Absorbent Article Having a Stable Skin Care Composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to an absorbent article having a stable skin care composition disposed on its skin-contacting surface. The skin care composition is readily transferable to the skin via normal contact, wearer motion, and/or body heat. Importantly, the skin care composition contains at least one skin care ingredient imparting visible skin benefits to the skin upon transfer to the skin and at least one rheological agent for stabilizing the composition such that agglomeration, stratification and/or settling of the composition are minimized. The present invention also relates to a process for making the absorbent articles having a stable skin care composition disposed thereon.

1 . A process for preparing a skin care composition and applying said skin care composition to an absorbent article, said process comprising the steps of:
 providing a rheological agent;   mixing a predispersant mixture comprising a skin care ingredient and a dispersant fluid wherein said skin care ingredient has an average particle size of less than about 100 microns;   combining said predispersant mixture with said rheological agent to form said skin care composition; and   applying said skin care composition to at least a portion of said absorbent article.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the skin care composition further comprises a carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said carrier comprises an emollient selected from the group consisting of petroleum-based emollients, fatty acid ester emollients, polysiloxane emollients, sucrose eater fatty acids, alkyl ethoxylate emollients, humectants, lanolin and derivatives, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein said emollient comprises petrolatum. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said carrier comprises an immobilizing agent selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy fatty acid esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C 14 -C 60  fatty alcohols, C 14 -C 60  fatty acids, C 14 -C 60  fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 2 to about 110, waxes and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein said immobilizing agent comprises C 14 -C 60  fatty alcohol. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said carrier comprises an emollient selected from the group consisting of petroleum-based emollients, fatty acid ester emollients, polysiloxane emollients, sucrose eater fatty acids, alkyl ethoxylate emollients, humectants, lanolin and derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and an immobilizing agent selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy fatty acid esters, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, C 14 -C 60  fatty alcohols, C 14 -C 60  fatty acids, C 14 -C 60  fatty alcohol ethoxylates having an average degree of ethoxylation of from about 2 to about 110, waxes and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said dispersant fluid is selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, silicones, esters, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein said dispersant fluid is polyglyceryl ester. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said skin care ingredient is selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, talc, starch, allantoin, hexamidine, salts of hexamidine, derivatives of hexamidine, triacetin, phytic acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonylfluoride hydrochloride, chitosan and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein said skin care ingredient is selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, hexamidine, salts of hexamidine, derivatives of hexamidine, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said skin care composition further comprises a rheological agent. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said skin care composition is substantially anhydrous. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said skin care composition is applied to a topsheet of said absorbent article. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein said topsheet of said absorbent article has a percent open area of from about 5% to about 95%. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein said skin care composition is applied as stripes that run in the longitudinal direction of said absorbent article. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said absorbent article is a sanitary napkin. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said skin care composition is heated to a temperature of from about 35° C. to about 150° C. prior to applying said skin care composition to said portion of said absorbent article. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said skin care composition is applied to said portion of said absorbent article in an amount of from about 0.05 mg/in 2  to about 100 mg/in 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said skin care composition is applied to said portion of said absorbent article by a method selected from the group consisting of spraying, printing, contact slot coating, gravure coating, dipping, extrusion, and combinations thereof.