Wrinkle reducing skin patch, process of manufacture and useful articles thereof

Abstract

This invention relates to a novel method of reducing the appearance of rhytides (“facial wrinkles”) and/or infra-orbital shadows (“dark circles”) under the eyes, and striae (“stretch marks”), or lentigo senilis (“age spots”), and hyper/hypo pigmentation on other anatomical areas. Particularly, this invention relates to a topical patch worn on the skin that in a preferred embodiment incorporates two distinct layers, each providing useful features and together providing a novel article and method of improving skin cosmesis. Ease of use, patient comfort and cost effectiveness are provided. The patch is applied to the affected area and preferably worn at least several hours and more preferably worn overnight. The product increases the hydration level of the skin over which it is applied. There is a slight increase to the volume of the local superficial tissue, which serves to tighten the overlying skin and reduce the size and quantity of fine wrinkles at least temporarily. Various active ingredients, such as peptides, vitamin compounds, antioxidants, growth factors, glycolic or alphahydroxy acids, etc., may be incorporated into the present invention thereby providing an enhanced effect or other perceived advantage in the market. 20

1 . A skin patch for reducing facial wrinkles, infra-orbital shadows, striae, lentigo senilis, or hyper/hypo pigmentation, comprising a membrane having
 a first layer having a skin contacting surface,   the first layer comprising a silicone-containing material and an additive for wrinkle reduction and/or other clinical indications;   wherein said additive is a therapeutic active ingredient.   
     
     
         2 . The skin patch of  claim 1 ,
 the silicone-containing material being a silicone elastomer, silicone gel, or a silicone-elastomer, a silicone gel, or a silicone interpenetrating polymer network.   
     
     
         3 . The skin patch of  claim 1 ,
 the silicone-containing material being polysiloxane   
     
     
         4 . The skin patch of  claim 1 ,
 the silicon-containing material being polydimethylsiloxane.   
     
     
         5 . The skin patch of  claim 1 ,
 the silicone-containing material being an interpenetrating polymer network of polysiloxane and polytetrafluoroethylene.   
     
     
         6 . The skin patch of  claim 1 ,
 the silicone-containing material being a semi-interpenetrating polymer network of polydimethylsiloxane and polytetrafluoroethylene.   
     
     
         7 . The skin patch of  claim 1 ,
 the additive being peptides, vitamin compounds, antioxidants, growth factors, glycolic or alphahydroxy acids, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The skin patch of  claim 1 ,
 the skin patch having an outer layer opposite the skin contacting surface, the outer layer having a slick outer surface to minimize friction and adherence to bed linen.   
     
     
         9 . The skin patch of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene is impregnated with a mixture of the polysiloxane and the additive; and   wherein said membrane comprises a cross-linked solid or elastomer gel that is an interpenetrating polymer network having a polysiloxane/additive skin-contacting surface and a distal or upper surface comprised of the interpenetrating polymer network of polysiloxane and polytetrafluoroethylene.   
     
     
         10 . The skin patch of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene is impregnated with a mixture of the polydimethylsiloxane and the additive; and   wherein said membrane comprises a cross-linked solid or elastomer gel that is a semi-interpenetrating polymer network having a polydimethylsiloxane/additive skin-contacting surface and a distal or upper surface comprised of the semi-interpenetrating polymer network of polysiloxane and polytetrafluoroethylene.   
     
     
         11 . The skin patch of  claim 1 , the additive being useful for wrinkle reduction and/or other clinical indications. 
     
     
         12 . The skin patch of  claim 11 , the additive being peptides, vitamin compounds, antioxidants, growth factors, glycolic or alphahydroxy acids, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The skin patch of  claim 9 , the additive being useful for wrinkle reduction and/or other clinical indications. 
     
     
         14 . The skin patch of  claim 13 , the additive being peptides, vitamin compounds, antioxidants, growth factors, glycolic or alphahydroxy acids, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The skin patch of  claim 10 , the additive being useful for wrinkle reduction and/or other clinical indications. 
     
     
         16 . The skin patch of  claim 15 , the additive being peptides, vitamin compounds, antioxidants, growth factors, glycolic or alphahydroxy acids, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The skin patch of  claim 1 , the outer layer being a fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The skin patch of  claim 1 , wherein the skin patch is self-adhering to the treatment area. 
     
     
         19 . The skin patch of  claim 11 , having an outer layer opposite the skin contacting surface, the outer layer having a slick outer surface to minimize friction and adherence to bed linen, the outer layer being a fabric; and wherein the distal or upper surface of said silicone-containing material is bonded to said outer fabric layer. 
     
     
         20 . The skin patch of  claim 9 , having an outer layer opposite the skin-contacting surface, the outer layer having a slick outer surface to minimize friction and adherence to bed linen, the outer layer being a fabric, wherein the distal or upper surface of said silicone-containing material is bonded to said outer fabric layer. 
     
     
         21 . The skin patch of  claim 10 , having an outer layer opposite the skin-contacting surface, the outer layer having a slick outer surface to minimize friction and adherence to bed linen, the outer layer being a fabric, wherein the distal or upper surface of said silicone-containing material is bonded to said outer fabric layer. 
     
     
         22 . The skin patch of  claim 1 , wherein said membrane is PTFE. 
     
     
         23 . The skin patch of  claim 19 , wherein said membrane is PTFE. 
     
     
         24 . The skin patch of  claim 10 , wherein said additive comprises an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of: a peptide, a vitamin compound, an antioxidant, a growth factor, a glycolic, alphahydroxy acid, and combinations thereof, and wherein said film of silicone-containing material in which said active ingredient has been added is cross-linked with said membrane. 
     
     
         25 . The skin patch of  claim 24 , wherein said additive comprises a peptide fat nulation containing Glycerin, Steareth-20, hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7. 
     
     
         26 . The skin patch of  claim 10 , wherein said additive comprises a peptide formulation containing hydroglycolic extract of polymannuronate extracted from Macrocystis pyrifera, and wherein said film of silicone-containing material in which said additive has been added is cross-linked with said membrane.