Composition for treatment and care of hair and scalp

A composition for the treatment and care of hair and scalp, particularly for the treatment of itching, with additional moisturizing and hypoallergenic potential, providing the hair with shine and condition, comprises an aqueous-alcoholic or alcoholic extract of oat seed (Avena sativa), particularly oatmeal, preferably in combination with hydroxycarboxylic acids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention comprises a composition for the treatment and care of hair 
and scalp having particularly a reduced itching potential, improved 
moisturizing and hypoallergenic properties and providing a shining and 
conditioning action to the hair. 
It has been found that a composition combining these properties may be 
obtained by adding an alcoholic or aqueous alcoholic extract of oat seed 
as an active ingredient to the usual carrier materials for hair products. 
The use of oatmeal in cosmetic compositions is principally already known, 
cf., e.g., European Patent Applications Nos. 619 950 and 620 979. In these 
publications, special proportions or mixtures thereof with a defined 
content of proteins, carbohydrates and fat are used. 
A survey on the use of oatmeal in cosmetic compositions is given in an 
article by D. Paton et al. in "Cosmetics and Toiletries", Vol. 110 (March 
1995), pp. 63 to 64, 66, 68, 70. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Based on this state of the art, it has now surprisingly been found that 
compositions for the treatment and care of hair and scalp with improved 
properties may be obtained, if an alcoholic or aqueous-alcoholic extract 
of oat seed or oatmeal is added to such compositions. Preferably the 
extracts are prepared from the fruit of oats of the species Avena sativa. 
The oat seed or meal extract used according to the invention has preferably 
a dry residue of about 0.5% to about 10%, more preferred about 1% to about 
5%, particularly about 2% to about 4% by wt., calculated to the total 
extract. 
Alcohols, preferably polyalcohols, particularly propyleneglycol such as 
1,3-propyleneglycol and butyleneglycol, especially 1,3-butyleneglycol, 
alone or preferably in admixture with water, are used as solvents. The 
proportion of water to alcohol is between about 3:1 to 1:5, preferably 2:1 
to 1:2, particularly about 1:1.

The following example describes the production of an extract which may be 
used according to the invention: 
900 g of dried oat seeds (Avena sativa Linne (Gramineae)) were subdivided 
into six portions of equal weight. The first portion was extracted with 
200 g 1,3-butyleneglycol at 70.degree. C. for 8 hours. The second portion 
was extracted with the extract thus obtained. This procedure was continued 
until the six portions were extracted in six steps whereby the extracts 
obtained previously were used as the solvent for the subsequent step. The 
extract obtained finally is a light to medium yellow liquid of 
characteristic odor and has the following properties after optional 
dilution with water: 
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Specific gravity (20.degree. C.): 
1.015 to 1.045 
Refractive index: (20.degree. C.): 
1.390 to 1.410 
pH-value: 5.0 to 7.0 
Water content: 43% to 53% 
Dry residue: 2.4% to 3.4% 
Residue of ignition: 
&lt;0.5% 
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The proportion of the oat seed or oatmeal extract in the compositions 
according to the invention may be from 0.001% to 10%, especially between 
0.05% to 10% by wt., calculated to the dry residue of the extract, 
preferably about 0.1% to 5% by wt., particularly 0.25% to about 2.5% by 
wt., wherein a proportion between 0.5% and 1.5% by wt. is particularly 
advantageous. 
The compositions according to the invention may be presented in any form of 
application, e.g. as solutions, emulsions, dispersions, gels, aerosol 
foams etc., preferably as hair tonics or hair lotions. 
The use in customary shampoos and rinses is also possible. The pH-value of 
the compositions according to the invention is preferably acidic, i.e. 
between about 2.5 and 7, more preferred between 3 and 6, particularly 
between about 4 and about 5.5. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
According to a preferred embodiment, the compositions of the invention may 
preferably contain hydroxycarboxylic acids, particularly in a quantity 
between about 0.05% and 5% by wt., calculated to the total composition, 
preferably about 0.1% to 2.5% by wt., more preferred 0.25% to 1.0% by wt. 
Suitable hydroxycarboxylic acids which may also be present as water-soluble 
salts are, in particular, citric acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, malic 
acid, salicylic acid, glyoxylic acid, glycolic acid and, preferably, also 
mixtures of all these acids or part thereof. 
The principal composition of products for the treatment and care of hair 
and scalp is basically well-known and described in various monographies; 
as an example, reference is made to the monography of K. Schrader, 
"Grundlagen und Rezepturen der Kosmetika", 2nd Ed., (Huthig-Verlag, 
Heidelberg, 1989), chapter "Haarkosmetika", pp. 661 to 782, particularly 
the sections on shampoos and hair cleansing compositions (pp. 677-722), 
after treatments for the hair (pp. 722-737), as well as hair oils and hair 
tonics (pp. 760-771). The compositions and ingredients described therein 
may also be used in the compositions according to the invention. 
The following Example shall illustrate the production of a composition 
according to the invention. 
A SCALP LOTION has the following formula: 
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Oatmeal extract* 
0.50 (% by wt.) 
Citric acid 0.15 
Lactic acid 0.05 
Tartaric acid 0.05 
Isostearyl lactylate 
0.05 
1,3-Butanediol 1.00 
Allantoin 0.05 
Carbomer 0.30 
Sodium hydroxide 
0.05 
Perfume 0.01 
Ethanol 30.00 
Water @ 100.00 
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FNT *The oatmeal extract had the following properties: 
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Water content: 48% 
1,3-Butanediol content: 
49% 
Dry residue: 3% 
pH-value: 6.0 
Residue of ignition: 
&lt;0.5% 
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Using this composition for a scalp treatment eliminated scalp itching and 
provided the hair with a fine sheen and a light conditioning effect. 
After 12 months storage time at 30.degree. C. the product presented no loss 
of properties nor sedimentation. 
An omission of the oatmeal extract resulted in a product which influenced 
neither scalp itching nor hair sheen positively, and which had no 
conditioning effect either. 
A SHAMPOO has the following formula: 
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Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate 
8.2 (% by wt.) 
Sodium PEG-4 lauramide carboxylate 
8.0 
Cocamidopropylbetaine 
3.0 
Decyl glucoside 2.0 
PEG-160 Sorbitan triisostearate 
1.0 
PEG-12 1.0 
Glyceryl caprate 1.0 
PEG-60 Hydrogenated castor oil 
0.5 
Polyquaternium-6 0.5 
Sodium carboxylmethyl 
1.0 
cocopolypropyl amine 
Perfume 0.2 
Piroctone Olamine 0.2 
Citric acid 0.1 
Oatmeal extract (cf. Example for 
0.1 
SCALP LOTION) 
Benzophenone-3 0.1 
Preservatives, yellow dyestuff 
q.s. 
(C.I.-No. 15,985) 
Water @ 100.0 
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A HAIR RINSE composition of the following formula was prepared: 
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Decyl glucoside 2.0 (% by wt.) 
Steartrimonium chloride 
0.6 
Di-C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 -alkyl dimonium chloride 
0.3 
Cetearyl alcohol 2.0 
Oatmeal extract (cf. Example for 
0.1 
SCALP LOTION) 
Dimethicone 0.4 
Benzophenone 0.1 
Perfume 0.3 
Preservative, dyestuffs 
q.s. 
Water @ 100.0 
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