TOPICAL SANITIZER AND METHOD OF USE WITH GLOVES
Topical sanitizer includes avenanthramides, which is an active component of oats that is beneficial to the skin. The topical sanitizer is used preferably in conjunction with gloves that have an inner coating that includes avenanthramides. By using topical sanitizer that includes avenanthramides before and after wearing gloves, the skin of the person wearing the glove is more exposed to the beneficial avenanthramides all during the workday, not just when wearing gloves. The result is healthier, much softer and more comfortable skin on the hands.
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1. Technical Field
This disclosure generally relates to skin conditioning and protecting items, and more specifically relates to a topical sanitizer, glove and system that conditions and treats the skin on a person's hands.
2. Background Art
Many people must wear gloves for most or all of their workday to protect from environmental challenges including infectious diseases, for example, bacteria, viruses, or other contamination. For example, many doctors, nurses, dentists, clean room operators, food production and food service workers, sanitation workers, chemical plant workers, nuclear plant workers, welders, etc. wear gloves most of the day. Many people are required to change gloves many times a day. The most common type of protective gloves are latex and nitrile disposable gloves.
While latex gloves have been used for decades, they have significant drawbacks. For example, putting on latex gloves can be difficult because the latex has a tendency to bind to and stick to a person's skin. To make gloves easier to don (put on), latex gloves were made that included a cornstarch powder on the interior surface of the glove. The cornstarch powder made the glove much less likely to stick to a person's skin, and therefor greatly enhanced the ease of donning gloves. However, the cornstarch powder can serve as a carrier for allergens in latex, causing greater irritation to a person who has a sensitivity or allergy to latex. Many other powders were developed as alternatives to cornstarch powder for use on gloves.
One significant problem with powdered gloves is they cannot be used in many circumstances. For example, a surgeon cannot wear powdered gloves for fear of the powder dropping into the surgical site. Because there are many situations where powdered gloves are not allowed or are not preferred, various powder-free gloves have been developed.
A problem encountered by many people who wear protective gloves for most of the workday is skin irritation. The gloves trap perspiration on the skin and do not allow air flow that would normally help to evaporate the perspiration, thereby subjecting a person's hands to a damp or wet environment for most of the day. This can lead to skin irritation. The types of skin irritation caused by protective gloves have been well-documented over the years.
In an attempt to create gloves that are more friendly to the hands or a human who wears the gloves, various coatings for gloves have been developed over the years. For example, coatings that include aloe vera, oat starch, colloidal oatmeal, and beta glucan have been developed. Each of these has different properties and different beneficial effects. Note that some of these coatings are in a powder form, while others are powder-free.
Gloves that have coatings that are good for the skin are helpful when wearing the glove, but are not beneficial once the gloves have been removed and discarded. When a person removes a glove, the person typically cleanses his or her hands. When the person needs to put on a new pair of gloves, the person typically cleanses his or her hands again, then puts on the new pair of gloves. For hand-washing, common soaps have harsh detergents that have a tendency to dry out the skin by removing the oil on the skin. The repeated cleansing between glove changes can dry out a person's skin and cause various skin problems. The benefit of wearing gloves that include coatings that are beneficial to the skin may be reduced considerably by the repeated cleansing of the hands during the workday.
BRIEF SUMMARYTopical sanitizer includes avenanthramides, which is an active component of oats that is beneficial to the skin. The topical sanitizer is used preferably in conjunction with gloves that have an inner coating that includes avenanthramides. By using topical sanitizer that includes avenanthramides before and after wearing gloves, the skin of the person wearing the glove is more exposed to the beneficial avenanthramides all during the workday, not just when wearing gloves. The result is much healthier, softer and more comfortable skin on the hands. A healthy skin offers superior protection to environmental challenges and disease.
The foregoing and other features and advantages will be apparent from the following more particular description, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The disclosure will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and:
A sample glove 100 is shown in
As stated in the Background Art section above, wearing gloves all day long can be hard on the skin of a person's hands. The gloves trap moisture on the skin and inhibit air flow that prevents the normal evaporation of the moisture on the skin. As a result, many people who use gloves extensively develop various forms of contact dermatitis, or skin irritation, that is caused by the gloves. Needless to say, subjecting already irritated skin to repeated irritations every day can create greater irritation. Sites of irritation may lead to a breakdown of the protective barrier role of the skin leaving the person vulnerable to infection. With many people whose jobs require they wear gloves, they are left with few options for preventing or treating skin problems that result from wearing the gloves.
