Absorbent articles comprising a bodily exudate modifying agent and a skin care formulation

Abstract

Absorbent articles having enhanced absorption of bodily exudates are disclosed. The absorbent articles comprise a bodily exudate modifying agent and a skin care formulation. The bodily exudate modifying agent is capable of reducing the viscosity of bodily exudates such as feces and menses. The skin care formulation comprises a bodily exudate modifying agent neutralizer to neutralize the possible negative effects on skin barrier function caused by the bodily exudate modifying agents coming into direct contact with the wearer's skin.

1 . An absorbent article comprising an absorbent body, a bodyside liner, a bodily exudate modifying agent, and a skin care formulation, the bodily exudate modifying agent being capable of reducing the viscosity of bodily exudates upon contact therewith, and the skin care formulation comprising a bodily exudate modifying agent neutralizer, wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent is a reducing agent. 
   
   
       2 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent is encapsulated in a shell material. 
   
   
       3 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the shell material is selected from the group consisting of cellulose-based polymeric materials, lactic acid-based aliphatic polyesters, carbohydrate-based materials, and materials derived therefrom. 
   
   
       4 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfites, thiols, thiol alcohols, mercaptoacetic acid, sodium thioglycolate, thiolactic acid, thioglycoamide, glycerol monothioglycolate, borohydrides, ternary amines, thiocyanates, thiosulfates, cyanides, thiophosphates, arsenites, phosphines, phenols, betaines, lithium aluminum hydride, guanidine hydrochloride, stannous chloride, hydroxylamine, LiHB(C 2 H 5 ) 3 , zinc metal, Raney nickel, hydrazines, substituted hydrazines, alkyl tin hydrides, organic peroxides, azobisisobutyronitrile, and triphenylcarbenium salts. 
   
   
       5 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent neutralizer is an oxidizing agent. 
   
   
       6 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from citric acid, malic acid, alphahydroxy acid, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxide. 
   
   
       7 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent neutralizer is present in the skin care formulation in an amount of from about 0.1% by weight of the formulation to about 10% by weight of the formulation. 
   
   
       8 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . An absorbent article comprising an absorbent body, a bodyside liner, microencapsulated water, a bodily exudate modifying agent, and a skin care formulation, the bodily exudate modifying agent being capable of reducing the viscosity of bodily exudates upon contact therewith, and the skin care formulation comprising a bodily exudate modifying agent neutralizer, wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent is a reducing agent. 
   
   
       19 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the water is encapsulated in a shell material comprising a material selected from the group consisting of cellulose-based polymeric materials, lactic acid-based aliphatic polyesters, carbohydrate-based materials, and materials derived therefrom. 
   
   
       20 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent is encapsulated in a shell material. 
   
   
       21 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfites, thiols, thiol alcohols, mercaptoacetic acid, sodium thioglycolate, thiolactic acid, thioglycoamide, glycerol monothioglycolate, borohydrides, ternary amines, thiocyanates, thiosulfates, cyanides, thiophosphates, arsenites, phosphines, phenols, betaines, lithium aluminum hydride, guanidine hydrochloride, stannous chloride, hydroxylamine, LiHB(C2H5)3, zinc metal, Raney nickel, hydrazines, substituted hydrazines, alkyl tin hydrides, organic peroxides, azobisisobutyronitrile, and triphenylcarbenium salts. 
   
   
       22 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent neutralizer is an oxidizing agent. 
   
   
       23 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from citric acid, malic acid, alphahydroxy acid, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxide. 
   
   
       24 . The absorbent article as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent neutralizer is present in the skin care formulation in an amount of from about 0.1% by weight of the formulation to about 10% by weight of the formulation. 
   
   
       25 - 32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . A method for reducing the viscosity of a bodily exudate in an absorbent article, the method comprising:
 providing an absorbent article having a bodyside liner and an absorbent body, the bodyside liner comprising an encapsulated bodily exudate modifying agent and a skin care formulation, the bodily exudate modifying agent being capable of reducing the viscosity of bodily exudates upon contact therewith, and the skin care formulation comprising a bodily exudate modifying agent neutralizer; and   contacting a bodily exudate with the bodyside liner to provide for direct contact between the encapsulated bodily exudate modifying agent and the bodily exudate, wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent is a reducing agent.   
   
   
       34 . The method as set forth in  claim 33  wherein the encapsulated bodily exudates modifying agent is encapsulated in a shell material selected from the group consisting of cellulose-based polymeric materials, lactic acid-based aliphatic polyesters, carbohydrate-based materials, and materials derived therefrom. 
   
   
       35 . The method as set forth in  claim 34  wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent reduces the viscosity of the bodily exudate by at least about 5%. 
   
   
       36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . The method as set forth in  claim 33  wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfites, thiols, thiol alcohols, mercaptoacetic acid, sodium thioglycolate, thiolactic acid, thioglycoamide, glycerol monothioglycolate, borohydrides, ternary amines, thiocyanates, thiosulfates, cyanides, thiophosphates, arsenites, phosphines, phenols, betaines, lithium aluminum hydride, guanidine hydrochloride, stannous chloride, hydroxylamine, and LiHB(C2H5)3, zinc metal, Raney nickel, hydrazines, substituted hydrazines, alkyl tin hydrides, organic peroxides, azobisisobutyronitrile, and triphenylcarbenium salts. 
   
   
       38 . The method as set forth in  claim 33  wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent neutralizer is an oxidizing agent. 
   
   
       39 . (canceled) 
   
   
       40 . The method as set forth in  claim 33  wherein the bodily exudate modifying agent neutralizer is present in the skin care formulation in an amount of from about 0.1% by weight of the formulation to about 10% by weight of the formulation. 
   
   
       41 - 48 . (canceled)