Method of treating a skin condition

Abstract

An improved method of treating a skin barrier condition is disclosed. The method involves identifying a target portion of skin on a person where treatment is desired and applying a low-pH composition to the target portion of skin. The low-pH composition contains an effective amount of a vitamin B3 compound and has a pH of less than 5.0.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a skin barrier condition, comprising:
 a) identifying a target portion of skin on a person where treatment is desired; and   b) applying a low-pH composition to the target portion of skin during a treatment period, wherein the low-pH composition comprises an effective amount of niacinamide and has a pH of about 3.5 to less than 4.0 and reduces the amount of S100-A7 [SEQ ID NO: 2] according to the S100-A7 Protein Measurement method.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.01% to about 10% of the niacinamide. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition downregulates S100A7 [SEQ ID NO: 1] 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the synergistic reduction in 5100-A7 [SEQ ID NO: 2] is at least 10% more than a predicted additive amount of S100-A7 [SEQ ID NO: 2] reduction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least one additional skin care active wherein the at least one additional skin care active comprises vitamins, minerals, peptides, sugar amines, sunscreens, oil control agents, flavonoid compounds, anti-oxidants, protease inhibitors, tyrosinase inhibitors, anti-inflammatory agents, moisturizing agents, exfoliating agents, skin lightening agents, anti-acne agents, anti-wrinkle agents, phytosterols, N-acyl amino acid compounds, antimicrobials, antifungals, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.1% to about 10% of a stable fatty alcohol thickener. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the stable fatty alcohol thickener comprises cetyl alcohols, stearyl alcohols, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skin harrier condition is psoriasis or atopic dermatitis. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low-pH composition is free of neutralized thickeners. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, comprising:
 a) determining an effective amount of niacinamide and a pH for providing a reduction in the expression of 5100 calcium binding protein A7 [SEQ ID NO: 1] by contacting keratinocytes with a composition comprising niacinamide and having a pH of about 3.5 to less than 4.0, and measuring the change in the amount of 5100-A7 [SEQ ID NO: 2];   b) combining the effectives amount of niacinamide with a dermatologically acceptable carrier to make a skin care composition at the determined pH;   c) providing the skin care composition to a person exhibiting a symptom of psoriasis or atopic dermatitis; and   d) applying the composition to a portion of skin exhibiting the symptom of psoriasis or atopic dermatitis.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the amount of niacinamide is between 0.01% and 10%, by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the skin care composition comprises at least one additional skin care active. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the composition reduces the S100-A7 level by at least 10% compared to a corresponding neutral pH composition. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the low-pH composition is free of neutralized thickeners.