Composition For Improving Skin Lipid Barrier Function

Abstract

The invention relates to a composition for topical application to the skin comprising effective amounts of a protease inhibitor and a cell differentiation enhancer. The composition is useful in promoting skin lipid barrier repair and maintaining the integrity of the lipid barrier. In this regard, the compositions can be used in the treatment and prevention of dry skin, and associated chrono/proto-aging conditions, in the treatment and prevention of irritation on the skin, in the treatment and prevention of UV-related damage to the skin, and in the enhancement of the retention of self-tanning.

1 . A composition for topical application to the skin comprising from 0.001 to 10% of at least one protease inhibitor selected from the group consisting of white birch extract, silver birch extract,  Boswellia  extract, bearberry extract,  Centella asiatica  extract,  Pygeum  (Prunus)  africanum  extract, betulinol, betulinic acid, boswellic acid, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, oleanol, asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madagassic acid, green tea extract, apple extracts, EGCG, ECG, catechins, phenylpropanoids, phloretin, soy protein, egg protease inhibitors, cholesterol sulfate, phytosterol sulfate, and combinations thereof, and from 0.001 to 10% of at least one cell differentiation enhancer selected from the group consisting of forskolin, sclareolide, 7-dehydrocholesterol, and Vitamin D3 analogs. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  in which the cell differentiation enhancer is sclareolide. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  in which the protease inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of white birch extract, betulinol, betulinic acid,  Boswellia  extract, boswellic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2  in which the protease inhibitor is white birch extract, betulinol, or boswellic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  in which the protease inhibitor is cholesterol sulfate. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  which also contains at least one fatty acid, at least one ceramide, and at least one sterol. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6  in which the fatty acid is a C12-C20 fatty acid. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6  containing about 0.05 to 10% of each of cholesterol sulfate, fatty acid, ceramide, and sterol. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  which further comprises at least one sunscreen. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  which further comprises a self tanning agent. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  in which the self tanning agent is dihydroxyacetone. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising about 0.1 to 1% of the protease inhibitor and about 0.05 to 1% of the cell differentiation enhancer. 
     
     
         13 . A method for treatment or prevention of dry skin which comprises applying to the skin a composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method for reducing or preventing skin's response to irritants or sensitizers comprising applying to the skin a composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A method for protecting skin against effects of exposure to UV radiation comprising applying to the skin a composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A method for protecting skin against effects of exposure to UV radiation comprising applying to the skin a composition of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         17 . A method for tanning the skin without exposure to the sun comprising applying to the skin a composition according to  claim 10 .