Additives enhancing topical applications of therapeutic agents

Abstract

Preventive as well as therapeutic treatment to alleviate cosmetic conditions and symptoms of dermatologic disorders with amphoteric compositions containing alpha hydroxyacids, alpha ketoacids, related compounds or polymeric forms of hydroxyacids is disclosed. The cosmetic conditions and the dermatologic disorders in which the amphoteric compositions and the polymeric compounds may be useful include dry skin, dandruff, acne, keratoses, psoriasis, eczema, pruritus, age spots, lentigines, melasinas, wrinkles, warts, blemished skin, hyperpigmented skin, kyperkeratotic skin, inflammatory dermatoses, skin changes associated with aging, and skin requiring cleansers.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A topical skin treating composition comprising: 
 a) an effective amount of at least one hydroxycarboxylic acid, wherein the at least one hydroxycarboxylic acid is present in the form of a free acid, lactone, or salt,    b) at least one agent selected from the group consisting of retinoids, wherein the agent is present in stereoisomeric or non-isomeric form, and    c) a cosmetically-acceptable vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is present in a formulation selected from the group consisting of a solution, a cream, an ointment, and a lotion composition for topical treatment or management of aging-related skin changes.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one hydroxycarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, methyllactic acid, mandelic acid, 4-hydroxymandelic acid, benzilic acid, ribonic acid, ribonolactone, gluconic acid, gluconolactone, galactonic acid, galactonolactone, glucoheptonic acid, glucoheptonolactone, glucuronic acid, glucuronolactone, galacuronic acid, galaturonolactone, glucaric acid, glucarolactone, galactaric acid, and galactarolactone.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the composition is present in a formulation selected from the group consisting of a solution, a cream, an ointment, and a lotion composition for topical treatment or management of aging-related skin changes.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one agent is selected from the group consisting of retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, methyl retinoate, ethyl retinoate, propyl retinoate and isopropyl retinoate.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hydroxycarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of gluconolactone and glucarolactone, and the at least one agent is selected from the group consisting of retinol, retinyl acetate, retinyl pahnitate, retinal acid and retinoic acid.