Topical compositions and methods of using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods of using the same such as, for example, methods of treating the skin of a subject using a composition as described herein. The composition may comprise a diluent, a solvent, a penetration enhancing agent, a skin brightening agent, a skin renewing agent, a thickening agent, an anti-irritant, a chelating agent, an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), optionally a pH adjustment agent, and optionally a preservative. The composition may further comprise L-arginine and/or L-citrulline and/or esters and/or derivatives thereof.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a subject, the method comprising applying a composition comprising:
 a diluent, wherein the diluent is water and water is present in an amount of about 60% to about 95% by weight of the topical composition;   a solvent, wherein the solvent comprises an alcohol;   a penetration enhancing agent, wherein the penetration enhancing agent comprises a glycol ether;   a skin brightening agent, wherein the skin brightening agent comprises a first peptide;   a skin renewal agent, wherein the skin renewal agent comprises a second peptide;   a thickening agent, wherein the thickening agent comprises a polyacrylate polymer;   an anti-irritant;   a chelating agent;   an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) selected from the group consisting of salicylic acid, a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing compound, and any combination thereof;   optionally a pH adjustment agent; and   optionally a preservative.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises L-arginine, esters thereof, or derivatives thereof; L-citrulline, esters therefor or derivatives thereof; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water is present in an amount of about 70% to about 90% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is tert-butyl alcohol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent is present in an amount of about 1% to about 20% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the glycol ether is ethoxydiglycol. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the penetration enhancing agent is present in an amount of about 1% to about 10% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skin brightening agent is present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skin renewal agent is present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thickening agent is present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-irritant is present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chelating agent is present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 2% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the API is salicylic acid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the API is present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the topical composition further comprises the pH adjustment agent and the pH adjustment agent is present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 3% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the topical composition further comprises the preservative and the preservative is present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 3% by weight of the topical composition. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the API is a NO-releasing compound.