IP Library Granted Patent US 12,458,613
Granted Patent B2
US 12,458,613 · App. 18/640,883 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Methods suitable for the treatment of acne

Inventors: Aliaksandr Zhuk (Warrington, PA); Anthony Geonnotti (Princeton, NJ); Dara Miller (Skillman, NJ); Jennifer Li (Federal Way, WA)
Assignee: Kenvue Brands LLC
A61K31/192A61K9/0014A61K9/06A61K31/19A61K31/191A61K31/366A61K31/7004A61K47/10A61K47/32A61K47/34A61P17/10A61P31/04A61K2300/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,458,613
App. No.
18/640,883
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are methods and compositions suitable for treating acne, disrupting a biofilm, and/or killing bacteria contained in a biofilm. Certain methods comprise contacting skin in need of such treatment with a composition comprising two alpha hydroxy acids and a polyhydroxy acid.

Claims (29)

1 . A method of treating acne, the method comprising:

contacting skin in need of such treatment with a composition comprising:

a. about 0.1 wt. % to about 7.5 wt. % of a first alpha hydroxy acid;

b. about 0.1 wt. % to about 7.5 wt. % of a second alpha hydroxy acid; and

c. about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of a polyhydroxy acid,

wherein the total amount of the first alpha hydroxy acid, the second alpha hydroxy acid and the polyhydroxy acid is less than about 15 wt. % of the total composition, and wherein the skin is contacted with the composition by use of a patch.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of the second alpha hydroxy acid.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first alpha hydroxy acid is glycolic acid, the second alpha hydroxy acid is mandelic acid, and the polyhydroxy acid is gluconolactone.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the total amount of acid in the composition is less than about 15 wt. % of the total composition.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the total amount of glycolic acid, gluconolactone and mandelic acid is at least about 2 wt. % of the total composition.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a pH of about 3 to about 5.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a glycol selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, hexylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, glycerol, butanediol and hexanetriol, and copolymers and combinations thereof.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of salicylic acid.

9 . A method of treating acne, the method comprising:

contacting skin in need of such treatment with a composition comprising a first alpha hydroxy acid, a second alpha hydroxy acid, a polyhydroxy acid, and a beta hydroxy acid, wherein the total amount of the first alpha hydroxy acid, the second alpha hydroxy acid and the polyhydroxy acid is less than about 15 wt. % of the total composition, and wherein the skin is contacted with the composition by use of a patch.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises:

a. about 0.1 wt. % to about 7.5 wt. % of the first alpha hydroxy acid;

b. about 0.1 wt. % to about 7.5 wt. % of the second alpha hydroxy acid;

c. about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of the polyhydroxy acid; and

d. about 0.1 wt. % to about 5% of the beta hydroxy acid.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first alpha hydroxy acid is glycolic acid, the second alpha hydroxy acid is mandelic acid, the polyhydroxy acid is gluconolactone, and the beta hydroxy acid is salicylic acid.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the total amount of acid in the composition is less than about 15 wt. % of the total composition.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the total amount of glycolic acid, gluconolactone and mandelic acid is at least about 2 wt. % of the total composition.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition is substantially free of lactic acid.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition further comprises a glycol selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, hexylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, glycerol, butanediol and hexanetriol, and copolymers and combinations thereof.

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition further comprises a salt-tolerant thickening polymer comprising sulfonate, acrylate and/or cellulose moieties.

17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the composition further comprises from about 5% to about 50% of at least one emollient.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patch is a powered patch or a microneedle patch.

