Abstract: Staple, aqueous gel vehicles are provided for the topical application to the skin of irritating active ingredients such as retinoids, particularly tretinoin, with slow release of the active ingredient and minimal irritancy to the skin. The vehicles include a gelling agent effective to form a gel and hold the active ingredient in the aqueous medium for slow release on the skin, and an effective amount of an antioxidant to retard decomposition of the active ingredient. The vehicles and formulations are preferably aqueous emulsions which contain a solubilizing agent for the generally non-water soluble active ingredients, as well as usually an emulsifying agent and/or surfactant. Chelating agents, emollients, preservatives and other adjuvants and additives may also be included in the vehicles and formulations.

Abstract: Increase in the rate of hair growth, stimulation of hair follicles to produce new hair growth, prolongation of the anagen phase of the hair cycle, and conversion of vellus hair to growth as terminal hair, and treatment of alopecias due to organic dysfunction of the hair follicle is attained in mammalian skins by either oral administration or by topical application to the skin, hair and/or hair follicles of the mammal of effective amounts of a retinoid, particularly retinoic acid. The retinoid may be administered or applied alone or with other adjunctive compounds including vitamins, such as Vitamin D.sub.3, hormones, antiandrogens and/or vasodilators.

Abstract: Increase in the rate of hair growth, stimulation of hair follicles to produce new hair growth, prolongation of the anagen phase of the hair cycle, conversion of vellus hair to growth as terminal hair, and treatment of alopecias due to organic dysfunction of the hair follicle is attained in mammalian skins by either oral administration or by topical application to the skin, hair and/or hair follicles of the mammal of effective amounts of a retinoid, particularly retinoic acid, and a minoxidil-type compound. The combination may be administered or applied alone or with other adjunctive compounds including vitamins, such as Vitamin D.sub.3, hormones, and/or antiandrogens.

Abstract: Novel compounds are provided having the general formula RB.sub.n wherein R is a multi-functional amine moiety having at least n amine-functional nitrogen sites, n equals 2 to about 8, and B are disubstituted heterocyclic N-oxide moieties which are attached to amine functional nitrogen atoms of R, and each B is independently selected from the group consisting of pyridines, pyrimidines and triazines. These novel compounds and similar known compounds are useful in the promotion of hair growth by topical application to mammalian skins. Particularly preferred compounds of the invention are those in which the B moieties are disubstituted with amine groups adjacent the N-oxide position of the heterocyclic ring.

Abstract: Staple Stable, aqueous gel vehicles are provided for the topical application to the skin of irritating active ingredients such as retinoids, particularly tretinoin, with slow release of the active ingredient and minimal irritancy to the skin. The vehicles include a gelling agent effective to form a gel and hold the active ingredient in the aqueous medium for slow release on the skin, and an effective amount of an antioxidant to retard decomposition of the active ingredient. The vehicles and formulations are preferably aqueous emulsions which contain a solubilizing agent for the generally non-water soluble active ingredients, as well as usually an emulsifying agent and/or surfactant. Chelating agents, emollients, preservatives and other adjuvants and additives may also be included in the vehicles and formulations.