Cosmetic composition

Claim 2

A composition suitable for topical application to mammalian skin or hair which comprises: (a) a growth factor chosen from: (i) transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α), (ii) transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), (iii)insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), (iv) fragments thereof of one or more of said growth factors, and (v) mixtures thereof of said growth factors or fragments of said growth factors; and (b) a cosmetically acceptable vehicle for the growth factor or fragments thereof; the total amount of growth factor being sufficient to increase hair growth in the rat, when the composition is applied topically thereto over a period of no more than 3 months, by at least 10% more than that obtainable using a control composition from which the said growth factor has been omitted, in accordance with the Rat Hair Growth Test.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1, wherein the growth factor forms from 0.0002 to 10 mg/ml.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 2, which comprises from 0.0005 to 30 μg/ml of TGF-α.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 1, which comprises from 0.0002 to 20 μg/ml of TGF-β.

Claim 6

The composition of claim 1, which comprises from 0.0002 to 70 μg/ml of IGF-1.

Claim 7

The composition of claim 1, further comprising a protein stabilizing agent present in an effective amount for enhancing the activity of said growth factor which is selected from the group consisting of: glycerol ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid cysteine α 2 -macroglobulin serum and mixtures thereof.

Claim 8

The composition of claim 1, further comprising means for enhancing the activity of said growth factor which is an iontophoretic device comprising a pad of absorbent material impregnated with a solution containing said growth factors.

Claim 9

A method for converting vellus hair to growth as terminal hair, which comprises the step of applying to the scalp in the region of vellus hair an effective amount of the composition of claim 1.

Claim 10

A method for increasing the rate of terminal hair growth, which comprises the step of applying to the scalp in the region of terminal hair an effective amount of the composition of claim 1.

Claim 11

The composition of claim 1 additionally comprising a hair growth stimulant in an effective amount for enhancing the activity of said growth factor selected from the group consisting of: (i) --1,4 esterified disaccharides having the structure (1): ##STR17## where Z represents a functional nitrogen group, such as an azide or a group having the structure --NHB, in which B represents --H or a functional group such as acetyl or sulphate as a salt with an organic or mineral cation; M represents --H or SO 3 M 1 , where M 1 is an organic or metallic cation or an acetyl group; R represents a C 1 to C 4 alkyl radical or an aryl radical; A represents a functional group such as an acid or --COOR 1 , where R 1 represents --H or a C 1 to C 4 alkyl radical or a metal; (ii) esterified oligosaccharieds including at least one esterified disaccharide unit consisting of uronic acid residue having the structure (2) and a hexosamine residue having the structure (3); ##STR18## and a hexosamine residue having the structure (3): ##STR19## where R' is C 3 to C 10 alkyl or ##STR20## R" is --H, C 1 to C 4 alkyl, --CO(CH 2 ) m CH 3 ,--SO 3 M', R'" is --H, --CO(CH 2 ) m CH 3 , or --SO 3 M', M' is --H, or a metallic or organic cation n is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 7, and m is 0 or the integer 1 or 2; the groups designated R" being the same or different, one R" group from each pyranose ring structure being linked by a glycosidic linkage having the configuration α-1,3, α-1,4, β-1,3 or β-1,4; and the --COOR', --CH 2 OR" and --OR" groups being of either configuration with respect to the pyranose rings; (iii) 6-amino-1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2-imino-4-piperidinopyrimidine; (iv) 6-amino-1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2-imino-4-piperidinopyrimidine glucoronide; (v) 6-amino-1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2-imino-4-piperidinopyrimidine sulphates; (vi) 1,10-phenanthroline; (vii) glycosaminoglycanase inhibitors having the structure (5) and (6): ##STR21## where A is --OG or --NHCOCH 3 G is --H, --SO 3 M", C 2 to C 4 acyl G' is --H or --OG M" is --H or a metal cation (viii) glycosaminoglycanase chain cellular uptake inhibitors having the structure (7): ##STR22## where G is --H, --SO 3 M", C 2 to C 4 acyl; D is --H or C 2 to C 8 alkyl M" is --H or a metal cation; wherein the functional groups can be in either configuration with respect to the backbone of the above molecule; (ix) glycosidase inhibitors having the structure (8): ##STR23## where A 1 and A 6 are --H, --CH 3 , ##STR24## --CH 2 OT ##STR25## A 1 and A 6 being the same or different, and at least one of which being the group; ##STR26## in a lactum ring; and where Q is --OT', --NHT' or a lactam linkage to A 1 or A 6 ; the Q groups being the same or different, and at least one of which is involved in a lactam linkage; and where T is the same or different and is chosen from --H, --C p H 2p+1 or a metal ion, T' is --H or --COC p H 2p+1 , and p is an integer of from 1 to 22; provided that: where any of the Q groups is --OT' or --NHT', then that group or groups can be of either stereochemical configuration with respect to the plane of the ring; (x) chemical activators of protein kinase C having the structure (9): ##STR27## where X is the same or different and is represented by the grouping: ##STR28## where x is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 28, and y is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 5; the OX groups being of either stereochemical configuration with respect to the carbon backbone of the glycerol molecule, the double bonds being of either cis or trans configuration; and (xi) mixtures thereof.

Claim 12

The composition of claim 10, wherein the hair growth stimulant is 6-amino-1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2-imino-4-piperidinopyrimidine.

Claim 13

The composition of claim 10, wherein the glycosaminoglycanase inhibitor is an aldonolactone or an esterified aldonolactone having structure (5).

Claim 14

The composition of claim 10, wherein the glycosaminoglycanase inhibitor is a monosacchride or an esterified mnosaccharide having structure (6).

Claim 15

The composition of claim 10, wherein the glycosidase inhibitor is a lactam having the structure (8).

Claim 16

The composition of claim 10, wherein the chemical activator of protein kinase C is a diacylglycerol having the structure (9).

Claim 17

The composition of claim 1, further comprising a means for enhancing the activity of said growth factor with a penetration enhancer which is selected from the group consisting of: 1-dodecylazacyclopheptan-2-one, dibutyl sebacate, 2-hydroxyoctanoic acid, esters of pyroglutamic acid having the structure (10) ##STR29## where Z is C 1 to C 30 alkyl, or ##STR30## and where Z' and Z" are the same or different and are each represented by H or the grouping (11): [(CH.sub.3).sub.u, (CH.sub.2 OH).sub.v, (CH.sub.2).sub.w, (CH.sub.3 CH.sub.2).sub.s, (CH═CH).sub.z ]-- (11) where u is zero or 1 v is zero, or the integer of from 1 to 2, w is zero, or an integer of from 1 to 21 s is zero, or an integer of from 1 to 4, y is zero, or the integer 1 or 2, z is zero, or an integer of from 1 to 22, and u+v+w+x+y+z is an integer of from 1 to 22; provided that when the subgrouping (CH═CH) is present, then the total number of carbon atoms in said grouping is from 10 to 22, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

The composition of claim 1, further comprising a penetration enhancer present in an effective amount for enhancing the activity of said growth factor which is a surface active agent selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, amphoteric and nonionic wetting agents.

Claim 19

The composition of claim 1, further comprising an effective amount for enhancing the activity of said growth factor of a cationic polymer selected from the group consisting of: Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride Quaternium-19 Quaternium-23 Quaternium-40 Quaternium-57 Poly(dipropyldiallylammonium chloride) Poly(methyl-β-propaniodiallylammonium chloride) Poly(diallylpiperidinium chloride) Poly(vinyl pyridinium chloride) Quaternized poly (vinyl alcohol) Quaternized poly (dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate); and mixtures thereof.