Therapeutic method for treating acne or isolated pimples and adhesive patch therefor

Abstract

The skin disorder acne, as well as one or more isolated pimples, are treated by applying to the skin, over the skin disorder, a flexible moisture-containing hydrophilic hydrogel patch that includes a backing support such as paper, cloth or plastic and a water-based hydrogel layer applied to the backing. The hydrogel layer comprises a hydrophilic natural or synthetic polymer dispersed in water to provide body and can be a tacky adhesive. The polymer can comprise any high molecular weight hydrophilic carbohydrate such as karaya, cornstarch, or kelp and/or a synthetic hydrophilic polymer such as polyacrylamide or polyacrylic acid. A humectant such as an alcohol containing two or more hydroxyl groups, i.e., a polyhydric alcohol, keeps the adhesive layer moist. A solute such as salt, protein, sugar or an alcohol is dissolved in the water in a quantity sufficient to raise the osmotic pressure enough to maintain the adhesive hydrogel layer in a hypertonic state with respect to the underlying skin tissue. The hydrogel adhesive which hydrates the upper layer of skin forms a hydrophilic bridge with the patient's skin that allows fluid to be drawn by osmotic pressure from the skin disorder through the normally dry stratum corneum into the patch. Another aspect of the invention is the a hypertonic moisture-containing adhesive patch itself.