One way to potentially improve the problem of skin irritation due to wearing gloves is to use gloves with a coating that is beneficial to the skin. Some dry powders have been developed, such as oat starch and colloidal oatmeal, which are effective in delivering beneficial components of oats to a person's hand while wearing the glove. But powdered coatings cannot be used or are not preferred in many applications. Other powder-free coatings have been developed, which are also effective in delivering substances that are beneficial to skin to the hand of the person who uses the glove, such as aloe vera and beta glucan.
While providing powdered or powder-free coatings on gloves can help to soothe and treat a person's skin when wearing the glove, once the person takes off the gloves, the person typically cleansing his or her hands, which may remove most of the beneficial components the glove coating left on the skin. Many people such as healthcare professionals must put on and take off gloves dozens of times each day, cleansing their hands before and after they take off gloves. Many soaps include harsh detergents that remove most of the natural oils in the outer layers of skin. Thus, repeated washings throughout the workday cause the effect of drying out and irritating the skin, thereby limiting the benefit of the coatings on the gloves.
The problem of skin irritation created by extensive hand washing are alleviated by the disclosure and claims herein. A topical sanitizer contains avenanthramides, which are a component of oats that has great benefits for the skin. As used herein, the term “sanitizer” refers to a substance that cleanses the skin and kills germs. Recent research has shown that avenanthramides are the components in oats that provide anti-irritant properties to skin. Avenanthramides may be extracted from oats using any suitable process, including the process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,818,232 issued on Nov. 16, 2004 to Redmond et al. The topical sanitizer may be a foam soap, so a person who is used to washing his or her hands before donning gloves and after removing gloves can continue the normal routine by substituting the foam soap for the normal soap, and by substituting gloves that include a coating of avenanthramides on the inner skin-contacting surface of the gloves. In the alternative, the topical sanitizer may be an alcohol-based gel or an alcohol-free foam. These allow a person to cleanse and sanitize his or her hands before donning gloves and after removing gloves without washing with water. The topical sanitizers disclosed herein contain relatively low levels of detergent to avoid drying out the skin, in addition to avenanthramides to treat the skin, and may also optionally include zinc as a skin protectant. When a person sanitizes his or her hands with the topical sanitizer disclosed herein, the result is a residual coating of avenanthramides on the skin, which provides great benefit to the skin. Thus, the invention disclosed herein allows a person constantly to have avenanthramides on his or her skin, whether wearing gloves or not. The result is a significant decrease in skin irritation on a person's hands that would normally occur from extensive wearing of gloves.
Referring to
Referring to
One form of avenanthramides that is commercially available is a product known as colloidal oat extract distributed by Ceapro, Inc., Suite 4174 Enterprise Square, 10320 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 4P6. The colloidal oat extract is formulated to 100 parts per million (ppm) avenanthramides in a glycerin:water 1:1 base. For example, the colloidal oat extract could be made by preparing a solution of 10 mg avenanthramides in 50 grams of water and 50 grams of glycerin. Because the colloidal oat extract includes glycerin and water, the amount of colloidal oat extract to use in the formulations below can be determined mathematically from the avenanthramides concentration, which will result in a corresponding reduction in the amount of glycerin needed.
The specific ingredients and proportions for the alcohol-based sanitizing gel are preferably:
A suitable combination of these ranges will preferably sum to 100 grams, which means the numbers also express a percentage of each ingredient by weight in the gel. The alcohol-based sanitizing gel may also include zinc acetate. Zinc acetate is a proven skin protectant, and has received a USP monograph as a skin protectant. For the specific formulation above, a range of 0.1 to 2.0 grams of zinc acetate could be added to the mixture to enhance the skin-protecting properties of the alcohol-based sanitizer gel.
The specific ingredients and proportions for the alcohol-based sanitizing gel are more preferably:
Zinc acetate could also be added to this formulation. A range of 0.1 to 0.5 grams of zinc acetate could be added to the mixture to enhance the skin-protecting properties of the alcohol-based sanitizer gel.
The specific ingredients and proportions for the alcohol-based sanitizing gel are most preferably:
Note these ingredients sum to 100 grams, which means the numbers also express a percentage of each ingredient by weight in the gel. Zinc acetate could also be added to this formulation. The most preferred proportion of zinc acetate is 0.2 percent by weight of the alcohol-based sanitizer gel. Note the addition of zinc acetate will require a corresponding reduction in one of the other ingredients to keep the total weight of the formulation at 100 grams, so the numbers still reflect percent by weight of the total. In this most preferred implementation, the amount of deionized water is reduced to account for the addition of the zinc acetate. Because zinc is a skin protectant, adding zinc acetate to the alcohol-based sanitizer gel allows the alcohol-based sanitizer gel to claim skin protectant properties.
