 . The preparation of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous-alcoholic solution comprises an alcohol selected from among methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, and a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The preparation of  claim 9 , wherein the alcohol is ethanol, n-propanol or isopropanol.  
     
     
         11 . The preparation of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of alcohol to water is from 9:1 to 1:9.  
     
     
         12 . The preparation of  claim 11 , wherein the ratio of alcohol to water comprises 2 parts of alcohol to 3 parts of water.  
     
     
         13 . The preparation of  claim 1 , further comprising lactic acid.  
     
     
         14 . The preparation of  claim 13 , wherein the lactic acid is present in an amount from 0.5 percent by weight to 5 percent by weight, relative to the weight of the entire preparation.  
     
     
         15 . A method for detaching abnormal keritinous material comprising applying the preparation of  claim 1  to abnormal keritinous material, allowing a sufficient period of time to pass for the preparation to act on the material, and mechanically detaching the material to which the preparation has been applied.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the abnormal keratinous material is selected from among warts, calluses, hard skin, andtoenails and fingernails that have been changed by fungal attack or psoriatic disease.  
     
     
         17 . A method of treating or detaching abnormal keratinous material comprising contacting the abnormal keratinous material with a pharmacuetical preparation comprising 
 a) one or more nonvolatile constitutents,    b) urea in an amount from 30 percent by weight to 90 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation,    c) a hydrophilic film-forming agent, and    d) water or an alcohol-water mixture,    allowing a sufficient period of time to pass for the preparation to act on the material, and mechanically detaching the material to which the preparation has been applied.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein urea is present in an amount from 35 percent by weight to 85 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents or the preparation.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophilic film-forming agent is present in an amount from 15 percent by weight to 65 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein urea is present in an amount from 39 percent by weight to 83 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein urea is present in an amount from 46 percent by weight to 63 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein urea is present in an amount from 55 percent by weight to 63 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein urea is present in an amount from 25 percent by weight to 35 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophilic film-forming agent is present in an amount from 15 percent by weight to 20 percent by weight, relative to the nonvolatile constituents of the preparation.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the abnormal keratinous material is selected from among warts, calluses, hard skin, and toenails and fingernails that have been changed by fungal attack or psoriatic disease.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the urea is present in an amount from 15 percent by weight to 35 percent by weight, relative to the weight of the entire solution.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the urea is present in an amount from 25 percent by weight to 33 percent by weight, relative to the weight of the entire solution.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophilic film-forming agent is present in an amount from approximately 15 percent by weight to approximately 35 percent by weight, realtive to the weight of the entire solution.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the hydrophilic film-forming agent is present from 17 percent to 25 percent, relative to the weight of the entire solution.  
     
     
         30 . A method of hydrating brittle toenails or fingernails comprising applying the preparation of  claim 1  to brittle toenails or fingernails.