Products and Methods for Reducing Malodor from the Pudendum

Abstract

Products and methods are disclosed for reducing the production of unwanted odors from the pudendum.

Description

CLAIM TO PRIORITY[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Appl. Ser. No. 61 / 309,831, “Products and Methods for Reducing Malodor from the Pudendum,” filed Mar. 2, 2010 by Shannon Klingman, and also U.S. Patent Appl. Ser. No. 61 / 289,992, “Products and Methods for Reducing Malodor from the Pudendum,” filed Dec. 23, 2009 by Shannon Klingman, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention pertains to products and methods for personal care, particularly for reducing or preventing unwanted odor from the pudendum.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Fishy odors from the pudendal region or genitalia of the female body have long been a source of annoyance and embarrassment to adult and teenaged women. Women seeking help from physicians are frequently given antibiotics such as metronidazole, based on the long-standing belief that vaginal bacteria are the cause of the problem....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]We have found that relatively non-irritating alpha-hydroxy acids such as mandelic acid or combinations of mandelic acid and other alpha-hydroxy acids such as lactic acid, in combination with a suitable carrier such as a protective lipophilic carrier, a bioadhesive, or a suitable wipe formulation, can provide acidifying agents that are effective in controlling the pH in the pudendum while not irritating the skin. By virtue of the acidic environment provided by such compositions, the reactions that produce fishy odor on the pudendum can be controlled such that the odor is substantially reduced or eliminated. In many embodiments, the acidifying agents can remain active in the pudendum over a prolonged period for lasting odor reduction. Such compositions may be applied to the body in a variety of ways, such as by application using a pretreated wipe, pad, or absorbent article containing the acidifying composition that transfers to the body, or by direct application to the body using a spray or other dispenser or by application using the fingers or other means to apply the composition onto the pudendum.

Problems solved by technology

Fishy odors from the pudendal region or genitalia of the female body have long been a source of annoyance and embarrassment to adult and teenaged women.

In spite of many medications and feminine hygiene products, there has been a long-standing unmet need in this area, fueled by lack of understanding about the causes and the nature of the problem, especially the assumption that fishy odor only arises from the vagina due to bacterial imbalance or infectious cause such as bacterial vaginosis and trichomonas.

However, the amine reaction or related reactions that result in a fishy odor can take place without addition of KOH, but under other elevated pH conditions on the pudendum.

When these are brought in contact with the anaerobic bacteria from the rectum, an unpleasant fishy odor will result.

The odor is known to be associated with reactions from bacteria, but the historic focus on bacteria in the vagina and the assumption that vaginitis or more specifically, bacterial vaginosis, is the cause of the odor may have misled many in seeking for solutions that treat bacteria in the vagina.

With impaired FMO3 activity, trimethylamine concentrations become elevated and strong fishy odor can be generated by the sweat and other body fluids of a person, making life difficult and painful.

Foods rich in choline are especially problematic for those with trimethylaminuria, since it leads to production of large amounts of trimethylamine.

For effective prevention of the fishy odor from the amine reaction, wiping or washing alone is inadequate.

For example, some commonly used products employ baking soda, an alkaline compound, and a recognition of the role of the environment external to the vagina and its pH appears to have been lacking in terms of controlling fishy odor.

Vinegar wipes, douches, and other acidic products have been proposed for personal cleansing, but such products have generally been developed for rapid cleansing and not for lasting control of pH.

Thus, even highly acidic vinegar wipes only provide a short-term change in pH, as the acidic components is applied and then wiped or washed off or otherwise neutralized or quickly removed from the skin.

Many retail and prescription products have been marketed are directed at treating bacteria in the vagina, which again do not address the issue of the external environment in the pudendum.

What is needed, then, is an effective system or method for providing a suitable acidic pH over a prolonged period of time in the pudendum or portions thereof such that the amine reactions giving rise to a fishy odor can be impeded, resulting in a significant decrease in the production of unpleasant odors.

In spite of the surprising discovery that a major source for fishy odor was not from the vagina itself but from the external skin of the pudendum, particularly when the pH was elevated by the presence of semen, blood, or other materials or factors, we found that various efforts to decrease pH were not necessarily adequate to provide an acceptable solution, for, among other reasons, there is a risk of skin irritation or other unwanted responses with prolonged exposure to many acidic compounds.

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