WO2008003130A1

WO2008003130A1 - A method and composition for treating the scalp

Info

Publication number: WO2008003130A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/000920
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kaliopi Papantoniou
Original assignee: Kaliopi Papantoniou
Priority date: 2006-07-05
Filing date: 2007-07-04
Publication date: 2008-01-10
Also published as: AU2007271723A1

Abstract

A method and composition for cleaning and topical treatment of the scalp in psoriasis. The composition includes oli oil and vinegar with optional essential oils. The method includes topical application optionally followed by combing.

Description

A METHOD AND COMPOSITION FOR TREATING THE SCALP

Technical FIoId The present invention relates to a method and composition for treating (he scalp. In one embodiment the composition is a scalp cleaner and is used for removing excess dry skin from the scalp or for treating scalp psoriasis.

Background of the Invention

Scalp psoriasis is a chronic skin disease affecting both men and women, characterised by overproduction of skin on the scalp and blocking of skin pores. The skin becomes dry, itchy and results in dandruff, dry hair, and in the worsi case affects the roots of hair resulting in hair loss. Scalp psoriasis is characterized by flaking of the skin which in certain circumstances covers the whole scalp. The flakes when not removed act like a second skin so that the affected person loses feeling on the scalp. People with scalp psoriasis are limited in the colour clothing they can wear because of (he ever present dandruff and are limited to wearing light coloured clothing. The main problem with the presently available products is that they do nothing to the scalp with psoriasis. They only provide a dean feeling after shampooing the hair. The few existing medicated shampoos only provide temporary minor relief to the scalp from itching and dandruff for one or two days. The problems still remain. In addition jnosl of the existing products arc made from petroleum products which cause eye and skin irritations. Many existing products also suffer from the disadvantage that they bleach the hair. Also with existing products one must use the same brand of shampoo as conditioner and H is impossible with existing products to use a comb on the head. There is therefore a need for an effective treatment for scalp psoriasis.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at bast ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages or at least provide a suitable alternative.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a topical composition for treating the scalp, the composition comprising olive oil and vinegar.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for treating the scalp comprising topically administering to the scalp an effective amount of a composition according to the first aspect. Definitions

In the following all percentages, parts and ratios are based upon the total weight of the compositions of the present invention, unless otherwise specified.

Λs used herein "comprising" means that other steps and ingredients which do not affect the end result can be added. 7'his term encompasses the terms "consisting of and "consisting essentially of.

As used herein, "effective amount" means a sufficient amount of the composition to significantly induce a positive modification in the condition being treated, but low enough to avoid significant side effects (e.g., toxicity, incompatibility, instability, allergic response, skin irritation or sensitization), within the scope of sound judgment of the skilled artisan. The effective amount of the composition may vary with the particular skin being treated, the age and physical condition of the subject being treated, the severity of the condition, the duration of the treatment, the nature of concurrent therapy, the specific composition employed, lhe particular carrier utilized, and like factors within the knowledge and expertise of the skilled artisan.

The term "treating scalp psoriasis" in its various grammatical forms in relation Io the present invention refers to preventing, curing, reversing, attenuating, alleviating, minimizing, retarding, arresting, suppressing or halting the deleterious effects of scalp psoriasis. By treating scalp psoriasis, one or more of the following benefits are achieved: there is a noticeable decrease in psoriasis on the skin of the scalp and/or the skin is substantially free from scalp psoriasis.

Topical administration refers to the application of a pharmaceutical agent to the external surface of the skin usually by direct laying on or spreading of the composition on lhe skin. Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a drawing of a fine tooth comb for use in the method of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

There is disclosed herein a topical composition for treating the scalp, the composition comprising olive oil and vinegar. There is also disclosed herein a method for dealing the scalp comprising topically administering to the scalp an effective amount of the topical composition. The composition and method of the present invention has an advantage that it removes excess skin completely from the scalp, leaving the scalp in an almost normal condition for at least ten to fifteen days, free of dandruff and itching. Further the composition and method of the present invention enables easy combing of the hair without pain. Also the composition of the invention is made from natural ingredients, not harmful to human body. Further the use of the composition and the method of the invention docs not affect or bleach the hair like existing products and because the pores of (he hair arc kept unblocked, hair loss is minimised. Another important advantage is the positive psychological state of the person using the composition and method of the present invention which results in a clean scalp in company of other people.

Long term use of the composition and method of the invention results in minimisation of dry patches from the front to the middle of the scalp resulting in a scalp completely free from dry skin, similar to a normal scalp. The composition of the present invention contains olive oil and vinegar and optionally one or more essential oils. The olive oil suitably softens the dry skin flakes for easy removal and to provide shine and softening to dry hair. The olive oil may be any olive oil but is suitably not too thick. One example of a suitable olive oil is Homcbrand olive oil available at any Woolworths supermarket. The vinegar (suitably while vinegar) helps by mixing with the olive oil to suitably break the skin flakes into smaller pieces and to separate dry skin from the scalp. The olive oil and vinegar arc the two main ingredients, one docs not work without the other.

