Pediculicidal and ovacidal treatment compositions and methods for killing head lice and their eggs

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for administering compositions in solutions for killing adult lice and the ova comprising water, PVM / MA Decadiene crosspolymers, propylene glycol, a mixture of cetyl and stearyl alcohols, Ceteareth-20; stearalkonium chloride; benzyl alcohol; hexylene glycol; pentylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol; a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D in a weight ratio of 80:20, BHT; and sodium hydroxide.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09 / 841,715, filed Apr. 25, 2001.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to compositions and methods for controlling and treating adult lice and nits (or ova) of species of the order of Anoplura, including but not limited to pediculus capitis, pediculus humanus and pthiris pubic, by applying a composition of pediculicides and ovacides in solution to skin and hair, including but not limited to human skin and hair. The compositions comprise effective pediculicidal agents and ovacidal agents which are solubilized to promote penetration of the ova. More particularly, the effective pediculicidal agents and ovacidal agents are spinosad, Spinosyn A, Spinosyn D, or combinations thereof. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Lice present a source of serious health problems worldwide for man and animals. Not only do lice carry a variety of bacteria on their outer surfaces, but in ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] The present invention includes a method of controlling adults and ova of the species of order Anoplura by topically applying to one or more of skin and hair a composition comprising an effective amount of one or more agents having pediculicidal and ovacidal properties for adult lice and nits of a specie of order Anoplura in solution. The pediculicidal and ovacidal properties include the abilities to control adult lice and lice ova (or nits).

[0018] The present invention includes a method of controlling adults and ova of the species of order Anoplura by topically applying to one or more of skin and hair a composition comprising an effective amount of one or more agents having pediculicidal and ovacidal properties for adult lice and nits of a specie of order Anoplura in solution, which agents comprise the chemical structure of:

[0019] The present invention includes a method of controlling adults and ova of the species of order Anoplura by topically applying to one or more of skin and hair a composition comprising a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D in an approximate weight ratio of 80:20, water, methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride crosslinked with 1,9 dec

Problems solved by technology

Lice present a source of serious health problems worldwide for man and animals.

Removal of nits is particularly difficult, as each nit is cemented to a shaft of hair by a glycoprotein glue, acting as a binding cement.

However, as noted in the prior art, the use of these methods and compositions is not entirely effective in controlling head lice, as some lice often survive the treatment.

Indeed, the National Pediculosis Association has reported that twenty to eighty percent of nits survive initial pediculicide treatment, resulting in reinfestation.

Unfortunately, nits do not develop a functioning central nervous system until they are between three and four days old, during an average incubation period of approximately ten days.

The prior art does not teach the use of spinosyns in solution.

Known pediculicides have been noted to be ineffective on killing ova.

Thus, the use of these pediculicides results in a reinfestation of the hair or skin as soon as the ova hatch, since the treatment was ineffective in controlling and killing the ova.

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