Treatment methods and nail protectors for improving weakened nails

Abstract

This invention provides a treatment method and protective device for improving weakened nails, which aims to repair and improve symptoms such as deterioration, infection, skin diseases, and trauma affecting any of the nail matrix, nail epithelium, posterior nail fold, lateral nail fold, subungual skin, or nail bed that are factors in nail weakening, using a composition to repair and improve these symptoms, while protecting the nail from external forces with a nail protector, thereby allowing healthy new nail growth to occur safely and healthily, and improving the overall nail regeneration. [Solution] The method for improving weakened nails consists of the following steps: S1, impregnation of the nail plate with a solution; S2, attachment of a nail edge protector 10A that has the function of protecting the nail edge from trauma and providing reinforcing strength; S3, impregnation of a nail coating agent selected according to the nail symptoms onto a nail coating agent support 04 disposed on a nail plate protector 03 that can protect weakened nails from damage caused by trauma; and S4, placement and attachment of the nail plate protector 03 on the nail plate. Through these steps, the weakened nails can be protected and improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an excellent treatment method and nail protector for improving brittle nails, which can safely and effectively grow healthy new nails and regrow nails by using a nail coating agent used for repairing injuries and skin diseases (hereinafter referred to as diseases of each affected site) that have occurred in each site such as the nail matrix, eponychium, posterior nail fold, lateral nail fold, subungual epidermis, nail bed, etc., which are the causes of nail brittleness, while improving with the nail coating agent, and using a nail protector that can reinforce and protect brittle nails.

Background Art

[0002] Causes of nail brittleness such as excessive drying of nails, nail deformation, nail splitting, thickened nails, onychomycosis, etc. include degreasing by agents such as detergents, manicure, toluene, acetone, etc. used in nail art, drying caused by nail biting, etc., and diseases of each affected site including infections.

[0003] In order to improve such brittle nails, there is a method of applying a solvent containing a moisturizing component such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, fatty acid, sterol, collagen, ceramide, urea, etc. on the surface of the nail, or a solvent containing an antibacterial agent for improving onychomycosis. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a nail cosmetic called a nail cosmetic that provides moisture retention, defense, crack prevention, and hardening prevention for nails. Patent Document 2 discloses an antibacterial cosmetic for nails. Also, as a method of protecting the nail until it grows by attaching an artificial nail formed by a plastic plate or the like on the nail or applying an ultraviolet curable gel, for example, Patent Document 3 discloses a method for reinforcing and repairing fingernails. As a nail corrector, for example, Patent Document 4 discloses an ingrown nail corrector that can correct ingrown nails without splitting.

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0004] However, even if the aforementioned solvents are applied to improve the weakened nail plate, it is self-evident that nails composed of denucleated keratin have no restorative or regenerative capacity. Therefore, the only way to improve nail health is to allow new, healthy nails to grow in their place.

[0005] Furthermore, methods for reinforcing weakened nails include applying artificial nails to the nail plate or applying UV-curing gel. However, since many of the areas where nail damage, loss, or deformation occurs are the nail edges or free edges of the nail plate, where drying progresses rapidly, there is a particular need to protect these nail edges, but there is a problem in that there are no protective devices for the nail edges. In addition, when protecting and reinforcing the nail plate with the artificial nail or gel so as to cover the nail plate surface as described above, even if one tries to directly apply the composition for improvement to the nail plate surface while protecting the nail plate surface with the artificial nail or gel, the adhesive for fixing to the nail plate is applied to the side in contact with the nail plate surface, so in order to obtain stable adhesion, it is not possible to apply the composition to the side in contact with the nail plate at the same time. Moreover, when applying the composition to a nail plate covered with the artificial nail or gel, it is necessary to remove the reinforcing material with a remover each time, and applying it repeatedly on a daily basis using the above method is a troublesome problem. Furthermore, unless the dysfunction caused by the disease in the respective affected areas that should nourish the nail is improved, the newly grown nail will not be weakened, and as a result, only weakened nails will be elongated. Therefore, there is a problem in that improving only the nail plate will not solve the problem of weakened nails.

[0006] Thus, the causes of nail fragility, such as excessive dryness, nail deformation, splitting, and thickening, are often related to diseases in the affected areas, and treatment requires a long period of time. Therefore, in treating weakened nails, it is necessary to continue applying solutions that improve the disease in each affected area and protecting / reinforcing the nail plate over a long period of time until the entire nail, from the nail root to the free edge of the nail plate, is replaced with healthy nail.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a treatment method and a nail protector for improving weakened nails, which, in long-term treatment, repairs and improves the disease at each site of onset that causes the weakened nail using a composition, while protecting and reinforcing the nail shape and nail margins with a nail protector to prevent nail cracking and nail deformation, thereby allowing the nail to grow back into a healthy nail plate in a safe and restful environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the present invention has found the following means.