The composition suitably further comprises one or more essential oils. Suitable oils include jojoba oil, sage oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil, cinnamon oil or a combination thereof. Suitably the composition contains a mixture of rosemary oil, thyme oil, cinnamon oil and sage oil. The essential oils are suitably added to the mixture for treatment of the skin, and to prolong the build up of dry skin and dandruff. For example, rosemary oil helps control build up dry skin and dandruff; thyme oil helps to relieve the irritation when the flakes break away from the scalp; sage oil is used mostly as an antiseptic in (he solution for broken or irritated skin on the scalp; and cinnamon oil is used (o minimise the build up of skin flakes, and to add body and softness to hair.

Suitably the composition of the invention contains 20 to 60 vol% vinegar, 40 to 80 vol% olive oil and a minor amount (for example up to 20vol%) of one or more essential oils. For example the composition of the invention may contain 20vol%, 25vol%, 30vol%, 35vϋl%, 40vol%, 45vo1%, 50vυl%, 55vol% or 60vol% vinegar, 40vol%, 45vol%, 50vol%, 55vol%, 60vol%, 65vo]%, 70vol%, 75vol% or 80vol% olive oil When present (he one or more essential oils may be included in an amount of 0.5vol%, lvol%, 1.5vol% 2vo!%, 2.5vol%, 4vol%, 5vol%, 6vol%, 7.5vol%, 8vol%, lϋvol%, 15vo!% or 20vol%. The invention will now be described by way of example, which should not be construed as limiting on the present invention.

Example 1

JOOinl of a scalp cleaner in accordance with one embodiment of the invention contains: (a) 60ml pure olive oil (not thick oil) (b) 40 ml white vinegar

(c) 8 drops of Rosemary 100% pure essential oil

(d) 8 drops of Thyme 100% pure essential oil The mixture, which has been placed in a squeeze bottle to make it easy to apply, is applied to the scalp, and massaged for a few minutes to ensure the whole scalp is wet. The composition is then suitably Ic(I in contact with the scalp for half to three quarters of an hour. With a fine tooth comb, such as shown in Figure 1, the scalp is combed starting from the back of the head close to the back of the neck towards the front of the head in straight lines, gently pressing on the scalp until the whole scalp has been combed. The comb is washed wilh warm water after every stroke. Following this, the hair and scalp arc suitably washed with a medicated shampoo and conditioner (any medicated shampoo and conditioner can be used), dried normally, followed by combing or brushing the hair.

The use of the double sided fine comb is desirable to the method so as to remove excess fine particles of broken skin from the hair and scalp leaving the scalp clean and ready for shampoo. The special fine comb is part of the cleaning process after the composition of the present invention is applied to the scalp and left for half to three quarters of an hour. Cleaning the scalp from the skin flakes allows the hair to breathe and keeps it soft and healthy.

Example 2 Λ scalp cleaner in accordance with one embodiment of the invention contains in 102mL-

(a) 60ml pure olive oil (not thick oil)

(b) 40 ml white vinegar

(c) 0.5ml of Rosemary 100% pure essential oil

(d) 0.5ml of Thyme 100% pure essential oil (c) 0.5ml of Sage 100% pure essential oil and (f) 0,5ml of Cinnamon 100% pure essential oil. The mixture, which has been placed in a squeeze bottle to make it easy to apply, is applied to the scalp, and massaged for a few minutes to ensure the whole scalp is wet. Tlic composition is then suitably left in contact with the scalp for half to three quarters of an hour. With a fine tooth comb, such as shown in Figure 1 , the scalp is combed starting from the back of the head close to the back of the neck towards the front of the head in straight lines, gently pressing on the scalp until the whole scalp has been combed. The comb is washed with warm water after every stroke. Following this, the hair and scalp arc suitably washed with a medicated shampoo and conditioner (any medicated shampoo and conditioner can be used), dried normally, followed by combing or brushing the hair. This formulation had belter results than that of Example 1 , By adding sage oil and cinnamon oil, the condition of the hair is much better, the scalp less irritated and there is a reduction of ftakes on the scalp. Example 3

Another suitable composition for use in the method of Example 1 contains in 1 10ml:

(a) 60ml pure olive oil (not thick oil)

(b) 40ml white vinegar (c) 2.5ml of Rosemary 100% pure essential oil

(d) 2.5ml of Thyme 100% pure essential oil

(c) 2.5ml of Sage 100% pure essential oil and (f) 2.5ml of Cinnamon 100% pure essential oil.

The principal application of this product is to remove and clean the scalp from any condition of psoriasis. There are no disadvantages of the composition or method when compared to existing products, however the whole cleaning process may lake longer with the inventive composition.

Other embodiment and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.

Claims

The claims defining the invention arc as follows:

1. A topical composition for treating the scalp, the composition comprising olive oil and vinegar.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the vinegar is white vinegar.

3. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising one or more essential oils.

4. The composition according to claim 3, wherein the essential oil is jojoba oil, sage oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil, cinnamon oil, or a combination thereof,

5. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4 containing 20 to 60 vol% white vinegar, 40 to 80 vol% olive oil and a minor amount of one or more essential oils.

6. A method for treating the scalp comprising topically administering to the scalp an effective amount of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A method according to claim 6 for treating scalp psoriasis.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7 comprising combing the hair with a fine tooth comb following administration.

Dated 1 November, 2006 Kalllopi Papantonfou