Regulation of mammalian hair growth

Abstract

The present invention relates to a topical skin care composition containing a safe and effective amount of a skin care active comprising agmatine, and its salt; a safe and effective amount of a first additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of BHT or BHA, hexamidine, cetyl pyridinium chloride, green tea catechins, phytosterols, ursolic acid, compounds derived from plant extracts, their salts and derivatives; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier for the agmatine composition. The present invention also relates to methods of using such agmatine compositions to regulate hair growth and the condition of mammalian skin. Said methods generally comprise the step of topically applying the composition to the skin of a mammal needing such treatment, a safe and effective amount of such compositions.

1 . A topical skin care composition comprising 
 a) a safe and effective amount of a skin care active comprising agmatine;    b) a safe and effective amount of a first additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of BHT or BHA, hexamidine, cetyl pyridinium chloride, green tea catechins, phytosterols, ursolic acid, compounds derived from plant extracts, and their salts and derivatives; and    c) a dermatologically acceptable carrier.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a second additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of BHT or BHA, hexamidine, cetyl pyridinium chloride, green tea catechins, phytosterols, ursolic acid, compounds derived from plant extracts, their salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof, wherein the second skin care active is different from the first skin care active.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises from about 0.001% to about 10% of the agmatine.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises from about 0.001% to about 20% of the first additional skin care active.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises from about 1% to about 10% of agmatine, from about 0.1% to about 10% of cetyl pyridinium chloride, from about 0.01% to about 2% hexamidine, from about 0.01% to about 1% of BHT, from about 0.1% to 10% of green tea catechins and from about 0.1% to 10% of compounds derived from plant extracts.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the green tea catechin is selected from the group consisting of catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, gallocatechin and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises an additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of desquamatory actives, anti-acne actives, vitamin B 3  compounds, peptides, hydroxy acids, anti-oxidants, radical scavengers, chelators, anti-inflammatory agents, topical anesthetics, tanning actives, skin lightening agents, anti-cellulite agents, flavonoids, antimicrobial actives, skin soothing agents, skin healing agents, antifungal actives, sunscreen actives, conditioning agents, structuring agents, thickening agents, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the composition further comprises an additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of desquamatory actives, anti-acne actives, vitamin B 3  compounds, peptides, hydroxy acids, anti-oxidants, radical scavengers, chelators, anti-inflammatory agents, topical anesthetics, tanning actives, skin lightening agents, anti-cellulite agents, flavonoids, antimicrobial actives, skin soothing agents, skin healing agents, antifungal actives, sunscreen actives, conditioning agents, structuring agents, thickening agents, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the third additional skin care active is selected from the group consisting of allantoin, bisabolol, tocopherol nicotinate, niacinamide, tocopherol, tocopherol esters, palmitoyl peptide derivatives, isoflavone, dexpanthenol, panthenol, salicylic acid, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         10 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of the composition of  claim 1  to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         11 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of the composition of  claim 2  to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         12 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of the composition of  claim 8  to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         13 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of agmatine, its salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof, and a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         14 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of hexamidine, its salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         15 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of cetyl pyridinium chloride, its salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         16 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of ursolic acid, its salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         17 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of BHT or BHA, its salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         18 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of BHT or BHA and at least one additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of hexamidine, cetyl pyridinium chloride, phytosterol, green tea catechins, ursolic acid, their salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         19 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of hexamidine and at least one additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of cetyl pyridinium chloride, phytosterol, green tea catechins, ursolic acid, compounds derived from plant extracts, their salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         20 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of cetyl pyridinium chloride and at least one additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of phytosterol, green tea catechins, ursolic acid, compounds derived from plant extracts, their salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         21 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of phytosterol and at least one additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of green tea catechins, ursolic acid, compounds derived from plant extracts, their salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         22 . A method of inhibiting mammalian hair growth, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of green tea catechins and at least one additional skin care active selected from the group consisting of ursolic acid, compounds derived from plant extracts, their salts and derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and a dermatologically acceptable carrier to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         23 . A method of reducing shaving frequency, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of the composition of  claim 1  to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.  
     
     
         24 . A method of reducing shaving frequency, said method comprising the step of topically applying a safe and effective amount of the composition of  claim 2  to the skin of a mammal in need of treatment.