US3444291A - Method of filling and camouflaging skin cavities - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent U.S. Cl. 424-63 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A filler composition for filling cavities in skin is made by uniformly blending about 75 to 65 parts by weight of microcrystalline wax and about 25 to 35 parts by weight of mineral oil. A sufficient amount of coloring matter is preferably also included to color the composition to substantially the same color as that of the users skin.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier copending application, Ser. No. 454,995, filed May 11, 1965, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a filler composition for filling cavities in human skin and to a method of applying the same.

Due to accidents, disease or otherwise, human skin is sometimes disfigured by large, deep cavities or scars which repulse others and cause the afflicted person to suffer psychological anxieties. Many such lesions can be corrected by plastic surgery. However, this is not always technically possible due to surgical limitations and, more importantly, the Very high cost of plastic surgery unfortunately puts this remedy beyond the reach of persons of modest means who require it. Thus, there is a definite need for a low cost, simple and effective means for camouflaging disfiguring cavities, scars or leisions in human skin, and to my knowledge no product is currently available which satisfies this need.

I have now dscovered that an uniform blend of controlled proportions of a microcrystalline wax and a mineral oil results in a composition which has remarkable advantages when used as a filler for skin cavities, whereby the composition is eminently suited for camouflaging leision of disfigured persons to alleviate their physical and psychological problems. One of the most important attributes of the composition of my invention is that it exhibits three essential qualities for a skin filler, these qualities being adhesiveness, plasticity and elasticity. The fact that the composition has an adhesive quality ensures that when it is filled into a skin cavity, it will be retained and held in place by the underlying skin surfaces With which it is in contact. The effectiveness of this adhesive bond is such that the user can apply the composition upon rising and wear it all day until retiring in the evening, without any problems of dislodgement or separation of the composition from the skin.

The plasticity of the composition means that it can be filled by molding or deformation under pressure into any size or shape of cavity in the skin, and once so applied the composition will maintain the shape and volume required to completely fill the cavity to a level flush with the surface of the skin surrounding the cavity. Furthermore, the plastic quality of the composition remains essentially the same over the range of normal ambient temperatures, so that the composition may be used under varying conditions of climate and temperature without danger of change in shape or volume due to running or stiffening.

The elastic quality of the composition is very important because the surface and underlying tissues of a skin cavity or the surrounding skin very often undergo considerable 3,444,291 Patented May 13, 1969 ice movement during normal activities of an afiiicted person. The composition of my invention has sufficient elasticity to deform with such movements and yet recover its undeformed shape, whereby its function as a filter in a cavity is not impaired by the normal activities of the user.

While the foregoing are some of the most important technical advantage of the composition of my invention, another important attribute for both male and female users is the fact that the surface of the composition is an excellent foundation or base for conventional cosmetic preparations such as powders, rouge, etc. Thus, should there be any mismatch between the color of the composition and that of the surrounding skin, this can be eliminated by applying a conventional cosmetic over the composition to make its presence completely imperceptible. Of paramount importance also from the economic standpoint is the fact that the composition utilizes low-cost ingredients, is prepared in a simple manner and therefore can 'be marketed at a price within the means of needy persons in lower income groups. For all of these reasons, the composition meets the previously-mentioned need in a manner not heretofore possible to my knowledge.

In preparing the composition of my invention, the two essential ingredients required are a microcrystalline wax and a mineral oil. Both ingredients may be obtained as products of petroleum refinery processing and both should be of a grade or quality that is safe for application to human skin. While any microcrystalline wax may be used, for best results I prefer to use one which has a melting point within the range from about 145 to 180 F. (A.S.T.M.) and these are readily available as commercial products. As for the mineral oil, again for best results an oil from the white Russian series having a flash point well above the boiling temperature of water should be used.

In virtually every case the composition should be colored so as to match as closely as possible the color of the skin of the user. For this purpose, coloring matter of some kind should be included in the composition in an amount which will give the desired color and which will vary according to the specific color of the coloring matter that is used. For best results, the coloring matter should be an oil-soluble dye which will dissolve in the composition and ensure maximum uniformity and stability of color in the finished composition. However, water soluble dyes and finely ground inorganic pigments may also be uniformly dispersed throughout the composition to color it, the former as a water-in-oil emulsion and the latter as a solid dispersoid in the finished composition. Of course, the coloring matter should be non-toxic to human skin. In special cases it may be desirable to use the composition without added coloring matter, as for example in areas of almost white scar tissue where a contrasting color may be a detriment rather than an aid.

