Sebaceous glands secrete sebum which contain lipids which collect on the skin and in the ear canal. The rate of secretion depends on several factors. Several skin disorders, including acne and seborrhea, are associated with inappropriate sebum production.
The removal of excess lipids from the skin can usually be accomplished by bathing using detergents and cleansers. Many preparations have been developed to assist in removal of excess lipids. U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,551 discloses compositions comprising carbon dioxide gas and emulsifiers with oils in bath preparations. In one embodiment the carbon dioxide gas was carried on cyclodextrin. U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,072 discloses use of whey products in bath preparations.
Cyclodextrins have been used as delivery agents for water-insoluble drugs for topical, oral and parenteral delivery. They have also been used to deliver cosmetic preparations to the skin. Several compositions utilize cyclodextrin inclusion products. European patent application 0 366 154 (1990) discloses several cyclodextrin inclusion products for use in cosmetic compositions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,598 discloses and claims a cyclodextrin-containing shampoo containing menthol and camphor. The cyclodextrin is provided to depress odor. U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,166 discloses use of cyclodextrin to treat foul breath. U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,361 discloses use of a kojic/cyclodextrin inclusion complexes to prevent elastosis in an animal test by preventing formation of melanin. A publication of Wacker Chemicals discloses that empty cyclodextrins in powder or creams may contain excreted matter of the skin or reaction substances produced on the skin. The statement by Wacker is under a subheading, "masking of disagreeable smells" and contains four other statements, all of which pertain to odorous substances. The sebaceous skin lipids are not odorous. Therefore, is appears that the Wacker publication was referring to the containment of unpleasant odors that are produced when bacteria act upon lipids and other skin secretions. There is no evidence therein the materials were useful as cleansing agents for delipidation of the skin.