Compositions and methods for treating non-cornified epithelial tissue of a female body

Abstract

Compositions for treating non-cornified epithelial tissue of a female body, such as the labia, introitus, and the vagina are disclosed. Methods of regulating dryness in these tissues are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of regulating dryness in urogenital skin comprising applying a composition to one or more tissues of a female body experiencing dryness, wherein the tissue is the introitus, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 30% of an oil selected from the group consisting of plant oil, silicone oil, and mixtures thereof, from about 0.1% to about 10% of a vitamin compound selected form the group consisting of vitamin B compounds, vitamin A compounds, vitamin D compounds, vitamin K compounds, vitamin E compounds, vitamin C compounds, vitamin F compounds, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof, and from about 0.01% to about 10% of an active selected from the group consisting of hyaluronin, hyaluronin sodium salt, hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid sodium salt, and mixtures thereof, wherein the composition is an oil-in-water emulsion. 
     
     
         2 . A method of regulating dryness in urogenital skin comprising applying a composition to one or more tissues of a female body experiencing dryness, wherein the tissue is the introitus, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 30% of an oil selected from the group consisting of natural oil, silicone oil, and mixtures thereof, from about 0.01% to about 10% of an active selected from the group consisting of hyaluronin, hyaluronin sodium salt, hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid sodium salt, and mixtures thereof, and less than 0.01% of a polysaccharide thickening agent, wherein the composition is an oil-in-water emulsion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the oil has an oil stability index (OSI) of at least about 10 hours at 110° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the oil comprises less than about 10% by weight of the oil of linolenic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 7% of a Vitamin B3 compound selected form the group consisting of niacinamide, nicotinic acid, nicotinyl alcohol, salts thereof and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises less than 0.01% of a polysaccharide thickening agent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises from about 50% to about 95% water. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises from about 1% to about 25% a water miscible solvent selected from the group consisting of dihydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, glycerol, glycols, polyalkylene glycols, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the water miscible solvent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol, heptanediol, decanediol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the water miscible solvent is glycerol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition is substantially free of cleansing or detersive surfactants. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises a polyacrylamide polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the silicone oil is selected from the group consisting of a polysiloxane, dimethicone, dimethiconol, cyclic silicones and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition comprises a silicone wax. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the plant oil has an oil stability index (OSI) of at least about 10 hours at 110° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the oil comprises less than about 10% by weight of the oil of linolenic acid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the composition comprises from about 50% to about 95% water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the composition further comprises from about 1% to about 25% a water miscible solvent selected from the group consisting of dihydric alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, glycerol, glycols, polyalkylene glycols, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the composition comprises a polyacrylamide polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the composition comprises a silicone wax.