Probiotic stick formulation for skin maintenance and methods of use

Abstract

The invention relates to an anhydrous mixture of biologically active probiotic bacteria for topical administration and methods of making thereof. The mixture of the invention is used for hydrating the skin, reducing and preventing fine lines and wrinkles, treating acne and decreasing skin inflammation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anhydrous topical probiotic composition comprising a freeze-dried probiotic bacteria and a carrier. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of:  Streptococcus thermophilus, Streptococcus salivarus  subspecies  thermophilus  type 1131,  Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus paracasei  and  Streptococcus salivarius.    
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the concentration of the probiotic bacteria is about 1% to about 5%. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of: propylene glycol, glycerin, stearyl alcohol, sodium stearate, kaolin,  Chamomilla recutita  flower extract, myristyl alcohol, silica, astaxanthin and inulin. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
 propylene glycol at a concentration of about 30% to about 68%; or   astaxanthin at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 1%; or   kaolin at a concentration of about 1% to about 10%; or   inulin at a concentration of about 1% to about 5%; or   stearyl alcohol at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 20%; or   sodium stearate at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 10%; or   glycerin at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 10%; or     Chamomilla recutita  flower extract at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 3%; or   myrsistyl alcohol at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 5%; or   silica at a concentration of about 1% to about 10%;   
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of:
 the bacteria is provided as a milk ferment lysate;   the composition further comprises at least one of benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, or a combination thereof;   the bacteria are in a non-proliferative state prior to application to the skin;   the composition is packaged in a push-up tube as a solid; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the concentration of benzoyl peroxide is about 2.5% to about 10%. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 65.96% propylene glycol, 2.64% glycerin, 11.37% stearyl alcohol, 1.11% myristyl alcohol, 7.07% sodium stearate, 1.33%  Chamomilla recutita  flower extract, 1.11% silica, 3.88% kaolin, 2.77% inulin, and 0.01% astaxanthin, and the probiotic bacteria is 2.77%  Streptocossus thermophilus  250 B. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition hydrates the skin, decreases or prevents fine lines and wrinkles, limits and reduces skin inflammation, prevents future outbreaks of acne, or decreases acne that is already present on the skin. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising propylene glycol, stearyl alcohol, sodium stearate, kaolin,  Streptococcous Thermophilus  provided in a freeze-dried form or in milk ferment lysate, glycerin,  Chamomilla Recutita  flower extract, myristyl alcohol, asthaxantin, inulin, silica and benzoyl peroxide at a concentration of about 2.5% to about 10%. 
     
     
         11 . A stick comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The stick of  claim 11 , wherein the bacteria is at a concentration of about 1% to about 5% and is selected from the group consisting of  Streptococcus thermophilus, Streptococcus salivarus  subspecies  thermophilus  type 1131,  Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus paracasei  and  Streptococcus salivarius , and the composition further comprises at least one of:
 propylene glycol at a concentration of about 30% to about 68%; or   astaxanthin at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 1%; or   kaolin at a concentration of about 1% to about 10%; or   inulin at a concentration of about 1% to about 5%; or   stearyl alcohol at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 20%; or   sodium stearate at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 10%; or   glycerin at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 10%; or     Chamomilla recutita  flower extract at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 3%; or   myrsistyl alcohol at a concentration of about 0.01% to about 5%; or   silica at a concentration of about 1% to about 10%;   
     
     
         13 . The stick of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of:
 the bacteria is provided as a milk ferment lysate;   the composition further comprises at least one of benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, or a combination thereof;   the bacteria are in a non-proliferative state prior to application to the skin; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the concentration of the benzoyl peroxide is about 2.5% to about 10%. 
     
     
         15 . A method of maintaining probiotic bacteria in a non-proliferative state comprising combining the bacteria with at least one of: propylene glycol, stearyl alcohol, sodium stearate, kaolin, glycerin,  Chamomilla recutita  flower extract, myrsistyl alcohol, silica, astaxanthin and inulin, to form an anhydrous solution. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treating skin, colonizing the skin with probiotic bacteria comprising topically administering to the skin the composition of  claim 1  to the skin, thereby treating the skin,
 wherein treating the skin is at least one of:
 colonizing the skin with probiotic bacteria; 
 decreasing or treating acne; 
 preventing at least one of file lines, wrinkles, or a combination thereof; 
 maintaining hydration of the skin; 
 reducing skin inflammation, or 
 a combination thereof. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of making an anhydrous mixture comprising probiotic bacteria for topical administration to the skin comprising combining the probiotic bacteria with at least one of propylene glycol, stearyl alcohol, sodium stearate, kaolin, glycerin,  Chamomilla recutita  flower extract, myrsistyl alcohol, silica, astaxanthin and inulin. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a step of heating the propylene glycol to 75° C. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each of the components of the mixture are added to a solution of propylene glycol. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a step of heating the mixture to 50° C. prior to the addition of kaolin and bacteria.