Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a preparation for treating seborrhoea and other inflammatory conditions of the skin and a process for the preparation thereof.

Background of the invention

Seborrhoeal skin symptoms may occur at any time of life, seborrhoeal acne frequently occurs when one is young. For treating seborrhoea generally the ethanol solution of salicylic acid, ointments containing salicylic acid, mercu¬ ry sulphide or sulphur or suspensions containing mercury sulphide and sulphur as active ingredient and a siccative agent are recommended (Formulae Normales, V. edition, Medi- cina Kδnyvkiadό, Budapest, pages 165, 206, 217 and 167). The effect of these preparations is, however, not satisfactory, besides when using these preparations allergic reactions arise frequently.

It is an object of the invention to provide a prepa¬ ration which alleviates the seborrhoeal skin symptoms and does not exhibit any harmful side effect.

Disclosure of the invention

The invention is based on the recognition that by the combined use of boric acid and camphor a preparation can be obtained which complies with these purposes. The activity of the preparation can be enhanced by the addition of sulphur.

The preparation of the invention comprises the mix¬ ture of an ethanolic camphor solution and an aqueous boric acid solution, wherein the weight ratio of camphor and boric acid is between 15 : 0,2 and 2 : 3, and if desired a siccative and/or an itching alleviating substance. In addition to the above ingredients the preparation may also contain sulphur as an additive.

As siccative and itching alleviating substance preferably talc and zinc oxide can be used.

According to the invention the preparation can be prepared by mixing the ethanolic solution of camphor with the aqueous solution of boric acid, if desired adding to the mixture a siccative and/or itching alleviating substance, homogenizing the mixture and if necessary diluting it with water to the desired volume.

According to a preferred embodiment of the process 2 to 15 parts by weight of camphor dissolved in ethanol and 0,2 to 3 parts by weight of boric acid dissolved in water are mixed and the mixture is completed with water to 100 parts by weight.

According to another preferred embodiment a total amount of 4 to 30 parts by weight of siccative and/or it¬ ching alleviating substances, preferably 2 to 15 parts by weight of talc and 2 to 15 parts by weight of zinc oxide and if desired 2 to 15 parts by weight of precipitated sulphur are mixed, 2 to 15 parts by weight of camphor dissolved in ethanol and 0,2 to 3 parts by weight of boric acid dissolved in water are added, the mixture is homogenized and completed with water to 100 parts by weight. If desired glycerin and/or a surface active agent can also be added to the preparation.

The advantages of the preaparation according to the invention are the following. It alleviates the seborrhoeal

skin symptoms, relieves pain and itching, does not cause any allergic reaction, besides it can be used for treating other inflammatory skin symptoms as well.

The invention is illustrated by the following Examp¬ les.

Example 1

100 g of camphor are dissolved in 610 g of 96 % ethanol and 290 g of distilled water are added to the solu¬ tion. 30 g of boric acid are dissolved in 970 g of water. The two solutions are mixed.

The preparation is applied once or twice daily to the skin surface to be treated.

Example 2

15 g of talc and 15 g of zinc oxide are mixed.

120 g of the camphor solution prepared in Example 1 and 70 g of the boric acid solution prapared in Example 1 are added to the mixture and the suspension thus obtained is homogenized.

The suspension is applied once or twice daily to the skin surface to be treated.

Example 3

30 g of talc, 15 g of zinc oxide and 20 g of precipi¬ tated sulphur are mixed.

120 g of the camphor solution prepared in Example 1 and 70 g of the boric acid solution prepared in Example 1 are added to the mixture and the suspension thus obtained is homogenized.

Experimental data

The effectiveness of the preparation according to the invention was examined on three groups, each comprising 50 persons.

The first group consisted of seborrhoeal patients treated for a long period with ethanolic salicylic acid solution but no lasting result was attained. The second group consisted of patients suffering from pubertal seborr¬ hoea and the third group consisted of patients suffering from strong seborrhoeal acne, recovering with distorting cicatrization. These patients were treated for years without any result with ointments containing mercury sulphide or suspensions containing sulphur.

The patients of the first group applied the preparation of Example 1 twice daily, in the mornig and in the evening to the skin surface to be treated after the usual cleaning treatment. The improvement could be seen already after three or four days, at the end of the third or fourth week the seborrhoeal complaints completely disappea¬ red.

The patients of the second group applied the suspen¬ sion of Example 2 once daily, in the evening to the skin surface to be treated after the usual cleaning treatment. An improvement could be seen already after three or four days, after two to three months the complaints completely disap¬ peared. In order to preserve this condition during puberty the suspension is to be applied twice per week.

The patients of the third group applied the suspen¬ sion of Example 3 twice daily to the skin surface to be treated after the usual cleaning treatment. An improvement also in this case could be seen after three or four days, after five to six months the skin became aesthetically perfect. Thereafter for one to two years the skin should be

treated once daily.