Therapy for melanin related afflictions

Abstract

Methods for treating melanin related afflictions by local administration of a Clostridial toxin, such as a botulinum toxin, to a patient with a melanin related affliction.

1 . A method for treating a melanin related affliction, the method comprising the step of administering a botulinum toxin to the skin of a patient, thereby treating a melanin related affliction.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the melanin related affliction is a skin pigmentation disorder.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the skin pigmentation disorder is treated by increasing the pigmentation of the skin treated so that the treated skin becomes darker.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the skin pigmentation disorder is treated by decreasing the pigmentation of the skin treated so that the treated skin becomes lighter.  
   
   
       5 . A method for influencing a skin pigmentation, the method comprising the step of administering a botulinum toxin to the skin of a patient, thereby influencing a skin pigmentation.  
   
   
       6 . A method for treating a melanin related affliction, the method comprising the step of administering a botulinum toxin to a skin or hair location of a melanin related affliction of a patient, thereby treating the melanin influenced melanin related affliction by reducing a symptom of the melanin related affliction selected from the group of symptoms consisting of pain, inflammation and vascularization.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the melanin related affliction is treated by reducing a size of the melanin influenced affliction.  
   
   
       8 . A method for altering hair color, the method comprising the step of administering a botulinum toxin to the hair, thereby altering the hair color.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the hair color is altered by increasing the amount of pigmentation in the hair so that the hair becomes darker.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hair color is altered by decreasing the amount of pigmentation in the hair so that the hair becomes lighter.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the botulinum toxin is selected from the group consisting of botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the botulinum toxin is a botulinum toxin type A.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the botulinum toxin is administered in an amount of between about 1 unit and about 3,000 units.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the administration is by topical or subcutaneous administration of the botulinum toxin.  
   
   
       15 . A hair removal method, the method comprising the step of administering a botulinum toxin to the hair of a patient.