[0009] The means used in the treatment step for improving a weakened nail plate according to claim 1 is to apply to the nail plate a solution made by mixing a solute, which is at least one selected from a single or compound denaturant whose hydrogen ion concentration index is adjusted to a weakly alkaline range of pH 7.5 to pH 11.0, or a cleansing agent adjusted to the same weakly alkaline range, which is one of a synthetic surfactant system, a soap base system, or an amino acid system, with an aqueous solvent adjusted to 15°C to 50°C for the purpose of promoting the denaturation of hydrogen bonds and lowering the liquid viscosity to facilitate penetration into the nail plate, and making either an aqueous solution or an emulsion solution. The first step is a pretreatment that involves swelling, softening, degreasing, and removing solvent penetration inhibitors from the keratin of brittle nails, and, in response to the inhibition of penetration caused by the large amount of air trapped in the voids created by fine cleavage in the brittle, over-dried nail plate, pre-soaking the solution into these voids to facilitate capillary action and promote liquid penetration, as well as loosening the intercellular spaces by swelling the nail plate to facilitate water movement, and reducing the surface tension of the nail plate surface and / or promoting liquid absorption into the nail plate through intra-nail diffusion.

[0011] A protective device for the free edge of the nail plate, which is molded in a curved shape along the free edge of the nail plate and attached to the free edge of the nail plate for the purpose of preventing, aggravating, and breaking of the nail, and a protective device for the left and right sides of the nail plate, which is capable of preventing and aggravating nail splitting at the respective sides of the nail plate, and which also functions as a bridge abutment or clamping device, is made from a material selected from resin, metal, light-curing resin, viscoelastic materials such as silicone, rubber, elastomer, and paper, and processed to have elastic or plastic properties. The second step involves reinforcing and protecting the nail shape by placing the nail edge protector, which has a short-horizontal cross-section in the shape of a C-shaped or U-shaped tubular structure, and in which the nail edge protector and the side nail edge protector portion are either integrally molded or are made by separate molding that allows the shape of the protector portion to be molded to the shape of the free edge portion of the nail plate that has been attached for a long period of time and has been extended, on the nail edge using either plastic deformation to clamp, elastic clamping, adhesive fixing, or fixing with tape,

[0013] A third step involves applying or impregnating a nail coating agent to a nail plate protector formed in the shape of a bridge girder using a single material or a material made by selecting and laminating one or more of the above materials, or to a nail coating agent support disposed on the back side, i.e., the nail bed side, of the nail plate protector,

[0014] A fourth step involves detachably bridging the nail plate protective device onto the nail plate surface in such a way that the application time of the nail plate coating agent, such as a drug, can be adjusted while the nail plate is fixed in place or protected, using the side nail edge protective device portions provided on the left and right nail edges as bridge supports or clamping fasteners.

[0015] By incorporating each of the processes, the attachment of the nail edge protector prevents or exacerbates deformation and splitting of the nail edge due to external force on fragile nails, while promoting the liquid absorption capacity of the nail plate. In the nail plate, the nail plate coating agent smoothly penetrates from the surface side of the nail plate to the inside of the nail bed on the underside side, and the effect of the nail plate coating agent penetrates to the disease at each affected site, thereby enabling the growth of healthy new nails, allowing the new nails to continue to grow and be replaced by healthy nail plates.

[0016] As described in claim 2, The nail plate protector is formed from an elastic material made of resin or metal, in the shape of a flat plate that substantially follows the curved shape of the nail plate when viewed from the front, and its front-to-back length is long enough to protect at least the weakened portion of the nail plate surface. The means of installation on the nail plate is to erect the nail plate protector, which consists of a bridge-like structure and a nail edge protector portion that serves as a bridge abutment, positioned at each of the left and right nail edges, as an integrated bridge structure. Alternatively, the nail plate protector is a separate component that is clamped onto the nail plate by the clamping force of the nail edge protector portion, or it is fixed with adhesive or erected in a girder bridge structure that can be attached and detached with adhesive or tape. This can reinforce the elasticity of the nail plate that has become brittle due to weakening and loss of elastic restorative force, and also prevents and suppresses nail splitting and nail plate deformation caused by external forces.

