Acidic Intimate Cleansing Composition with Lactic Acid and Anionic Surfactants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current feminine hygiene compositions are not suitable for intimate cleansing due to their potential to irritate sensitive vaginal tissues and disrupt the natural bacterial balance, as they are not designed to consider the unique pH and microbial environment of the vagina.
Innovation Solution
Development of an acidic feminine intimate cleansing composition with a pH range of 3 to 5, incorporating lactic acid or its derivatives as a primary antimicrobial agent, combined with a ternary or binary anionic constituent system including secondary alkane sulfonates, N-acyl sarcosinates, and aromatic hydrotropes, such as cumene sulfonate, to enhance antimicrobial efficacy while maintaining vaginal health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional hand wash and body wash compositions are used for intimate cleansing, then general cleaning effectiveness is achieved, but irritation to sensitive vaginal tissues and disruption of natural bacterial balance occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the pH of the cleansing composition to match the natural pH of the vagina (3.8-4.2), and by modifying the surfactant system to use milder anionic surfactants in combination with nonionic surfactants. This resolves the contradiction by making the composition gentle enough for sensitive tissues while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through the synergistic surfactant system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring the composition specifically for intimate cleansing rather than using general-purpose formulations. The specific combination of mild anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and pH adjustment creates a localized solution optimized for the unique requirements of vaginal tissues and their microbial ecosystem.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional cleansing compositions are used, then cleaning power is achieved, but the natural bacterial flora and pH balance of the vagina are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter to match physiological conditions (3.8-4.2) and modifies the surfactant composition to include mild anionic surfactants combined with nonionic surfactants. This resolves the contradiction by providing effective cleansing through surfactant synergy while maintaining the pH and microbial balance necessary for vaginal health.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite surfactant system combining mild anionic surfactants with nonionic surfactants. This composite approach provides sufficient cleansing capability while the mild nature of the components prevents disruption of the natural bacterial flora and pH balance.
3Reliability
If stronger antimicrobial agents are used to increase antimicrobial efficacy, then pathogen protection is improved, but irritation to sensitive tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the pH parameter to the physiological range (3.8-4.2) which naturally inhibits pathogens, and uses mild surfactant systems that provide antimicrobial activity without tissue irritation. This resolves the contradiction by achieving pathogen protection through physiological parameter matching rather than harsh antimicrobial agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the naturally acidic pH environment, which could be perceived as harsh, into a beneficial protective mechanism against pathogens. The acidic pH naturally inhibits harmful bacteria while the mild surfactant system provides additional antimicrobial activity without causing irritation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition effectively cleans and maintains the natural bacterial balance of the vagina, demonstrating strong antimicrobial activity against pathogens like S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans, while being gentle on sensitive tissues, as evidenced by significant Log 10 reduction in microbial populations.
Implementation Method 1
the action of Lactobacilli converts glycogen to lactic acid, whereby the lactic acid produced provides a physiologic lowering of pH
Implementation Method 2
some Lactobacilli also produce hydrogen peroxide which has microbicidal properties that can kill bacteria and viruses
Implementation Method 3
a ternary anionic constituent system which necessarily comprises one or more of each of: (a) a secondary alkane sulfonate compound(s), (b) an N-acyl sarcosinate compound(s), and (c) an aromatic hydrotrope compound(s), which ternary anionic constituent system boosts the antimicrobial efficacy of the primary antimicrobial active constituent present
Implementation Method 4
an acidic feminine intimate cleansing composition having a pH in the range of from 3 to 5, preferably from 4 - 4.5 inclusive
Implementation Method 5
This acidic pH level provides a protection by making the vagina less hospitable to certain pathogens
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are acidic feminine intimate cleansing compositions having a pH in the range of from 3 to 5, which further necessarily comprises at least: as a primary antimicrobial active constituent, lactic acid, which may optionally be a substituted lactic acid and/or derivative thereof; and which composition further includes an anionic constituent system which boosts the antimicrobial efficacy of the primary lactic acid constituent present; and which compositions feature low irritation, and good antimicrobial efficacy against certain species of bacteria. Treatment processes using the feminine intimate cleansing composition in treatment of the groin area of human females, and vendible products containing the feminine intimate cleansing compositions are also disclosed.