Topical compositions and methods for epithelial-related conditions

1. A method comprising:

applying onto a skin surface of a mammal suffering from or susceptible to epidermal irritation, epidermal redness, or epidermal inflammation, a topical composition comprising:

about 0.1% to about 5% w/w N-acetyl-S-farnesylcysteine (“AFC”), also referred to as N-acetyl-S-trans, trans-farnesyl-L-cysteine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and

a carrier selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, and combinations thereof,

wherein the composition inhibits the epidermal irritation, epidermal redness, or epidermal inflammation locally on the skin surface of the mammal, without systemic anti-inflammatory effects.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mammal is a human.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises at least one agent selected from the group consisting of a moisturizing agent, a pH adjusting agent, a deodorant agent, a fragrance, a hair-conditioning agent, a chelating agent, a preservative, an emulsifier, a thickener, a solubilizing agent, a penetration enhancer, an anti-irritant, a colorant, a surfactant, and combinations thereof.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the moisturizing agent is selected from the group consisting of guanidine, glycolic acid, glycolate salts, aloe vera, allantoin, urazole, polyhydroxy alcohols, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, polyethylene glycols, sugars, starchs, alkoxylated glucose, hyaluronic acid, lactamide monoethanolamine, acetamide monoethanolamine, and combinations thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated as a mouthwash, a rinse, or an oral spray.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the composition has a pH from about 5 to about 6.5.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one agent selected from the group consisting of a fluorine-providing compound, a sweetening agent, a coloring agent, a moisturizer, an emulsifier, and combinations thereof.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the composition is formulated so that the AFC is delivered with delayed release.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of a liposome, a microsponge, a microsphere and a microcapsule.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a cosmetically acceptable carrier.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a second active ingredient.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the second active ingredient comprises at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of a protective agent, an emollient, an astringent, an irritant, a keratolytic agent, a sun screening agent, a sun tanning agent, an antibiotic agent, an antifungal agent, an antiviral agent, an antiprotozoal agent, an anti-acne agent, an anesthetic agent, a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, an antipruritic agent, an anti-oxidant agent, a chemotherapeutic agent, an anti-histamine agent, a vitamin, a hormone, an anti-dandruff agent, an anti-wrinkle agent, an anti-skin atrophy agent, a sclerosing agent, a cleansing agent, a caustic agent, a hypo-pigmenting agent, and combinations thereof.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the protective agent is selected from the group consisting of an adsorbent, a demulcent, a dessicant, and combinations thereof.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the irritant is a rubefacient.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of applying comprises applying the composition to skin at a site selected from the group consisting of nose, mouth, ear, eye, vagina, rectum, and combinations thereof.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the epidermal irritation, epidermal redness, or epidermal inflammation is associated with a condition selected from the group consisting of dermatitis, acne, folliculitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, chilblains, miliaria, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, bacterial infections, surgical interventions, crodermatitis enteropathica, Sweet's disease, hives, erythema annulare centrifugum, bachet syndrome, an insect bite, an animal bite, a sting, a fungal infection, a yeast infection, a parasite, a viral infection, a vasodilation, a trauma, a bullous disease, an adverse drug reaction, a immune hyper-reactivity condition, a cancer, a burn, a wound, a cyst, hidradinitis suppurativa, and cellulitus.

18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of an emulsion.

19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is in the form of a gel suspension.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the gel suspension is incorporated into a composition selected from the group consisting of an ointment, an oil, a bandage, a lotion, a paste, a powder, a gel and a cream.

21. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a retinoid.

22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein said retinoid is at least one of vitamin A, retinol, retinal, retinyl palmitate, retinoic acid, tretinoin or iso-tretinoin or a mixture thereof.

23. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an alpha-hydroxy acid.

24. The method according to claim 23 , wherein said alpha-hydroxy acid is at least one of glycolic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid or citric acid or a mixture thereof.

25. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a beta-hydroxy acid.

26. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises titanium oxide, zinc oxide, benzoyl peroxide, fluorouracil, resorcinol, or salicylic acid or a mixture thereof.

27. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises hyaluronic acid.

28. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises glycerin.

29. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition has a pH between 4.0 and 7.0.

30. A method comprising:

applying onto a skin surface of a mammal suffering from or susceptible to epidermal irritation, epidermal redness, epidermal inflammation:

an amount of a topical composition comprising about 0.1% to about 5% w/w N-acetyl-S-farnesylcysteine (“AFC”), also referred to as N-acetyl-S-trans, trans-farnesyl-L-cysteine, and

a carrier selected from the group consisting of water, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, and combinations thereof, wherein said topical composition promotes healthy skin, without systemic effect.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the mammal is a human.

32. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the skin surface is an epithelial surface.

33. The method according to claim 32 , wherein the epithelial surface is selected from a group consisting of a lateral aspect of forearm, a lateral aspect of a leg, elbow, feet, backhands, scalp, face, buttocks, ear canal and eye.

34. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the step of applying comprises applying the composition on a wound surface.

35. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the step of applying comprises applying to a site characterized by puffiness.

36. The method according, to claim 30 , wherein the step of plying comprises applying to a site characterized by wrinkling.

37. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the step of applying comprises applying the composition to a site characterized by photoaging.

38. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the step of applying comprises applying the composition on irritated skin surface.

39. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the step of applying comprises applying to a site including dry skin.

40. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the step of applying comprises applying the composition to a site characterized by redness of skin.

41. The method according to claim 30 , wherein the composition has a pH from about 4.0 to about 7.0.

42. The method according to claim 1 or claim 30 , wherein the composition has a pH from about 5.0 to about 6.0.