19 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the patch is a powered patch or a microneedle patch.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 28, 2024
From: JOHNSON & JOHNSON CONSUMER INC.
To: KENVUE BRANDS LLC
Reel/Frame 069267/0143 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17400721 · Aug 12, 2021
Provisional Application 63065069 · Aug 13, 2020
Related Publication 20240277646A1 · Aug 22, 2024
References Cited (41)
US 3035004A · Glavis · 1962 [cited by applicant]
US 3931089A · Karl · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 4105782A · Yu · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 5292843A · Jenkins et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 6897253B2 · Schmucker-Castner et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7288616B2 · Tamareselvy et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 10071103B2 · Sengupta · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 10849845B2 · Verdu et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20060270563A1 · Yang et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20140227374A1 · Kross · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20200030202A1 · Chen · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200054654A1 · Dolai et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220047544A1 · Zhuk et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
AU 2017101716A4 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 0816403A2 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
EP 1069142A1 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
EP 1116733A1 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
KR 20140055689A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
KR 20180105998A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2014150596A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
(Skin Feel Agents, by G Zocchi) in Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology (edited by A. Barel, M. Paye and H. Maibach, Published in 2001 by Marcel Dekker, Inc New York, N.Y.) Chapter 35, pp. 399-415. [cited by applicant]
(Classification of surfactants, by L. Oldenhove de Guertechin) in Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology (edited by A. Barel, M. Paye and H. Maibach, Published in 2001 by Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y.) Chapte… [cited by applicant]
Holmberg, A. et al. “Biofilm Formation by Propionacterium acnes is a Characteristic of Invasive Isolates. Clin Microbiol Infect 2009; 15: 787-795.” [cited by applicant]
Mintel Database—“Facial Serum” XP055859296, Accession No. 7163517—Jan. 28, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Mintel Database—“Daily Peel Cleanser” XP055840463, Accession No. 7522385—Apr. 27, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Mintel Database—“Milk Toning Peel Plus [cited by applicant]
Mintel Database—“Glycolic Acid [cited by applicant]
International Search Report, Appln. No. PCT/IB2021/057485; dated Nov. 24, 2021. [cited by applicant]
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/biofilm. [cited by applicant]
Kantikosum K, et al. The efficacy of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1 % adapalene vs adapalene monotherapy in mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris: a double-blinded within-pe… [cited by applicant]
Garofalo V, et al. Clinical evidence on the efficacy and tolerability of a topical medical device containing benzoylperoxide 4%, retinal V 0.5%, mandelic acid 1 % and lactobionic acid 1 % in the treatment of mild facial… [cited by applicant]
XP2804731A—WPI/2017 Clarivate Analytics (2 pages). [cited by applicant]
XP55859179A—Mintel, “Clarify Brighten Face Mask”. (9 pages). [cited by applicant]
XP55859183A—Mintel, “Most Revealing Glowing Skin Oxygen Peel”.(8 pages). [cited by applicant]
XP55859217A—Mintel, “Glowcolic Resurfacing Toner”. (7 pages). [cited by applicant]
XP93228122A—Mintel, “A I Clearing Treatment”. (4 pages). [cited by applicant]
Examination report_dated_Dec. 2, 2024 (5 pages). [cited by applicant]
Aisuanis Compound Six Acid Nourishing Conditioning Biofilm (Cleansing milk for deep pore cleansing) ingredients (Explained), Aug. 3, 2020, [online], [retrieved on Feb. 18, 2025], https://incidecoder.com/products/aisuani… [cited by applicant]
Valle-Gonzalez. E.r. et al. pH-Dependent antibacterial activity of glycolic acid: implications for anti-acne formulations // Scientific reports, May 4, 2020, V.10(7491), p. 1-8, [online], [retrieved on Feb. 18, 2025], h… [cited by applicant]
Philipp-Dormston W.G. Chemisches peeling in der dermatologie // Hautarzt, 2019, V.70, p. 535-546, [online], [retrieved on Feb. 18, 2025], https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00105-019-4438-0 (D4). [cited by applicant]
Coenye T. et al. Biofilm formation by Propionibacterium acnes is associated with increased resistance to antimicrobial agents and increased production of putative virulence factors // Research in microbiology, 2007, V.1… [cited by applicant]