[0017] As described in claim 3, The nail coating agent of the third step according to claim 1 is

[0018] ▲1▼In the case of a crosslinking solution, the solute is weakly acidic, with a pH of 3.5 to 7, which re-crosslinks the nail plate that has been modified from the weakened nail in the first step, and the nail plate astringents, thereby maintaining the efficacy of the compounding agent described below, as well as preventing the evaporation of water and thereby increasing water retention. ▲2▼If it is a moisturizer, it is a solute consisting of at least one of the following: natural moisturizing factors to maintain flexibility and elasticity in weakened nail plates, amino acids that supplement the function of sebum and intercellular cortex, lactic acid, citric acid, hyaluronic acid, ceramide, glycerin, urea, glycyrrhizic acid, shea butter, squalane, or argan oil. ▲3▼In the case of a nail treatment solution, a hydroxycarboxylic acid and / or its salts or a solute in which the hydroxycarboxylic acid consists of at least one of glycolic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and / or mandelic acid. The base is a solution consisting of at least one selected from the respective solutes ▲1▼, ▲2▼, and ▲3▼.

[0019] Furthermore, combination agents aimed at improving trauma and skin diseases in the affected areas of each disease are ▲1▼If the agent has antibacterial and bactericidal properties, it is a combination of at least one of the following: povidone-iodine, chlorhexidine, benzethonium chloride, isopropyl alcohol, or ethanol. ▲2▼If the agent has analgesic properties, it is a combination agent consisting of at least one of the following: an amide-type local anesthetic or dibucaine hydrochloride. ▲3▼If the agent has anti-inflammatory efficacy, it is a combination agent consisting of at least one of the following: a corticosteroid topical agent, a steroid topical agent, or a non-steroidal topical agent. ▲4▼If the agent has antifungal efficacy, it must be a combination agent consisting of at least one of the allylamine or imidazole derivatives.

[0020] At least one is selected from the preparations ▲1▼, ▲2▼, ▲3▼, ▲4▼ suitable for each of the above effects, and it is a composition that can be used for nails formed by blending with the base and diseases of each affected site.

Effect of the Invention

[0021] In the present invention, for brittle nails caused by over-drying, thickened nails, fine cracks on the nails, or hardened nails, a solution such as a denaturing agent or a cleaning agent is applied to promote the penetration of the liquid due to sebum degreasing on the nail surface and the reduction of surface tension, and to fill and expel the air in the fine voids caused by over-drying with the solution and swell the shrunk keratin layer to promote capillary action and liquid absorption capacity. The first step of obtaining the effect; the second step of reinforcing and protecting brittle nails over a long period by arranging a nail edge protector; the nail coating agent used for repairing the diseases of each affected site, which is the cause of the brittle nails, is applied to the nail coating agent support arranged on the side of the nail that contacts the nail of the nail protector. The third step; the fourth step of impregnating the nail coating agent into the diseases of each affected site under the environment where the brittle nails are protected from external forces by installing the nail protector on the nail; by going through the above steps, while improving the diseases of each affected site, the entire nail part can be regenerated into healthy new nails, providing an excellent effect.

Brief Explanation of Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a flowchart showing the steps of the treatment method for improving brittle nails. [Figure 2] It is a (A) plan view and (B) front view showing an example of the nail edge protector 10A. [Figure 3] It is a (A) plan view, (B) front view, and (C) bottom view showing an example of the nail protector 10B. [Figure 4] It is a (A) plan view and (B) bottom view showing an example of the nail protector 10C formed by arranging the nail protector on the nail edge protector.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] The nail protector for improving weakened nails according to this invention will be described with reference to the figures. However, it is not limited to the following forms, and the protector can be modified in various ways, including changing the order of the processes, depending on the symptoms of the weakened nail.

[0024] Figure 1 is a flowchart showing the steps of a treatment method for improving weakened nails. As shown in Figure 1, the method for improving weakened nails involves the following steps: step S1 of soaking the nail plate with a solution, step S2 of attaching a nail edge protector 10A, step S3 of applying a nail plate coating agent to the nail plate protector 10B, and step S4 of attaching the nail plate protector 10B. Through these steps, the weakened nails are improved.

[0025] First, step S1 is performed. In many cases of weakened nails, hardening progresses due to excessive drying, making it very difficult to allow a solution applied to the upper surface of the nail plate to penetrate to the underside of the nail plate and reach the nail bed to obtain the effect of the solution. Therefore, a weak alkaline aqueous solution containing a surfactant, adjusted to 40°C, is used to wash and degrease the weakened nail plate, and to modify and swell it, thereby reducing surface tension and promoting liquid absorption. This is a pretreatment step that promotes the penetration of the nail plate coating agent even in weakened nails.

