Absorbent articles with non-aqueous compositions containing anionic polymers

Abstract

The present invention relates to absorbent articles including non-aqueous compositions for protecting the barrier function of the skin. The compositions can be applied to the bodyfacing surfaces of absorbent articles so that the compositions come into contact with the skin. The compositions of the invention have improved stability on the bodyfacing surfaces after processing. The compositions of the invention provide several benefits including prevention and alleviation of skin irritations associated with the use of absorbent articles. The compositions can include emollients, viscosity enhancers and anionic polymers.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001] The present invention relates to the inclusion of non-aqueous compositions that contain anionic polymers on the bodyfacing materials of disposable absorbent articles, such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence products, underpants, feminine care products, nursing pads, wound dressings and similar articles having absorbent capacity. The present invention also relates to improving skin health through delivery of non-aqueous compositions containing anionic polymers from the bodyfacing materials of disposable absorbent articles to the skin. Prior to delivery to the skin, the compositions are stable on the bodyfacing materials. The compositions of the invention can also improve skin health when they are incorporated into other skin-contacting materials such as tissues, wet wipes and cosmetic cleansing or buffing pads.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002] The stratum corneum is the outer-most layer of the skin and is responsible for regulating skin water ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] The compositions of the invention can include from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of one or more emollients. More specifically, the compositions include from about 20 to about 75 percent by weight of emollient(s). Emollients are skin conditioning ingredients that help to soften, smooth, plasticize, lubricate, moisturize, improve the appearance of, improve the feel of and protect the skin. Even more specifically, the compositions include from about 40 to about 60 percent by weight of emollient(s). Suitable emollients include petroleum based oils, petrolatum, vegetable oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils, animal oils, hydrogenated animal oils, mineral oils, alkyl dimethicones, alkyl methicones, alkyldimethicone copolyols, phenyl silicones, alkyl trimethylsilanes, dimethicone, lanolin and its derivatives, esters, branched esters, glycerol esters and their derivatives, propylene glycol esters and their derivatives, alkoxylated carboxylic acids, alkoxylated alcohols, fatty alcohols, triglycerides, alkyl hydroxystearates and mixtures of such compounds.

[0041] The composition can include from about 0.1 to about 95 percent by weight of natural fats or oils. The natural fats and oils may be selected from avocado oil, borage oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil and mixtures of such fats and oils. The composition can also include from about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight of sterols and sterol derivatives. The sterols and sterol derivatives may be selected from cholesterol, sitosterol, stigmasterol, tall oil sterol, soy sterol and mixtures of such sterols. Additionally, the composition can include from about 1 to about 95 percent by weight of one or more emollients. The emollients may be selected from petrolatum, silicone oils, dimethicone, esters, hydrogenated vegetable / animal oils, triglycerides, glycerol esters, propylene glycol esters, alkoxylated alcohols, alkoxylated carboxylic acid, lanolin and mixtures of such emollients. The composition can also include from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of one or more solidifying agents. The solidifying agents may be selected from alkyl silicones, beeswax, behenyl behenate, behenyl benzoate, C.sub.24-C.sub.28 alkyl dimethicone, C.sub.30 alkyl dimethicone, cetyl methicone, stearyl methicone, cetyl dimethicone, stearyl dimethicone, cerotyl dimethicone, candelilla wax, carnauba, cerasin, hydrogenated microcrystalline wax, jojoba wax, microcrystalline wax, lanolin wax, ozokerite, paraffin, cetyl esters and mixtures of such solidifying agents. The composition further includes from about 0 1 to about 40 percent by weight of one or more viscosity enhancers. The viscosity enhancers may be selected from ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymers, organically modified clays, polyethylene, silica and mixtures of such viscosity enhancers. The composition also includes from about 0.1 to about 20 percent by weight of one or more decoupling polymers. The decoupling polymers may be selected from homopolymers of acrylic acid, acrylic acid / maleic acid copolymers, poly(2-hydroxy ethyl acrylate), polysaccharides, cellulose ethers, polyglycerols, polyacrylamides, polyvinylalcohol / polyvinylether copolymers, poly(sodium vinyl sulphonate), poly(2-sulphato ethyl methacrylate) and poly(acrylamidomethylpropane sulphonate) and mixtures of such decoupling polymers. The composition may also include a rheology modifier and a natural clay or synthetic analog of a natural clay to provide a rheological benefit.

Problems solved by technology

That is, when skin barrier function is impaired, the other layers of the skin can be injured and have a response to that injury in the form of inflammation.

In fact, the art teaches that if fewer than all three of the components are used in a skin composition, the composition could actually compromise or delay repair of the barrier.

The stratum corneum of the skin is constantly exposed to physical and biological insults that could have a negative effect on barrier function.

An unavoidable consequence of the use of absorbent articles is that the skin is exposed more directly to various physical and biological insults.

Consequently, the barrier function of the skin covered by the absorbent article is put at risk.

Even though nonwoven materials are engineered to have soft hand and drape, they rub against the skin and there is friction.

Such friction constitutes one form of physical insult to the skin barrier.

Friction against the skin barrier also occurs with the use of absorbent tissues and wipes.

In addition to these physical insults, skin covered by absorbent articles is also frequently exposed to biological insults.

Once the skin barrier is compromised, these components, in addition to other constituents of biological fluids, can initiate or exacerbate inflammation of the skin.

Impairment of the skin barrier can result from a variety of factors, including: increased skin hydration due to the occlusion of the skin caused by diapers, enzymatic skin damage due to fecal and urinary enzymes, and physical damage caused by friction against the diaper surface and repeated cleaning of the skin with absorbent tissues or wet wipes.

Excessive hydration of the skin also has a negative effect on the skin barrier.

Increased skin hydration disrupts skin lipid organization in the stratum corneum.

This disruption may increase the permeability of the skin to irritants from feces and urine, thus increasing the risk of skin inflammation.

During frequent insults of bodily fluids and frequent use of disposable absorbent articles, the skin can become irritated and appear red and be sore to the touch.

Application of these types of products to the skin is often messy and inconvenient.

Often, these products are not used prophylactically and are only used when signs of diaper rash are visible.

High concentrations of petrolatum can be messy, greasy to the touch, and may impair the fluid handling properties of an absorbent article, such as a diaper.

The slow penetration of petrolatum into the skin can lead to smearing of the agent over the skin and onto clothes and other materials.

Not all of the presently known formulations are sufficiently stable on the bodyfacing materials.

Consequently, such formulations may transfer off of the bodyfacing material prematurely or the formulations may migrate away from the skin-facing surfaces of the materials.

The Schulz patent does not, however, recognize any anti-irritation benefit of hydrophilic clays.

Though hydrophobic vehicles are described as being suitable vehicles for the organophilic clays, the Schulz patent discourages the use of vehicle compounds having relatively long hydrocarbon chains (C-8 and longer) because of their interaction with the organophilic clays that causes the organophilic clays to have diminished adsorptive capability for fecal enzymes.

Images