External dermal agent
[Object] The present invention aims to provide an external dermal agent that tightens the skin, lifts up sagging skin, has no stickiness to the skin, and has a satisfactory compatibility with the skin, without giving any unfavorable feeling to users. [Means to Attain the Object] The present invention solves the above object by providing an external dermal agent characterized in that it contains pullulan and an alkaline-swelling polymer in a mass ratio of the pullulan to the alkaline-swelling polymer being 10 or more.
1. An external dermal agent, which comprises pullulan and an alkaline-swelling polymer as the only active ingredients to lift up the skin of the face, wherein said pullulan is in an amount of 2 to 5% by mass to the total mass of the external dermal agent, and the mass ratio of said pullulan to said alkaline-swelling polymer is in the range of 50 to 125.
2. The external dermal agent of claim 1 , wherein said alkaline-swelling polymer is one or more members selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid as a monomer, or a copolymer and/or a crosspolymer comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of an acrylic acid derivative having a hydrophobic group intramolecularly and a methacrylic acid derivative having a hydrophobic group intramolecularly.
3. The external dermal agent of claim 1 , wherein said alkaline-swelling polymer is an acrylates/alkyl acrylate crosspolymer.
4. The external dermal agent of claim 1 , which further contains a non-ionic surfactant.
5. The external dermal agent of claim 4 , wherein said non-ionic surfactant is a polyoxyethylene glycerin.
6. A method for lifting up sagging skin of a subject in need thereof, which comprises a step of applying an external dermal agent comprising pullulan and an alkaline-swelling polymer as the only active ingredients to lift up the skin of the face, wherein said pullulan is in an amount of 2 to 5% by mass to the total mass of the external dermal agent, and the mass ratio of said pullulan to said alkaline-swelling polymer is in the range of 50 to 125.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said alkaline-swelling polymer is one or more members selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid as a monomer, or a copolymer and/or a crosspolymer comprising one or more members selected from the group consisting of an acrylic acid derivative having a hydrophobic group intramolecularly and a methacrylic acid derivative having a hydrophobic group intramolecularly.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said alkaline-swelling polymer is an acrylates/alkyl acrylate crosspolymer.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said external dermal agent further contains a non-ionic surfactant.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said non-ionic surfactant is a polyoxyethylene glycerin.