Skin conditioner

Abstract

The present invention relates to a skin conditioner comprising the compound represented by the general formula: (wherein, the symbols are the same as those defined in the text). Examples of active ingredients of the present invention include L-arginine and ethanolamine. These active ingredients can be acquired as chemical synthesis products, or they may also be acquired in the form of natural substances. Preferable Examples of natural substances include substances containing L-arginine and/or ethanolamine obtained from rice. The skin conditioner as claimed in the present invention demonstrates remarkable effectiveness as an agent for the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis and as a skin moisture retention agent.

1 . A skin conditioner containing one kind or two or more kinds of a compound represented by the following general formula (1):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       (wherein, R 1  represents a hydroxyl group, lower alkoxy group that may optionally have a substitution group, phosphoryloxy group, aryl group, amino group, sulfonic acid group, phosphatidyloxy group, lower alkyl group substituted with a hydroxyl group or amino group or lower alkyl group substituted with a guanidino group; 
 R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  respectively and independently represent a hydrogen atom, lower alkyl group that may optionally be substituted with a hydroxyl group, aryl group that may optionally be substituted with a hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, or R 4  and R 5  represent groups, together with an adjacent carbon atom, form a carbonyl group;  
 R 6  and R 7  respectively and independently represent a hydrogen atom, lower alkyl group that may optionally be substituted with a hydroxyl group, lower alkylcarbonyl group, aryl group, aralkyl group, or R 6  and R 2  represent alkylene groups, which may optionally have a substitution group, that together form a five-member ring with an adjacent hydrogen atom; and, nitrogen atoms in the formula may be in a quaternary form with a lower alkyl group).  
 
     
     
         2 . A skin conditioner according to  claim 1  wherein the compound represented by general formula (1) is L-arginine.  
     
     
         3 . A skin conditioner according to  claim 1  wherein the compound represented by general formula (1) is ethanolamine.  
     
     
         4 . A skin conditioner according to  claim 1  wherein the compound represented by general formula (1) is a compound selected from the group consisting of 2-methoxyethylamine, O-phosphorylethanolamine, 2-ethylaminoethanol, diethanolamine, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, choline, 2-amino-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol, noradrenalin, phenethylamine, ethylenediamine, taurine, phosphatidylethanolamine, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)acetoamide, 2-(methylamino)ethanol, 2-anilinoethanol, 2-(benzylamino)ethanol, 3-amino-1-propanol, 2-amino-1-butanol, putrescine, DL-pyroglutamic acid and triethanolamine.  
     
     
         5 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  3  wherein the compound represented by general formula (1) originates in a rice preparation.  
     
     
         6 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  4  that comprises a mixture of a rice preparation containing the compound represented by general formula (1).  
     
     
         7 . A skin conditioner according to either of claims  5  or  6  wherein the rice preparation is produced by hydrating rice or crushed rice, adding amylase or protease and allowing to react, and adding yeast following completion of the reaction to perform saccharification and fermentation.  
     
     
         8 . A skin conditioner according to either of claims  5  or  6  wherein the rice preparation is produced by hydrating rice or crushed rice, adding one, two each or all of amylase, protease and lipase, heating, and extracting by heating or further repeating these reactions two or more times.  
     
     
         9 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  3  wherein the compound represented by general formula (1) originates in an animal, plant or microbial preparation.  
     
     
         10 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  4  that comprises a mixture of an animal, plant or microbial preparation containing the compound represented by general formula (1).  
     
     
         11 . A skin conditioner according to either of claims  9  or  10  wherein the animal, plant or microbial preparation is produced by fermenting an animal, plant or microbial substance, or adding a fermenting sugar, followed by fermentation.  
     
     
         12 . A skin conditioner according to either of claims  9  or  10  wherein the animal, plant or microbial preparation is produced by adding water, as necessary, to the animal, plant or microbial material, adding one, two each or all of amylase, protease and lipase, heating, and extracting by heating or further repeating these reactions two or more times.  
     
     
         13 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  12  wherein the skin conditioner is an agent for the prevention, prevention of exacerbation or treatment of atopic dermatitis.  
     
     
         14 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  12  wherein the skin conditioner is a skin moisture retention agent.  
     
     
         15 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  12  wherein the skin conditioner is an agent for restoration of the skin's barrier mechanism and function.  
     
     
         16 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  15  which further contains a moisture retention agent.  
     
     
         17 . A skin conditioner according to  claim 16  wherein the moisture retention agent contains one or more substances selected from the group consisting of polyvalent alcohols as represented by glycerin, dipropyleneglycol and 1,3-butyleneglycol; sugars as represented by sorbitol, maltitol, dextrin, hyaluronic acid and chitosan; mucopolysaccharides and sugar derivatives; polypeptides as represented by elastin and collagen; organic acids and their salts as represented by pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, citric acid and lactic acid; biopharmaceutical and natural moisture retention agents as represented by refined rice wine, rice bran, aloe, licorice and chamomile; bio-component moisture retention agents represented by vitamins, placental extract, urea, lecithins, phospholipids, ceramides, cholesterols and sphingolipids; and, vegetable extracts, fruit extracts, kelp extracts, enzymes and inorganic salts; and is one or more substances selected from the group consisting of animal oils, vegetable oils, hydrocarbons, higher alcohols and esters.  
     
     
         18 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  17  that further contains a drug and/or base that can be used in externally applied skin preparations in the form of pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs and cosmetics.  
     
     
         19 . A skin conditioner according to  claim 18  wherein the drug is one or more kinds of substances selected from the group consisting of bactericidal drugs, wound protective agents, wound healing agents, drugs for suppurative diseases, analgesic, anti-itching, astringent and antiphlogistic agents, immunosuppresants, drugs for parasitic skin diseases, skin softeners, hair agents, vitamin agents and biopharmaceuticals, and the base is one or more kinds of substances selected from the group consisting of moisture retention agents, astringents, refrigerants, antioxidants, ultraviolet absorbers, infrared dispersants, preservatives, antibiotics, chelating agents, surfactants, foaming agents, stabilizers, penetrants, assistants, pH adjusters, buffers, emulsifiers, opacefiers, fragrances and pigments.  
     
     
         20 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  19  wherein skin disease is selected from atopic dermatitis, dry skin symptoms, pruritis, frostbite, cracking, chapped skin, skin aging symptoms, skin damage caused by ultraviolet rays, darkening, blackening, skin disorders arising in the epidermis, physicochemical skin disorders, skin symptoms caused by the use of water, soap, detergents, surfactants or solvents, adverse side effects of externally applied skin preparations, biological skin disorders, dermatitis and eczema.  
     
     
         21 . A skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  19  wherein dry skin symptoms are symptoms selected from atopic skin, dry or rough skin, aged skin, ichthyosis, dry skin, chapped skin, asteatosis, xeroderma, dry eczema, facial dry eczema and progressive volar keratoderma, and/or selected from erythema, sclerosis and cornification, cracking, scaling, wrinkles, itching and dry marks, while skin aging symptoms are selected from wrinkles and decreased skin tightness and elasticity, skin damage caused by ultraviolet rays is selected from spots and freckles, skin disorders arising from the epidermis are selected from turnover abnormalities, fineness and moistness, physicochemical skin disorders are selected from cuts, burns and floor burns, biological skin disorders are selected from athlete's foot and skin infections, while dermatitis and eczema are inflammatory cornification disorders.  
     
     
         22 . Cosmetics, quasi-drugs and pharmaceuticals containing the skin conditioner according to any of claims  1  through  19 .