Method of using shaped articles to apply a scaffold-forming agent to an external skin and/or hair surface of a human or an animal

1. A method of using a freeze-dried porous shaped article to apply one skeleton-forming agent and optionally one or more selected from the group consisting of cosmetic active substances, pharmaceutical active substances, and auxiliary substances excluding stabilizers and fillers, to an external skin and/or hair surface of a human or an animal, the method comprising:

step (a): providing a molded, freeze-dried, porous shaped article having the geometrical shape of a sphere with a diameter of at least 5 mm, wherein said shaped article excludes protein-based skeleton-forming agents and comprises:

(i) one skeleton-forming agent and

(ii) optionally one or more selected from the group consisting of cosmetic active substances, pharmaceutical active substances, and auxiliary substances;

wherein the auxiliary substances exclude stabilizers and fillers and are selected from the group consisting of surface-active agents, dispersing agents, emulsifiers, pH-adjusting agents, buffering substances, co-solvents, pharmaceutically and cosmetically conventional dyestuffs, pharmaceutically and cosmetically conventional pigments, preservatives, plasticizers, lubricants and slip additives,

step (b): contacting the freeze-dried shaped article with

(i) an aqueous solution comprising water or

(ii) an aqueous solution that contains at least one selected from the group consisting of active substances and auxiliary substances,

to form a solution or gel within a dissolution time of less than 4 minutes, measured with a method for measuring the “Disintegration-time of tablets and capsules” with a test apparatus according to PharmEU; and

step (c): applying the solution or the gel formed in the contacting step to at least one of the external skin and the hair surface of the human or the animal.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (b) the time of dissolution is less than 1 minute, measured with a method for measuring the “Disintegration-time of tablets and capsules” with a test apparatus according to PharmEU.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the skeleton-forming agent is selected from the group of at least partially water-soluble natural polysaccharides or synthetic polymers selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate with a calcium content of less than 3 wt %, natural starches, modified starches, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polymethacrylates PMA, synthetic cellulose derivatives, cellulose ethers, carrageenan, xanthan gum, cellulose, hyaluronic acid and chitosan.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one skeleton-forming agent is selected from the group consisting of synthetic cellulose derivatives, cellulose ether, cellulose, hyaluronic acid and sodium alginate having a calcium content of less than 3 wt %.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the skeleton-forming agent is selected from the group consisting of synthetic cellulose derivatives, cellulose ether, and hyaluronic acid.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (a) the porous shaped article comprises one or more active substance selected from the group consisting of

agents selected from the group consisting of oils that are suitable for cosmetic purposes.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one cosmetic active substance is present.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the porous shaped article further comprises squalane.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (b) the aqueous solution comprises one or more active substances selected from the group consisting of cosmetic active substances and pharmaceutical active substances.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step (b) the aqueous solution comprises one or more auxiliary substances are selected from the group consisting of surface active agents, dispersing agents, emulsifiers, pH-adjusting agents, buffering substances, co-solvents, pharmaceutically and cosmetically conventional dyestuffs, pharmaceutically and cosmetically conventional pigments, preservatives, plasticizers, lubricants and slip additives.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the shaped article according to step (a) exhibits a density within the range of from 0.01 g/cm 3 to 0.8 g/cm 3 and comprises:

at least 10 wt. % of the skeleton-forming agents, a 1 percent-by-weight solution or suspension of which in water at 20° C. and at pH 6-8has a viscosity of less than 2000 mPa·s, proteins being excepted,

0.000001 wt. % up to 50 wt. % of one or more active substances,

0.1 wt. % to 70 wt. % of the auxiliary substances, and

up to 20 wt. % water.

12. A method of using a freeze-dried porous shaped article to apply one skeleton-forming agent and one or more selected from the group consisting of cosmetic active substances, pharmaceutical active substances, and auxiliary substances excluding stabilizers and fillers, to an external skin and/or hair surface of a human or an animal, the method comprising:

step (a): providing a molded, freeze-dried, porous shaped article having the geometrical shape of a sphere with a diameter of at least 5 mm, wherein said shaped article excludes protein-based skeleton-forming agents and comprises:

(i) one skeleton-forming agent and

(ii) one or more selected from the group consisting of cosmetic active substances, pharmaceutical active substances, and auxiliary substances;

wherein the auxiliary substances exclude stabilizers and fillers and are selected from the group consisting of surface-active agents, dispersing agents, emulsifiers, pH-adjusting agents, buffering substances, co-solvents, pharmaceutically and cosmetically conventional dyestuffs, pharmaceutically and cosmetically conventional pigments, preservatives, plasticisers, lubricants and slip additives,

step (b): contacting the freeze-dried shaped article with

(i) an aqueous solution comprising water or

(ii) an aqueous solution that contains at least one selected from the group consisting of active substances and auxiliary substances,

to form a solution or gel within a dissolution time of less than 4 minutes, measured with a method for measuring the “Disintegration-time of tablets and capsules” with a test apparatus according to PharmEU; and

step (c): applying the solution or the gel formed in the contacting step to at least one of the external skin and the hair surface of the human or the animal.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein in step (b) the time of dissolution is less than 1 minute, measured with a method for measuring the “Disintegration-time of tablets and capsules” with a test apparatus according to PharmEU.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the skeleton-forming agent is selected from the group of at least partially water-soluble natural polysaccharides or synthetic polymers selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate with a calcium content of less than 3 wt %, natural starches, modified starches, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polymethacrylates PMA, synthetic cellulose derivatives, cellulose ethers, carrageenan, xanthan gum, cellulose, hyaluronic acid and chitosan.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one skeleton-forming agent is selected from the group consisting of synthetic cellulose derivatives, cellulose ether, cellulose, hyaluronic acid and sodium alginate having a calcium content of less than 3 wt %.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the skeleton-forming agent is selected from the group consisting of synthetic cellulose derivatives, cellulose ether, and hyaluronic acid.

17. The method according to claim 12 , wherein in step (a) the porous shaped article comprises one or more active substance selected from the group consisting of

agents selected from the group consisting of oils that are suitable for cosmetic purposes.

18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein at least one cosmetic active substance is present.

19. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the porous shaped article further comprises squalane.

20. The method according to claim 12 , wherein in step (b) the aqueous solution comprises one or more active substances selected from the group consisting of cosmetic active substances and pharmaceutical active substances.