Compositions and kits for the removal of irritating compounds from bodily surfaces

Abstract

The invention provides compositions, methods and kits for the removal of harmful or irritating substances from bodily surfaces. Kits may include a composition containing capsaicin and a capsaicin-cleansing composition, e.g., a composition in which capsaicin is soluble.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . A method for treating pain in an individual in an area of the body affected by pain, comprising: 
 a) administering an afferent nerve fiber blocking regional anesthetic to the affected area;    b) affixing to the affected area a device, wherein said device comprises a skin-adherent patch, the patch including a reservoir comprising a therapeutic formulation whereby said formulation is continuously provided to the surface of the skin for a predetermined period of time, wherein said formulation comprises capsaicin or a capsaicin analog in a total concentration from greater than about 5% to 10% by weight of the formulation, wherein a single administration of said patch affords significant relief of said pain to said individual for at least several weeks; and    c) cleansing the area to which the patch of step b) has been applied by: 
 i) applying to the area a composition comprising about 80 to about 99 percent w/w polyethylene glycol; about 0.1 to about 2.0 percent w/w polyacrylate thickening agent; and the balance water; wherein the composition is at a pH of about 7.0 to about 7.7; and  
 ii) removing the composition of step (c) from the area.  
   
     
     
         24 . (canceled)  
     
     
         25 . A method for treating an individual in need of treatment for a capsaicin-responsive condition comprising: 
 (a) applying a first composition comprising capsaicin or a capsaicin analog to a bodily surface;    (b) applying a second composition in which capsaicin has a solubility of at least about 10% w/w to the bodily surface; and    (c) removing the second composition from the bodily surface.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising administering an anesthetic to the individual prior to or simultaneously with the application of the first composition.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the anesthetic is contained in a lotion or gel.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the first composition is applied by affixing a skin-adherent patch containing the first composition to the bodily surface.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising administering an anesthetic to the individual prior to or simultaneously with the application of the skin-adherent patch.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the skin-adherent patch contains from the 5% to about 10% capsaicin by weight.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25  wherein capsaicin has a solubility of at least about 20% (w/w) in the second composition.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the second composition comprises at least 60% (w/w) polyethylene glycol.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the capsaicin-responsive condition is selected from the group consisting of neuropathic pain, pain produced by mixed nociceptive and/or neuropathic mixed etiologies, inflammatory hyperalgesia, dermatitis, pruritis, itch, psoriasis, warts, headaches, wrinkles and skin cancer.