Specific examples of coloring matter which may be used include the coal-tar dyes approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in foods and cosmetics, i.e. FD&C Oranges, Reds, Yellows and D&C Brown, Oranges, Reds and Yellows. As is known, mixtures of these dyes can be used to form intermediate color shades and such mixtures can be incorporated in the composition of the invention. In addition, natural colors such as annatto, cochineal and alkanet, and inorganic pigments such as purified iron oxides and the mixtures thereof which comprise ocher, umber and sienna, can be used. These are only specific examples and in general any coloring matter which is not toxic to human skin and which will impart uniform and stable flesh colors to the composition can be used.

In preparing the composition, it is essential that the two basic ingredients be admixed in the relative weight proportions of about to 65 parts of microcrystalline wax and correspondingly about 25 to 35 parts of mineral oil. Proportions which vary significantly from those just stated do not result in compositions having the previouslydescribed essential qualities for use as a skin filler in accordance with my invention. Hence, the use of relative proportions within the stated ranges is critical for achieving the benefits of the invention. The amount of coloring matter will vary considerably depending upon the color desired in the finished composition, the specific coloring matter used and its color and color intensity. In general, however, the amount of coloring matter will be up to 1.0% based on the weight of the wax and oil ingredients.

For best results, the wax and oil should be admixed and then heated to a temperature which melts the wax. The coloring matter then should be added and the entire mixture stirred to produce a mixture of uniform consistency and color. The mixture should then be allowed to cool spontaneously to ambient temperature to complete the preparation of the finished composition. If desired, the coloring matter may be included in the initial mixture of wax and oil and all three ingredients thereafter heated simultaneously. Also, while the cooling of the composition may be accelerated by subjecting it to artificial cooling, care should be exercised in this regard since rapid or flash cooling involving a large, sudden temperature drop produces adverse effects in the finished composition making it less beneficial as a skin filler. Hence, the hot composition should be allowed to cool spontaneously or under gentle artificial cooling which does not increase the cooling rate substantially beyond that of spontaneity.

The finished composition may be filled into a skin cavity under pressure applied by the fingers or by any form of suitable mechanical aid such as a spatula, wood stick, etc. For best results, the skin in the area of application should be first thoroughly cleansed and dried. After the cavity has been substantially completely filled, the exposed surface of the filled composition should be smoothed so that its level is feathered flush with the surface of the skin surrounding the cavity. As previously mentioned, conventional cosmetics may be applied over the filled composition, if necessary, to completely mask its presence on the users skin.

As a specific example of the invention, a composition was prepared using the ingredients and relative weight proportions specified below:

Microcrystalline wax 70.0

Mineral oid 29.9

Oil-soluble, synthetic, organic, red dye (D&C Red The wax and oil were admixed, heated and stirred until the wax dissolved and blended uniformly with the oil. Then, the aniline dye was added and stirred into the hot mixture until its color became uniformly flesh-colored.

Thereafter, the mixture was allowed to cool spontaneously to room temperature.

The resulting composition was filled into a deep surgical scar cavity located in the neck of a male person. After the filled composition was smoothed and feathered flush with the skin surrounding the cavity, a conventional, flesh-colored face powder was applied over the entire area and thereby the presence of the cavity and scar was completely blocked from sight. Even a very close inspection did not reveal the outline of the filled composition or the presence of a scar. The person wore the composition through an entire normal working day without visible change.

While the invention has been described above in connection with abnormal cavities, scars or lesions of large size and severity, it will be understood that the composition of the invention may be used with equal effectiveness to camouflage pock marks, crows feet crevices, indented skin, and other less serious blemishes.

I claim:

1. A method of filling and camouflaging a cavity in skin which comprises filling said cavity with a composition consisting essentially of an uniform blend of about 75 to 65 parts by weight of microcrystalline wax and about 25 to 35 parts of mineral oil and smoothing the surface of said filled cavity flush with the surface of the skin surrounding said cavity.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said composition includes non-toxic coloring matter uniformly dispersed therein in an amount which colors said composition to substantially the same color as that of said skin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,775,561 12/1956 Frohmader. 2,847,367 8/1958 Walsh 106-270 XR 3,088,876 5/1963 Buth 16785 OTHER REFERENCES Bushby, Cosmetics and How To Make Them, 1945, 3rd edition, pp. 102-105 and 110.

Poucher, Perfumes Cosmetics and Soaps, 1942, vol. 111, 6th edition, pp. 184 and 191.

Sagarin, Cosmetics Science and Technology, 1957, p. 269.

ALBERT T. MEYERS, Primary Examiner.

D. R. MAHANAND, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 42435 8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,444 ,291 May 13 1969 Lorna Bivins It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, line 4, "Lorna Bivans" should read Lorna Bivins Signed and sealed this 3rd day of February 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.