GB2140684A - Mineral oil composition for use in the treatment of eczema - Google Patents

Abstract

A topical composition for the treatment of eczema comprises a mixture of a major part of mineral oil containing suspended carbon particles and a minor part of a paint containing a finely divided metallic pigment. The oil component with suspended carbon is preferably used engine oil from the sump of an internal combustion engine The metallic paint may be a silver, copper or gold coloured paint wherein the pigment is one or more of powdered zinc, copper, tin, antimony or preferably aluminium.

Description

SPECIFICATION Composition for use in the treatment of eczema This invention relates to a composition for use in the treatment of eczema.

Eczema is a name given to a variety of skin infections, the effect of which is to cause reddening and scaling of the skin giving rise to considerable discomfort through itching. Hitherto, the majority of treatments for eczema have not served so much to remove the source of infection but merely to suppress the itching effect so that the skin will be able to heal of its own accord.

Frequently such compositions are not effective and scratching of the skin continues to such an extent that healing never has much opportunity to take place.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition which when applied to an area of skin affected by eczema not only suppresses itching taking place but is efficacious in suppressing the eczema itself.

According to the present invention there is provided a composition for use in the treatment of eczema which is a mixture of a major part of mineral oil containing in suspension carbon particles and a minor part of a paint composition containing a metallic pigment therein.

The composition of this invention comprises two essential components both of which are readily available at relatively low cost. The mineral oil component containing suspended carbon may be simply spent engine oil from the sump of an internal combustion engine. Although such a composition is certainly dirty and totally unsuitable for internal consumption, when applied externally, no harmful effects have been observed.

There is therefore no need to employ fresh oil with suspended carbon therein and indeed, although it has not been possible to prove, it could well be that the inorganic and organic compounds found in spent engine oil are beneficial in the treatment of eczema.

The paint component of the composition of this invention is likewise harmless if applied to the skin. There are commonly employed in paints three types of metallic pigment to produce a socalled "metallic" paint. These are aluminium which is commonly employed in silver paint, bronze pigment containing the elements copper, tin, antimony and zinc which is commonly employed in gold paints and zinc pigment employed primarily in primer paints. The so-called silver paints containing aluminium pigment are preferably employed in the practice of this invention.

In producing the compositions of this invention, the paint is merely mixed with the spent engine oil. The ratio by volume between these components may be varied widely. In general the oil and paint will be employed in a ratio by volume offrom 10:1 to 30:1, preferably 1 5:1 to 25:1 and most preferably about 20:1. Thus a composition which has been found to the particularly effective has been produced by mixing 1 oz. (28.4 g) of commercially available silver paint with 1 pint (0.57 litre) of spent engine oil.

Treatment with the composition of this invention is effected by painting the composition on the affected area of skin by any convenient method. The skin is preferably left fully exposed to the air for as long as possible while the composition is in contact therewith. When the composition has dried, it may generally be removed by peeling. In usual cases, it will suffice for the composition to be applied daily for about one month. Generally treatment for more than two months will not be necessary.

The composition of this invention has been tested on about 200 subjects suffering from eczema. The treatment with the composition has been found to be successful in all cases.

1. A composition for use in the treatment of eczema which is a mixture of a major part of a mineral oil containing in suspension carbon particles and a minor part of a paint composition containing a metallic pigment therein.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mineral oil containing in suspension carbon particles is spent engine oil from the sump of an internal combustion engine.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the paint composition is a silver paint containing aluminium pigment.

4. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the oil and paint are present in a ratio by volume of from 10:1 to 30:1.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 4, wherein the oil and paint are employed in a ratio by volume offrom 15:1 to 25:1.

6. A composition for use in the treatment of eczema, substantially as described herein.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Composition for use in the treatment of eczema This invention relates to a composition for use in the treatment of eczema. Eczema is a name given to a variety of skin infections, the effect of which is to cause reddening and scaling of the skin giving rise to considerable discomfort through itching. Hitherto, the majority of treatments for eczema have not served so much to remove the source of infection but merely to suppress the itching effect so that the skin will be able to heal of its own accord. Frequently such compositions are not effective and scratching of the skin continues to such an extent that healing never has much opportunity to take place. It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition which when applied to an area of skin affected by eczema not only suppresses itching taking place but is efficacious in suppressing the eczema itself. According to the present invention there is provided a composition for use in the treatment of eczema which is a mixture of a major part of mineral oil containing in suspension carbon particles and a minor part of a paint composition containing a metallic pigment therein. The composition of this invention comprises two essential components both of which are readily available at relatively low cost. The mineral oil component containing suspended carbon may be simply spent engine oil from the sump of an internal combustion engine. Although such a composition is certainly dirty and totally unsuitable for internal consumption, when applied externally, no harmful effects have been observed. There is therefore no need to employ fresh oil with suspended carbon therein and indeed, although it has not been possible to prove, it could well be that the inorganic and organic compounds found in spent engine oil are beneficial in the treatment of eczema. The paint component of the composition of this invention is likewise harmless if applied to the skin. There are commonly employed in paints three types of metallic pigment to produce a socalled "metallic" paint. These are aluminium which is commonly employed in silver paint, bronze pigment containing the elements copper, tin, antimony and zinc which is commonly employed in gold paints and zinc pigment employed primarily in primer paints. The so-called silver paints containing aluminium pigment are preferably employed in the practice of this invention. In producing the compositions of this invention, the paint is merely mixed with the spent engine oil. The ratio by volume between these components may be varied widely. In general the oil and paint will be employed in a ratio by volume offrom 10:1 to 30:1, preferably 1 5:1 to 25:1 and most preferably about 20:1. Thus a composition which has been found to the particularly effective has been produced by mixing 1 oz. (28.4 g) of commercially available silver paint with 1 pint (0.57 litre) of spent engine oil. Treatment with the composition of this invention is effected by painting the composition on the affected area of skin by any convenient method. The skin is preferably left fully exposed to the air for as long as possible while the composition is in contact therewith. When the composition has dried, it may generally be removed by peeling. In usual cases, it will suffice for the composition to be applied daily for about one month. Generally treatment for more than two months will not be necessary. The composition of this invention has been tested on about 200 subjects suffering from eczema. The treatment with the composition has been found to be successful in all cases. CLAIMS

1. A composition for use in the treatment of eczema which is a mixture of a major part of a mineral oil containing in suspension carbon particles and a minor part of a paint composition containing a metallic pigment therein.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mineral oil containing in suspension carbon particles is spent engine oil from the sump of an internal combustion engine.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the paint composition is a silver paint containing aluminium pigment.

4. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the oil and paint are present in a ratio by volume of from 10:1 to 30:1.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 4, wherein the oil and paint are employed in a ratio by volume offrom 15:1 to 25:1.

6. A composition for use in the treatment of eczema, substantially as described herein.