[0026] Furthermore, in the subsequent step S2 of attaching the nail edge protector 10A, the nail edge protector 10A is formed as follows in order to protect the nail edge from external forces and to obtain strength. [Examples]

[0027] The nail edge protector portion 01, shown in Figure 2 and comprising the nail edge protector 10A, may be formed from one or more materials selected from photocurable resin, viscoelastic materials such as silicone, rubber, elastomer, paper, and thermosetting polyurethane resin, which have plasticity that allows them to deform along the curved shape of the free edge of the nail. In this embodiment, however, it is formed from silicone resin in a short-horizontal cross-section C-shaped tube with an outer diameter of φ3.0 mm, an inner diameter of φ1.5 mm, a length of 20 mm, and an opening height of 0.1 mm. The opening 02a into which the nail edge is inserted may be formed with an appropriate opening height that allows it to be fitted to the thickness of each individual nail. Furthermore, if reinforcement is required when the protector is made of resin, a thin sheet material or wire material made of resin or metal may be inserted as a reinforcing material. Furthermore, the side claw edge protection portion 02 may be formed from a material selected from resin, metal, or light-curing resin, etc., that has a shape that follows the substantially straight shape of the claw edge and has stable strength as a bridge abutment or pier. In this embodiment, however, it is formed from ABS resin in a short-horizontal cross-section C-shaped cylindrical shape with an outer diameter of φ2.0 mm, an inner diameter of φ1.5 mm, a length of 5.0 mm, and an opening height of 0.1 mm. The opening 02a into which the claw edge is inserted may be formed with an appropriate opening height that allows for clamping of each claw thickness.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2(A) and (B), which are examples of the form when the nail edge protector 10A is attached, the free edge protector part 01 of the nail plate is attached to the free edge of the nail plate, and the side nail edge protector parts 02 are arranged in pairs of two, one on each side to correspond to the left and right nail edges, and are positioned and attached to both sides of the nail edge.

[0029] To attach the nail edge protector 10A to the nail edge, first, from the surface side of the nail plate, the longitudinal opening 02a of the side nail edge protector 02 is brought into contact with the gap between the right nail fold and the right nail edge and pushed in to fit it in place. Next, the longitudinal opening 02a of the other side nail edge protector 02 is brought into contact with the gap between the left nail fold and the left nail edge and pushed in to fit it in place. If the attachment is unstable, it may be further secured with light-curing resin. In this way, both the left and right sides of the side nail edge are protected by the strong side nail edge protector 02, which also serves as abutment.

[0030] Next, to attach the free edge protection part 01 to the free edge of the nail, the free edge protection part 01 is plastically deformed to conform to the curved shape of the free edge of the nail, and the opening 02a of the free edge protection part 01 is pressed into contact with the tip of the free edge of the nail and fitted into place. If the attachment is unstable, it may be further secured with a light-curing resin or adhesive. In this embodiment, an adhesive mainly composed of acrylic-modified silicone resin was used. Furthermore, tape was used to provide support until the adhesive hardened.

[0031] Furthermore, when the nail plate free edge protector portion 01 and the side nail edge protector portion 02 are installed, the means of fastening them can be, for example, ▲1▼ if the nail edge protector is formed using a plastic metal material, the opening 02a portion can be plastically compressed, or ▲2▼ if it is formed using a metal elastic material, elastic clamping can be used, or ▲3▼ if it is formed using a plastic photocurable resin, a viscoelastic material such as silicone, rubber, elastomer, or paper, a cyanoacrylate-based or acrylic-based adhesive, or an epoxy resin-based or urethane-based adhesive, or a photocurable resin-based (ultraviolet light source type, visible light type, or dual type of ultraviolet light and heat) gel adhesive can be used. If it is to be attached detachably, a hot melt adhesive containing ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, polyolefin, synthetic rubber, polyamide, polyester, or polyurethane, which is used in thermoplastic resins, is suitable. Furthermore, when fixing the metal without using adhesives, due to the plasticity and elasticity of the metal, there is a space between the inner C-shaped tube of the protective parts 01 and 02 and the inserted claw edge, and dust and water can easily enter this space, so filling it is an option. For filling, it is advisable to use silicone resin-based, modified silicone-based, urethane-based, acrylic-based, light-curing, or chemically curing sealants, as well as solid waxes, petroleum jelly, glycerin, clay, etc. Alternatively, sealants, caulking agents, adhesives, etc., can be freely selected and used.