A second specific embodiment of the topical sanitizer is a foam soap that includes avenanthramides. A method 700 in
The specific ingredients and proportions for the foam soap are preferably:
In accordance with method 700 in
A suitable combination of these ranges will preferably sum to 100 grams, which means the numbers also express a percentage of each ingredient by weight in the foam soap. Zinc acetate could also be added to this formulation. The preferred proportion of zinc acetate is 0.1-2.0 percent by weight of the foam soap. The more preferred proportion of zinc acetate is 0.1-0.5 percent by weight of the foam soap. The most preferred proportion of zinc acetate is 0.2 percent by weight of the foam soap.
The specific ingredients and proportions for the foam soap are more preferably:
As above, zinc acetate could also be added to provide skin protectant properties for the foam soap in the ranges or specific proportion discussed above.
The specific ingredients and proportions for the foam soap are most preferably:
As above, zinc acetate could also be added to provide skin protectant properties for the foam soap in the ranges or specific proportion discussed above. For the proportions shown above, 0.20 grams of zinc acetate is added, with a corresponding reduction in the amount of water by 0.20 grams to keep the total at 100 grams so the proportions reflect percentages by weight in the foam soap.
Method 800 in
The methods shown in
A suitable combination of these ranges will preferably sum to 100 grams, which means the numbers also express a percentage of each ingredient by weight in the foam soap. Zinc acetate could also be added to this formulation. The preferred proportion of zinc acetate is 0.1-2.0 percent by weight of the alcohol-free sanitizing foam. The more preferred proportion of zinc acetate is 0.1-0.5 percent by weight of the alcohol-free sanitizing foam. The most preferred proportion of zinc acetate is 0.2 percent by weight of the alcohol-free sanitizing foam.
The specific ingredients and proportions for the alcohol-free sanitizing foam are more preferably:
As above, zinc acetate could also be added to provide skin protectant properties for the foam soap in the ranges or specific proportion discussed above.
The specific ingredients and proportions for the alcohol-free sanitizing foam are most preferably:
As stated above, zinc acetate could also be added to this alcohol-free sanitizing foam in the ranges or specific proportion discussed above. For the proportions shown above, 0.20 grams of zinc acetate is added, with a corresponding reduction in the amount of water by 0.20 grams to keep the total at 100 grams so the proportions reflect percentages by weight in the alcohol-free sanitizing foam.
The topical sanitizers disclosed herein, namely the alcohol-based sanitizing gel, the foam soap, and the alcohol-free sanitizing form, may be used in conjunction with gloves that have a coating that includes avenanthramides and optionally includes zinc acetate so the gloves provide skin conditioning and protecting properties to the hands of the wearer of the gloves. Referring to
Method 900 in
By providing both topical sanitizers and gloves that include avenanthramides, a new level of hand protection and treatment is available to those who wear gloves extensively. Referring to
A method for conditioning skin as shown in the detailed steps in
The result of providing both topical sanitizers that include avenanthramides and gloves that include avenanthramides is an overall hand care system that allows the beneficial avenanthramides to be in contact with a person's skin on their hands during the entire workday. Such a hand care system is shown in block diagram form in
The specific formulations above are given by way of example. Many variations are possible within the scope of the disclosure and claims herein, which expressly extend to any suitable formulation that includes avenanthramides and optionally includes zinc acetate.
The topical sanitizers and hand care system disclosed herein provide significant advantages over currently-known methods discussed above. By allowing avenanthramides to be in constant contact with a person's skin using the topical sanitizers, methods and hand care system herein, the skin on the person's hands will be more soft and any skin irritation will be greatly reduced. The result is much greater comfort to the hands of those who wear gloves extensively.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations are possible within the scope of the claims. Thus, while the disclosure is particularly shown and described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A foam soap comprising:
- cocamidopropyl betaine;
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate;
- sodium trideceth sulfate;
- PEG-150 distearate; and
- avenanthramides.
2. The foam soap of claim 1 comprising:
- cocamidopropyl betaine that is 1.0 to 10% by weight of the foam soap;
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate that is 5.0 to 40% by weight of the foam soap;
- sodium trideceth sulfate that is 5.0 to 40% by weight of the foam soap;
- PEG-150 distearate that is at least 1.0% by weight of the foam soap; and
- avenanthramides that are at least 0.4 parts per million by weight of the foam soap.
