Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for managing skin conditions

Abstract

This application relates to a pharmaceutical composition and methods for treating inflammatory skin conditions. The compositions include hydrogen peroxide, one or more moisturizing agents, and an anti-inflammatory agent. The pharmaceutical compositions may optionally include one or more exfoliants. The compositions can be used to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as dermatitis, including, but not limited to seborrheic dermatitis, nummular dermatitis, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, and stasis dermatitis; psoriasis; folliculitis; rosacea; acne; impetigo; erysipelas; paronychia, erythrasma; and eczema.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A topical anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical composition comprising: 
 hydrogen peroxide in an amount sufficient to cleanse the skin;    a moisturizing agent in an amount sufficient to facilitates hydration of the skin; and    an anti-inflammatory agent to in an amount sufficient to reduce inflammation of the skin.    
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen peroxide is present in an amount from about 0.01 to 6 weight percent by weight of the composition, the moisturizing agent is present in an amount of about 0.01 to 20 weight percent by weight of the composition, and the anti-inflammatory agent is present in an amount of about 0.02 to 2 weight percent by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the moisturizing agent is a hydrophobic moisturizing agent.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the hydrophobic moisturizing agent is ceramide, borage oil, tocopherol, tocopherol linoleate, dimethicone, glycerine, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the moisturizing agent is a hydrophilic moisturizing agent.  
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 5 , wherein the hydrophilic moisturizing agent is hyaluronic acid, sodium peroxylinecarbolic acid, wheat protein, hair keratin amino acids, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.  
     
     
         8 . A gel, paste, cream, lotion, emulsion, or ointment comprising the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an exfoliant.  
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 9 , wherein the exfoliant is an enzymatic exfoliant.  
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 9 , wherein the exfoliant is an mono- or -poly-hydroxy acid.  
     
     
         12 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 11 , wherein the exfoliant comprises an alpha-hydroxy acid, beta-hydroxy acid, or tannic acid.  
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 11 , wherein the exfoliant comprises glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, salicylic acid, or tannic acid.  
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an amount of amphoteric surfactant and an amount of citric acid sufficient to inhibit hydrogen peroxide decomposition for at least three months.  
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14 , wherein the amount of amphoteric surfactant and citric acid is sufficient to inhibit hydrogen peroxide decomposition at 40° C. for at least three months.  
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a surfactant, a stabilizer, a preservative, an anti-oxidant, or a coloring agent, which together may be present in an amount from about 10.1 to 99.1 weight percent of the composition.  
     
     
         17 . A method of managing an inflammatory skin condition which comprises topically administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of: 
 (1) hydrogen peroxide in an amount sufficient to cleanse the skin;    (2) a moisturizing agent in an amount sufficient to facilitates hydration of the skin; and    (3) an anti-inflammatory agent to in an amount sufficient to reduce inflammation of the skin.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the skin condition treated is at least one of dermatitis, psoriasis, folliculitis, rosacea, acne, impetigo, erysipelas, paronychia, erythrasma, and eczema.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the amount of the hydrogen peroxide, moisturizing agent, and anti-inflammatory agent administered is about 1 mg to 20,000 mg per day.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising administering one or more second dermatological agents selected from a moisturizer, anti-inflammatory agent, analgesic, or anesthetic by a route other than topical administration.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more second dermatological agents is a moisturizer selected from panthenol, primrose oil, omega-3 fish oils, omega-6 fish oils, linoleic acid, flax seed oil, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more second dermatological agents is an anti-inflammatory agent selected from aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising administering one or more exfoliants in an amount sufficient to exfoliate at least a portion of the skin.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the exfoliant is an enzymatic exfoliant.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the exfliant is an mono- or -poly-hydroxy acid.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the exfoliant comprises an alpha-hydroxy acid, beta-hydroxy acid, or tannic acid.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the exfoliant comprises glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, salicylic acid, or tannic acid.