[0032] Furthermore, in step S3, which involves applying the nail coating agent to the nail plate protector 03, ▲1▼ a nail coating agent for improving the factors that weakened the nail, or ▲2▼ a water-retaining material or moisturizer for preventing the nail plate from drying out, ▲1▼ and / or ▲2▼ are applied and impregnated onto the nail coating agent support 04. The form of the nail coating agent is liquid, and may be, for example, water, cream, jelly, lotion, colloid, emulsion, or oil. [Examples]

[0033] In this embodiment, the nail plate protector 03, shown in Figure 3 and comprising the nail edge protector 10B, is made of acrylic resin with dimensions of 8.0 mm in the short direction, 18 mm in the long direction, and 0.3 mm in thickness. This material is chosen to not only protect the nail plate but also to serve as a support for the coating agent. Furthermore, a nail coating agent support 04 is adhered to the side surface of the nail plate protector 03. The nail coating agent support 04 has dimensions of 6.0 mm in the short direction, 15 mm in the long direction, and 0.5 mm in thickness, and is made of a urethane nonwoven fabric that can impregnate and retain the nail coating agent. In selecting nonwoven fabrics, chemical fibers such as rayon nonwoven fabric, polyester nonwoven fabric, polypropylene nonwoven fabric, and polyethylene nonwoven fabric may be used; natural fibers such as cotton nonwoven fabric, pulp nonwoven fabric, wool nonwoven fabric, hemp nonwoven fabric, and bamboo nonwoven fabric may be used; and for composite materials, two or more of the aforementioned fiber materials may be combined to create a nonwoven fabric that takes into account water absorption, strength, and cost, matching the liquid state and components of the aforementioned coating agent. [Examples]

[0034] In the subsequent step S4 of attaching the nail protector 03, which includes a nail coating agent support 04 that can impregnate the nail coating agent into the diseased areas of each affected site in an environment where the weakened nail is protected from external forces, the nail protector 03 is erected and fixed using the side nail edge protection portion 02 as a bridge abutment so that the nail coating agent adheres closely to the nail. In this embodiment, the fixing means for the nail protector 03 is that the left and right side nail edge protection portions 02, which are arranged on both sides of the nail edge, are made of ABS resin, so the nail protector 03 is used as a bridge abutment, and the nail protector 03 is erected on the upper side of the bridge abutment and fixed with an acrylic adhesive. In another example of implementation, if plastically workable left and right side nail edge protection parts 02 made of aluminum are used and disposed on both sides of the nail edge, the ends of the nail plate protector 03 may be inserted into the openings on both sides of the nail edge and then compressed and fixed so that the side nail edge protection parts 02 can be clamped and secured. In addition, even if the nail plate coating agent support 04 is not used, measures may be taken to ensure that the coating agent adheres for a long time by incorporating an adhesive acrylic, rubber, silicone, or high-molecular polymer into the ointment as the base material of the nail plate coating agent. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 10A Nail edge protector 10B Nail plate protector 10C Nail protector 01 Protective device for the free edge of the nail plate 02 Side claw edge protective device 02a Longitudinal opening 03 Nail protector main body 04 Nail coating agent support

Claims

1. A first step involves applying a solution to the nail plate in which at least one of a nail denature agent or a cleanser is selected, A protective part for the free edge of the nail plate, which is molded in a curved shape along the outer edge of the free edge of the nail plate. A protective device that is attached to each part of the left and right side edges of the claw, and a side claw edge protective device that can also be used as a bridge abutment or clamping device. However, the second step involves attaching a nail edge protector, which is formed either as an integral part or as a separate part, to the nail edge. A third step involves applying or impregnating a nail coating agent to a support for the nail coating agent and a bridge-shaped nail protection device that has the function of protecting the nail plate, A fourth step involves using the side claw edge protective device portion as a bridge abutment to fix or detachably erect the claw plate protective device, A treatment method and nail protector for improving weakened nails, characterized by comprising the following features.

2. The nail protector according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of an elastic material and is formed in a bridge girder shape that can be fixed or detachably erected on the nail plate in a girder bridge shape, either integrally with the nail edge protector portion disposed on the left and right nail edges, or as a separate component.

3. The nail coating agent for the third step according to claim 1 is a composition comprising a base solution selected from at least one of a nail crosslinking solution, a moisturizer, or a nail treatment solution, and containing at least one of an analgesic, anti-inflammatory agent, antibacterial agent, or antifungal agent.

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