Amphoteric compositions and polymeric forms of alpha hydroxyacids, and their therapeutic use

A composition comprising:

• A. a first compound selected from the group consisting of a cosmetic agent and a pharmaceutical agent for topical treatment of dermatological disorders;
• B. an amphoteric or pseudoamphoteric agent
• wherein said amphoteric or pseudoamphoteric agent comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of amino acid, dipeptide, creatine, aminoaldonic acid, aminouronic acid, lauryl aminopropylglycine, aminoaldaric acid, neuraminic acid, desulfated heparin, deacetylated hyaluronic acid, hyalobiuronic acid, chondrosine, deacetylated chondroitin, creatinine, cocoamphoglycine, cocoamphopropionate, cocoamphopropylsulfonate, phosphandyl ethanolamine, glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, serine, threonine, cysteine, cystine, methionine, asparagine, glutamine, arginine, lysine, 5-hydroxylysine, histidine, phenylalanine, ryrosine, tryptophan, 3-hydroxproline, 4-hydroxypropoline, proline, homocysteine, homocystine, homoserine, ornithine, citrulline, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin, said amphoteric or pseudoamphoteric agent being present in a concentration effective to form an amphoteric or pseudoamphoteric system with an alpha hydroaxacid, alpha ketoacid or related compound;
• C. an alpha hydroxyacid, an alpha ketoacid or a related compound present in a therapeutically effective amount in a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for topical treatment of disorders wherein,
• said related compound is selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, quinic acid, isocitric acid, tropic acid, trethocanic acid, 3-chlorolactic acid, cerebronic acid, citramalic acid, agaricic acid, 2-hydroxynervonic acid, aleuritic acid and pantoic acid,
• wherein said alpha hydroxyacid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkyl alpha hydroxyacid, aralkyl alpha hydroxyacid, aryl alpha hydroxyacid, polyhydroxy alpha hydroxyacid and polycarboxylic alpha hydroxyacid having the following structure:
• ##STR1## wherein Ra is H, F, Cl, Br, alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or nonisomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and in addition Ra may carry OH, CHO, COOH and alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, said alpha hydroxyacid existing as a free acid or lactone form, or in salt form with an organic base or an inorganic alkali, and as stereoisomers as D, L, and DL forms when Ra and Rb are not identical,
• said alpha ketoacid being at least one member selected from a group of compounds represented by the following chemical structure:
• ##STR2## wherein Ra and Rb are H, alkyl, aralkyl or aryl group of saturated or unsaturated, isomeric or nonisomeric, straight or branched chain, having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, or cyclic form having 5 or 6 ring members, and in addition Ra may carry F, Cl, Br, I, OH, CHO, COOH and alkoxy group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, said alpha ketoacid existing as a free acid or ester form, or in salt form with an organic base or an inorganic alkali;
• and
• wherein said composition has a pH less than or equal to 4.2.