Patent Pick: Whiten Skin with Orange Oil

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Patent Picks are chosen by the editors from publicly available sources. Today's choice describes orange essential oil to treat skin pigmentation.

Use of orange essential oil to treat skin pigmentation disorders
U.S. Patent Application 20150374614
Publication date: Dec. 31, 2015
Assignee: L'Oréal

According to these inventors, hydroquinone and derivatives thereof, more particularly its ethers such as hydroquinone monomethyl ether and monoethyl ether, are effective depigmenting agents. However, they are not devoid of side effects, owing to their toxicity. This toxicity arises from the fact that these compounds intervene in mechanisms of melanogenesis by killing cells. Consequently, the whole or partial replacement of hydroquinone by other, safer actives having depigmentation properties is of constant interest.

The aim of the present invention is to satisfy these needs. Accordingly, certain aspects of the present invention relate to the cosmetic or dermatological use of at least one essential oil of sweet orange of the type Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck to prevent and/or treat skin pigmentation disorders; e.g., lighten the skin; prevent, reduce and/or treat an alteration in the complexion of the skin or semi-mucous membranes; and stimulate, restore or regulate the metabolism of melanocytes of the skin and/or of the semi-mucous membranes.

Patent application accessed on Jan. 4, 2016

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