It is believed that acne results from partial rupture of a partially inflamed follicle. The follicle then spills its components, thereby resulting in the development of a perifollicular inflammatory process. Generally, fresh lesions are sterile, but later gram- positive diptheroids are present. Many times the skin will have a greasy look to it; this is probably due, at least in part, to the release of fatty acids during lipolysis induced by P. acnes.

Acne can be a serious problem. It generally manifests itself during adolescence and spontaneously resolves in the late teens or early twenties; although for some, it can be a life long problem. Mild to moderate acne is most often treated with topical agents.

INVENTION: Treatment for Acne Vulgaris Treatment and Method of Use INVENTOR : William Yarbrough 1 More severe cases are treated with incision and drainage of lesions, ultraviolet light 2 therapy, and systemic antibiotics.

3 The prior art is replete with compositions for use in the treatment of acne.

4 Topical agents, such as benzoyl peroxide, are thought to decrease bacteria and are often 5 used in the treatment of acne. These treatments are found in many forms, lotions, gels, 6 pads, etc. and are generally available over the counter. Retinol in various forms has been 7 more recently proposed by various Inventors. There are also many soaps used in the 8 treatment of acne. A major shortcoming of most of the prior art is that they often do not 9 penetrate sufficiently and they leave the skin dry.

10 II. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 11 It is an object of the present invention to provide a treatment that helps to alleviate 12 the local signs and symptoms caused by acne vulgaris.

13 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of use of the 14 present inventive treatment.

15 It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a treatment that 16 includes at least a first nonyl phenyl ethoxylate and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate to which a 17 second nonyl phenyl ethoxylate, acetylated lanolin alcohol, EDTA, a foam stabilizer, 18 water, and inert polyethylene granules can be added without altering the effectiveness of 19 the treatment.

20 It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a treatment that is safe 21 to use.

INVENTION: Treatment for Acne Vulgaris Treatment and Method of Use INVENTOR: William Yarbrough 1 It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such treatment that is 2 topical, can be purchased over the counter, and is economical.

3 IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 4 The above objects of the invention are provided for in a topical treatment for acne 5 vulgaris. According to the invention, a method is provided for applying a composition of 6 substances to the infected area, working the composition into the infected area, and 7 removing the composition from the infected area. The composition comprises at least 8 one ethoxylate in combination with Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (or"SLS"). An inert 9 scrubbing agent, such as polyethylene beads, can also be included to the formula.

10 Acetylated lanolin alcohol, a second ethoxylate, EDTA, a foam stabilizer, and water can 11 also be added to the composition without effecting performance.

12 Other formulas that keep the polarity similar to that of the inventive formula will 13 also work. To keep the polarity similar, it is necessary for the compound to have similar 14 characteristics, such as Carbon chains, carbonyl groups, Nitrogen bound to Carbon, 15 Aromatic ring (s), Oxylate groups, and appropriate functional groups at the ends of the 16 individual molecules. The ideal substitute chemicals would have all of the characteristics 17 mentioned above, but it is not necessary to have every one of those as listed. For 18 example, if the functional groups at the ends of the individual molecules are exchanged 19 for other functional groups that retain the ability to undergo an emulsion polymerization, 20 then the effectiveness of the compound is also retained. Another example is to change the 21 ethoxylate to a methoxylate or propoxylate. These formations would still retain a similar INVENTION : Treatment for Acne Vulgaris Treatment and Method of Use INVENTOR: William Yarbrough 1 polarity but would be different compounds with different characteristics. Yet another 2 example would be to exchange triply bound Nitrogen with a doubly bound or perhaps 3 Nitrogen with 4 Carbons bound to it.

4 V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 5 Chemical analysis and research has revealed that two of the component parts of 6 the inventive composition are principally involved in its effectiveness as an acne 7 treatment: an ethoxylate and Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate ("SLS"). The ethoxylate is 8 preferably a nonyl phenol ethoxylate.

9 The Inventor has also found, however, that other formulas that keep the polarity 10 similar to that of the inventive formula will also work. To keep the polarity similar, it is 11 necessary for the compound to have similar characteristics, such as Carbon chains, 12 carbonyl groups, Nitrogen bound to Carbon, Aromatic ring (s), Oxylate groups, and 13 appropriate functional groups at the ends of the individual molecules. The ideal 14 substitute chemicals would have all of the characteristics mentioned above, but it is not 15 necessary to have every one of those as listed. For example, if the functional groups at the 16 ends of the individual molecules are exchanged for other functional groups that retain the 17 ability to undergo an emulsion polymerization, then the effectiveness of the compound is 18 also retained. Another example is to change the ethoxylate to a methoxylate or 19 propoxylate. These formations would still retain a similar polarity but would be different 20 compounds with different characteristics. Yet another example would be to exchange INVENTION: Treatment for Acne Vulgaris Treatment and Method of Use INVENTOR: William Yarbrough 1 triply bound Nitrogen with a doubly bound or perhaps Nitrogen with 4 Carbons bound to 2 it.

3 The inventor has also discovered that the addition of an inert scrubbing agent 4 improves the action of the inventive composition. The beads should be large enough to 5 be effective but not so large as to cause abrasions. The inventor suggests beads in the 6 range of 5 to 50 microns with an average size being approximately 25 microns or 50 7 mesh.

8 To make the inventive composition, an exact ratio of ethoxylate to SLS is not 9 critical. The only requirement is that the ethoxylate is completely reacted with the SLS, 10 creating a polymer. This will vary with the ethoxylate used, but the Inventor has 11 determined that a ratio of ethoxylate-to-SLS of 1. 5 : 2 is preferred. The amount by weight 12 of polyethylene beads can vary according to the grittiness desired. The Inventor has 13 found that a formula of ethoxylate : SLS: polyethylene of 40: 20: 40 is preferred but that 14 formulas of other concentrations are useful. Thus, for production purposes, formulas 15 having SLS ranging from 10 to 20 % by weight, ethoxylate ranging from 20 to 40 % by 16 weight, and polyethylene beads from 20 to 50% by weight are reasonable. But again, the 17 formula is not restricted to these ranges, which ranges are presented for example purposes 18 only.

19 Also, a cutting agent that does not chemically react with the composition may be 20 added. The cutting agent makes the overall composition flow more easily, thereby

enabling more packaging options, such as tubes. The cutting agent must be added only in sufficient amount that it promotes flow but does not effect the action of the composition.

In use, an sufficient amount of the composition is used to cover the infected area, the composition is applied to an infected area and worked over the area by a scrubbing motion. After sufficient time has elapsed to ensure that the infected area has been adequately exposed to the composition such that they area feels clean, approximately ten to thirty seconds for the typical person, the area is rinsed cleaned.