The present invention relates to antiperspirant pads impregnated by an active ingredient showing desodorant, antiperspirant and antiseptic activity. The antiseptic activity can be observed not only on the foot itself but in the footwear as well.

Perspiration serving for the control of the tempera¬ ture of the body is within certain limits a natural pro¬ cess, but over perspiration has to be dealt with. The smell of the fresh perspiration can not really be felt, i.e. the unpleasant smell accompanied by over per¬ spiration is not the original smell of native perspir¬ ation, but is due to the enzymatic decomposition of ma¬ terials accumulated on the skin surface, such as tissue debris, tallow, keratin, high molecular fatty acids as a result of the activity of parasitic bacteria and fungi. The over perspiration in most cases is limited to certain parts of the body, such as feet, hands, arm-hole etc. The above mentioned decomposing materials are suitable media for the proliferation of bacteria and fungi and they may infect the perspirating skin surface as well. This may be particularly the case for perspirating feet, as in the relatively closed shoes the foot and the footwear may be infected easily. Consequently the foot may be infected with a mycotic infection and dermatitis may occur. Due to the fact that the inside of the shoes cannot be easily kept clean or disinfection thereof is complicated repeated infections may occur. Antiperspiration methods known so far have mainly been various paintings, powders, creams and sprays. In Istvan Inzelt: Vegyi Receptek, 3. edition Chapter Anti¬ perspirant agents, Mϋszaki Kiadό p. 765 (1967) an anti¬ perspirant cream is disclosed which contains hexa- methylenetetramine as active ingredient and the deso¬ dorant activity is ensured by the composition according

to the extent of perspiration.

The disadvantage of this cream however is similarly to the other creams, powders, paintings and sprays used so far is that due to the periodic character of their use, the treatments have to be repeated at least every day, as they are wiped off or washed off the skin sur¬ face, their action is therefore short, their use requires much time and is complicated and the effective disinfec¬ tion of the footwear is not solved. Their addition is de- pendent on the method of use and on the circumstance, how often it is used. The effect thus is far from optimal.

Overdosage may result in tanning of the skin, under dosage may not achieve the desired effect. The powders may block the pores and the creams may inhibit the free ventilation of the skin.

The disinfection of the footwear is not or only par¬ tially solved.

In CA. 89 94 881a [Farm. Vestn.,28/4 p 301-303 (1977)] the use of a new pad is suggested which is im- pregnated basic aluminium chloride (Alg/OH/5 x 2-3 H ₂ O) combined with a foot cream containing a bactericide called Irgazan DP 300, menthol, and as an emulsifier polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20) . Although this process solves the disinfection of the foot and also inhibits perspiration the disinfection of the footwear is only partially solved, only where the footwear is in con¬ tact with the cream and also other problems mentioned for the use of creams are not eliminated.

The present invention is directed to a product with- out the mentioned disadvantages, with the aid of which the treatment is simplified, the disinfection of the footwear is also solved and the effect is long lasting and optimal.

We have now surprisingly found that by impregnating pads with a special composition releasing desodorant and disinfecting gas the foot to be treated is surrounded by

said gas ensuring thus the desired effect both on the foot and in the footwear.

The pad according to the present invention contains hexamethylenetetramine as active ingredient releasing formaldehyde in neutral and acidic medium as known from the literature according to the following equation:

/CH ₂ /6N ₄ + 6 H ₂ 0 + 4 C3H ₇ -COOH = 6 HCOH + 4 C ₃ H ₇ -COONH ₄

Hexamethylenetetramine used so far has not released any gas in lack of surroundings inducing the gas evol- ution. The weak acidic character of perspiration is due to the fatty acids and uric acid contained in it. The re¬ action is started by the perspiration being absorbed into the pad. When the perspiration is ceased the formation of formaldehyde is also ceased. If perspiration occurs again, the pad absorbs it, initiating the reaction again and thus the system becomes self-controlling, over dosage is excluded. The activity of the active ingedient itself is not drastic as it is known to be innerly used for dis¬ infection of the urinary tract. The activity of hexa- methylenetetramine itself is not bactericidal only bac- teriostatical until as a result of perspiration the high¬ ly bactericidal formaldehyde is not released therefrom. The formed formaldehyde gas fills in the space being at its disposal and establishes an intimate contact with the foot and the footwear resulting in a more intensive dis¬ infecting effect than that of other bactericides.

Simultaneously the skin is dried, tanned and deso- dored, the tissues are fixed and preserved by being bound to the free amino groups of the proteins and the toxines are converted to non-toxic toxides.

The pads according to the present invention are im¬ pregnated with an aqueous suspension containing hexa¬ methylenetetramine as active ingredient and cellulose ether, such as methyl cellulose or carboxymethyl cellu- lose as suspending or binding agent.

The present invention extends to this aqueous suspen-

sion as well. The aqueous suspension may optionally con¬ tain other components as well, such as menthol as re¬ freshing agent, salicylic acid for alleviating itching or burning and serving also as disinfectant or preserv- ative, and zinc oxide and/or kaolin due to their ad- stringent property, or starch and kaolin as binding ma¬ terial latter being used as adsorbent as well, and other skin structure improving substances, such as glycerol and water. The aqueous suspension may contain e.g. the following components : 0.1 to 45 % by weight of hexamethylene¬ tetramine, 0.1 to 15 % by weight of cellulose ether and water up to 100 % by weight and optionally 0.1 to 30 % by weight of glycerol, 0.01 to 5 % by weight of salicylic acid, 1 to 30 % by weight of kaolin, 0.1 to 4.5 % by weight of zinc oxide, 0.01 to 0.5 % by weight of menthol.

The pads according to the present invention can be prepared as follows: A suspension of the above components is applied to the pad. The active ingredient is dissolved in 2/3 of the water and the cellulose ether is dissolved in 1/3 of the water and the insoluble powdery components optionally together with glycerol are added. The two liquids are combined under stirring and homogenized. The pH of the mixture is adjusted to 7 by adding acetic acid. The pads are immersed in the suspension and after a few seconds they are taken out from the suspension and strained off.

The excess is pulled off by a suitable tool . The du¬ ration of the immersing and the thickness of the suspen- sion is chosen to ensure that 5 to lOg of dry substance are added to each pad. The pads are cautiously dried (max. 60 C) and packed. Pads are prepared of Vlies (felt impregnated with latex and prepared of polyester and vis¬ cose fibre) . The absorbtivity is about 5 times higher than that of natural leathers. The pad thus prepared when placed in

the footwear is already suitable for treating the per¬ spirating foot.

Further details of the above invention can be illus¬ trated by the following non limiting Examples. Pads of the following composition can be prepared:

Example 1

Components % by weight hexamethylenetetramine 3.86 menthol 0.30 salicylic acid 3.00 zinc oxide 0.60 kaolin 13.00 methyl cellulose 0.75 glycerol 23.00 water up to 100 %

Example 2

Components % by weight hexamethylenetetramine 10.00 menthol 0.02 salicylic acid 0.13 kaolin 10.00 carboxy methyl cellulose 1.45 glycerol 5.00 water up to 100 %

ExamDle 3

Components % by weight hexamethylenetetramine 38.00 menthol 0.02 salicylic acid 5.00 kaolin 1.20 methyl cellulose 3.00 glycerol 1.00 water up to 100 %