Robert L Mehaffey

US Patent:

40003175, Dec 28, 1976

Filed:

May 6, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/466937

Inventors:

William Carl Menda - Neshanic NJ
Robert James Mehaffey - River Edge NJ

Assignee:

Colgate-Palmolive Company - New York NY

International Classification:

A61K 7035
A61K 31015
A61K 3300
A61K 4700

US Classification:

424357

Abstract:

Sebum, the oily material secreted by the sebaceous glands, especially on the human face, is adsorbed by a thin layer of a pyrogenic colloidal silica of spherical shape and very small particle size. The pyrogenic colloidal silica has a high capacity for adsorbing the sebum and preventing it from exerting its oily effects on the skin. Free flow of sebum from the sebaceous gland is allowed but even in the cases of persons whose sebaceous glands are overactive, the skin is not excessively oily, due to the adsorption effects of the pyrogenic colloidal silica. The appearance of the facial skin of a user is improved, the surface of the skin is less apt to support harmful bacterial and fungal growth and, if make-ups containing dyes or pigments are employed, they are less apt to undergo color changes, due to the effects of oil thereon. Compositions that may be employed to apply the pyrogenic colloidal silica to the skin are non-oily, aqueous, alcoholic or aqueous alcoholic suspensions of the pyrogenic colloidal silica in certain ranges of concentrations thereof, which may include minor proportions of non-oily adjuvants, such as thickeners, solvents, emollients, pH modifiers, bactericides, drying agents and exfoliants. By use of a small amount of such a composition, sebum adsorption can be effected over daytime periods of from 4 to 12 hours, with no re-application required and the pyrogenic colloidal silica composition can be used in such small quantities as to be essentially invisible on the skin.