3. The foam soap of claim 1 comprising:
- cocamidopropyl betaine that is 2.0 to 15% by weight of the foam soap;
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate that is 10 to 30% by weight of the foam soap;
- sodium trideceth sulfate that is 10 to 30% by weight of the foam soap;
- PEG-150 distearate that is 1.0 to 10% by weight of the foam soap; and
- avenanthramides that are 0.4 to 10 parts per million by weight of the foam soap.
4. The foam soap of claim 1 further comprising lactic acid and vitamin E.
5. The foam soap of claim 4 further comprising:
- cocamidopropyl betaine that is approximately 3.33% by weight of the foam soap;
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate that is approximately 15% by weight of the foam soap;
- sodium trideceth sulfate that is approximately 15% by weight of the foam soap;
- PEG-150 distearate that is approximately 1.6% by weight of the foam soap;
- avenanthramides that are approximately 1.0 parts per million by weight of the foam soap;
- lactic acid in a quantity sufficient to adjust the pH of the foam soap to approximately 5.0; and
- vitamin E that is approximately 0.5% by weight of the foam soap.
6. The foam soap of claim 4 further comprising zinc acetate.
7. The foam soap of claim 6 further comprising water.
8. The foam soap of claim 7 comprising:
- water that is approximately 63% by weight of the foam soap;
- cocamidopropyl betaine that is approximately 3.33% by weight of the foam soap;
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate that is approximately 15% by weight of the foam soap;
- sodium trideceth sulfate that is approximately 15% by weight of the foam soap;
- PEG-150 distearate that is approximately 1.6% by weight of the foam soap;
- avenanthramides that are approximately 1.0 parts per million by weight of the foam soap;
- lactic acid in a quantity sufficient to adjust the pH of the foam soap to approximately 5.0;
- vitamin E that is approximately 0.5% by weight of the foam soap; and
- zinc acetate that is approximately 0.20% by weight of the foam soap.
9. A sanitizing foam comprising:
- cocamidopropyl betaine;
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate;
- sodium trideceth sulfate;
- PEG-150 distearate;
- benzalkonium chloride; and
- avenanthramides.
10. The sanitizing foam of claim 9 comprising:
- cocamidopropyl betaine that is from 0.16 to 1.67% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate that is from 0.83 to 6.67% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- sodium trideceth sulfate that is from 0.83 to 6.67% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- PEG-150 distearate that is at least 16% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- benzalkonium chloride that is 0.1 to 1.0% by weight of the sanitizing foam; and
- avenanthramides that are at least 0.4 parts per million by weight of the sanitizing foam.
11. The sanitizing foam of claim 9 comprising:
- cocamidopropyl betaine that is from 0.33 to 2.5% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate that is from 1.67 to 5.0% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- sodium trideceth sulfate that is from 1.67 to 5.0% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- PEG-150 distearate that is from 0.16 to 1.6% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- benzalkonium chloride that is 0.1 to 0.2% by weight of the sanitizing foam; and
- avenanthramides that are from 0.4 to 10 parts per million by weight of the sanitizing foam.
12. The sanitizing foam of claim 9 further comprising lactic acid and vitamin E.
13. The sanitizing foam of claim 12 comprising:
- cocamidopropyl betaine that is approximately 0.55% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate that is approximately 2.5% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- sodium trideceth sulfate that is approximately 2.5% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- PEG-150 distearate that is approximately 0.27% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- benzalkonium chloride that is approximately 0.13% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- avenanthramides that are approximately 1.0 parts per million by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- vitamin E that is approximately 0.5% by weight of the sanitizing foam; and
- lactic acid in a quantity sufficient to bring the pH of the sanitizing foam to approximately 5.0.
14. The sanitizing foam of claim 12 further comprising zinc acetate.
15. The sanitizing foam of claim 14 further comprising water.
16. The sanitizing foam of claim 15 comprising:
- water that is approximately 90% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- cocamidopropyl betaine that is approximately 0.55% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- PEG-80 sorbitan laurate that is approximately 2.5% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- sodium trideceth sulfate that is approximately 2.5% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- PEG-150 distearate that is approximately 0.27% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- benzalkonium chloride that is approximately 0.13% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- avenanthramides that are approximately 1.0 parts per million by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- vitamin E that is approximately 0.5% by weight of the sanitizing foam;
- zinc acetate that is approximately 0.2% by weight of the sanitizing foam; and
- lactic acid in a quantity sufficient to bring the pH of the sanitizing foam to approximately 5.0.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 16, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 5, 2013
Applicant: The Idea Folder LLC (Green Bay, WI)
Inventors: Mark James Redmond (Edmonton), Joseph H. Neuser (Green Bay, WI)
Application Number: 13/863,474
International Classification: A61K 36/899 (20060101);