Reducing hair growth, hair follicle and hair shaft size and hair pigmentation

Abstract

The present invention utilizes natural and/or synthetic serine protease inhibitory agents or botanical extracts containing serine protease inhibitory activity, with or without the addition of one or more isoflavones and/or additional natural extracts containing one or more isoflavones, and their ability to affect changes in mammalian hair growth, hair follicle and hair shaft size and hair pigmentation.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for effecting changes in mammalian hair appearance, hair growth, hair pigmentation and hair follicle and hair shaft size, comprising topical application to the skin of a mammal an effective amount of a topically active composition comprising one or more compounds derived from one or more of the botanical families leguminosae, solanaceae, gramineae and cucurbitaceae.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said extract contains at least one serine protease inhibitory activity.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said at least one serine protease inhibitory active agent is a serine protease inhibitor.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said at least one serine protease inhibitor is present in an amount, based upon the total volume of the topically active composition, of from about 0.0001% (w/v) to 20% (w/v).  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the at least one serine protease inhibitor is present in an amount, based upon the total volume of the topically active composition, of from about 0.001% (w/v) to about 5% (w/v).  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein one of said changes is a delay in hair growth, reduced hair follicle and hair shaft size and reduced hair pigmentation.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said topically active composition further comprises a pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said topically active composition further comprises one or more isoflavones.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said topically active composition further comprises a pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable vehicle.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said topically active composition further comprises natural extracts containing one or more isoflavones.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said composition is applied topically in conjunction with one or more products whose purpose is to either facilitate the removal of hair or actually remove hair or reduce hair visibility or improve hair style or improve hair management.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said composition is applied topically before or following hair removal.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said composition is applied topically during hair removal.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said composition is applied topically in conjunction with one or more of the group consisting of: depilatory agents, shampoo, hair conditioner, styling gel, hair care products, waxing products, shaving products, hair-removal products, after-shave products, deodorant, anti-perspirant, electrolysis, laser hair removal, light-induced hair removal, mask, bath additives.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising leaving said composition on said skin for a period sufficient to effect said changes.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said period is daily treatment for at least about four weeks.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein said composition is applied daily for at least eight weeks.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said composition is applied daily to reduce or prevent pseudofolliculitis barbae.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said composition is applied daily to the axilliary area to reduce hair growth.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said composition is applied daily to the scalp to style and improve management of African type hair.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said composition is added daily to a bath.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said composition is used daily on facial or body parts for delaying hair growth and reducing hair visibility in sufferers of hirsutism.  
     
     
         23 . A composition for affecting changes in mammalian hair growth, hair pigmentation and hair shaft and follicle size, comprising topically applying to skin of a mammal an effective amount of a topically active composition comprising one or more compounds derived from one or more of the botanical families leguminosae, solanaceae, gramineae and cucurbitaceae.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein the extract contains at least one serine protease inhibitory activity.  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24  wherein the at least one serine protease inhibitory active agent is present in an amount, based upon the total volume of the topically active composition, of from about 0.0001% (w/v) to about 20% (w/v).  
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 25  wherein the at least one protease inhibitory active agent is present in an amount, based upon the total volume of the topically active composition, of from about 0.001% (w/v) to about 5% (w/v).  
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein the composition further comprises one or more isoflavones.  
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein the composition further comprises one or more natural extracts containing one or more isoflavones.  
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein the composition further comprises surfactants, moisturizers, humectants, foaming agents, cosmetic adjuvants, buffering agents, preservatives, anti-oxidants, conditioners, depigmenting agents, hair removal agents, anti-aging agents, sunscreens, fragrances, colorants, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein said composition is in the form of liquid, cream, gel, paste, powder, essence, mousse, emulsion, film patch or spray.  
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein said composition further comprises one or more products whose purpose is to either facilitate the removal of hair or actually remove hair or reduce hair visibility or improve hair management.  
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 23  wherein said composition further comprises one or more of the group consisting of: depilatory cream, shampoo, hair conditioner, styling gel, hair care products, waxing products, shaving products, hair removal products, after-shave products, deodorant, anti-perspirant, pre- or post-electrolysis products, pre- or post-laser hair removal products, pre- or post-light-induced hair removal products, mask, bath additives.  
     
     
         33 . A composition according to  claim 23  wherein said compound is derived from legumes.  
     
     
         34 . A composition according to  claim 33  wherein said compound is derived from soy, lima and/or black beans.  
     
     
         35 . A composition according to  claim 34  wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of soybean milk, limabean milk, blackbean milk, soybean extract, limabean extract, blackbean extract, soybean paste, limabean paste, blackbean paste, soybean powder, blackbean powder, limabean powder, soymilk powder, blackbean milk powder and limabean milk powder and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         36 . A composition according to  claim 35  wherein said compound is a fraction of soybean milk, soybean extract, soybean paste, limabean milk, limabean extract, limabean paste, blackbean milk, blackbean extract, blackbean paste, soybean powder, blackbean powder, limabean powder, soymilk powder, blackbean milk powder and limabean milk powder and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         37 . A composition according to  claim 35  comprising bean milk in an amount of from about 1 to about 99% by weight.  
     
     
         38 . A composition according to  claim 35  comprising soybean powder, soymilk powder or a mixture thereof in an amount of from about 1 to about 99% by weight.  
     
     
         39 . A composition according to  claim 36  comprising soybean trypsin inhibitor, limabean trypsin inhibitor or blackbean trypsin inhibitor in an amount of from about 0.0001 to about 20% by weight.  
     
     
         40 . A composition according to  claim 33  said composition further comprising one or more isoflavones.  
     
     
         41 . A composition according to  claim 33  said composition further comprising one or more natural extracts containing one or more isoflavones.  
     
     
         42 . A composition according to  claim 40  wherein said one or more isoflavones are present in said composition in amount of from about 0.00001 to about 0.1% by weight.  
     
     
         43 . A composition according to  claim 41  wherein said one or more natural extract containing said one or more isoflavones are present in said composition in amount of from about 0.00001 to about 0.1% by weight.  
     
     
         44 . A cosmetic composition according to  claim 23 , said composition further comprising a cosmetically-acceptable vehicle.  
     
     
         45 . A composition according to  claim 23  wherein said composition further comprises liposomes.  
     
     
         46 . A composition according to  claim 45  wherein said composition comprises glycerol dilaurate, cholesterol, polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether and polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether.  
     
     
         47 . A composition according to  claim 23  wherein said composition comprises from about 1 to about 99% bean milk, from about 0.1 to about 20% emulsifier and preservatives in an effective amount.  
     
     
         48 . A composition according to  claim 23  wherein said composition comprises from about 0.5 to about 20% soybean powder or soymilk powder, from about 0.1 to about 20% emulsifier and preservatives in an effective amount.  
     
     
         49 . A composition according to  claim 47  wherein said composition further comprises one or more isoflavones in an amount of from about 0.00001 to about 0.1%.  
     
     
         50 . A composition according to  claim 47  wherein said composition further comprises one or more natural extracts comprising one or more isoflavones in an amount of from about 0.0001 to about 0.1%.  
     
     
         51 . A composition according to  claim 23  wherein said composition further comprises one or more isoflavones in an amount of from about 0.0001 to about 0.1%.  
     
     
         52 . A composition according to  claim 48  wherein said composition further comprises one or more natural extracts comprising one or more isoflavones in an amount of from about 0.0005 to about 0.05%.