Breathable Non-Occlusive Dermal Barrier for Skin Hydration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current skin and mucosal care products often impair the skin's natural barrier function, leading to excessive water loss, hydration issues, and susceptibility to allergens and toxins due to their occlusive nature, which can exacerbate conditions like atopic dermatitis and wound healing challenges.

Innovation Solution

A synergistic combination of hydrogenated polydecene, trihydroxystearin, bis-octyldodecyl dimer dilinoleate/propanediol copolymer, betaine, and xylitol creates a breathable, non-occlusive protective barrier that mimics the natural vernix caseosa, allowing for water vapor transmission while preventing allergens and toxins, thus maintaining skin hydration and integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If occlusive products are used to protect skin barrier, then protection against allergens and toxins is improved, but transepidermal water loss increases and skin hydration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against allergens and toxinsVSAvoidtransepidermal water loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a breathable membrane with controlled porosity that allows water vapor molecules to pass through while blocking larger allergen and toxin particles. The membrane's pore size is specifically engineered to permit transpiration while providing protective barrier function, resolving the contradiction between protection and water loss prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a flexible breathable film that conformally adheres to skin surface, creating a protective barrier that is both occlusive enough to block harmful substances and permeable enough to allow water vapor transmission. The thin film structure enables simultaneous protection and breathability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Quantity of substance

If occlusive products are used to prevent water loss, then skin hydration is improved, but susceptibility to allergens and toxins increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin hydrationVSAvoidsusceptibility to allergens and toxins
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The breathable membrane's porous structure allows selective permeability where water vapor molecules can pass through to maintain skin hydration while the pore architecture physically blocks larger allergen and toxin molecules, achieving simultaneous hydration and protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The breathable membrane performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a barrier against allergens and toxins while also functioning as a vapor transmission pathway for maintaining skin hydration, eliminating the need to choose between protection and hydration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If non-breathable barriers are used to protect skin, then protection against external factors is improved, but water vapor transmission is blocked causing maceration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against external factorsVSAvoidwater vapor transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous breathable membrane that provides physical barrier protection against external factors while the interconnected pore network allows water vapor to diffuse through, preventing maceration by maintaining appropriate moisture vapor transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible breathable film creates a protective interface between skin and external environment that is sufficiently permeable to water vapor to prevent maceration while maintaining barrier protection against harmful substances through its film structure and pore architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 formulation effectively reduces transepidermal water loss, maintains skin hydration, and prevents maceration, demonstrating a statistically significant similarity to vernix caseosa in occlusivity and water vapor transmission rates, thereby enhancing skin barrier function and improving conditions such as atopic dermatitis and wound healing.

Implementation Method 1

a breathable non occlusive skin or mucosal protective barrier with a water vapour transmission rate and occlusivity similar to that of the vernix caseosa

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater vapor transmission: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

The diffusion barrier is situated entirely within the horny layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion barrier: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

a breathable non occlusive skin or mucosal protective barrier with a water vapour transmission rate and occlusivity similar to that of the vernix caseosa

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOcclusivity: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4210667B1Dermal compositions replicating the vernix caseosa
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 APR APPLIED PHARMA RESEARCH SA
  • EP4210667B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4210667B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4210667B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A topical composition which when applied to the skin or mucosa produces a breathable non-occlusive protective effect, having a water vapour transmission rate and occlusivity similar to that of vernix caseosa.