Oct. 10, 2002  15  US 2002/0147433 Al  [0126]  Where a hydrophilic composition is desired, the  amount of hydrophilic surfactant required to increase the  wettability of the composition to a desired level will depend  in part upon the  HLB  value and level of immobilizing agent,  if any, used, the  HLB  value of the surfactant used and like  factors. The composition can comprise from about 0.1 to  about 50% of the hydrophilic surfactant when needed to  increase the wettability properties of the composition. Pref› erably, the composition comprises from about 1 to about  25%, most preferably from about 10 to about 20%, of the  hydrophilic surfactant when needed to increase wettability.  [0127]  Compositions can comprise other components  typically present in emulsions, creams, ointment, lotions,  powders, suspensions, etc. of this type. These components  include water, viscosity modifiers, perfumes, disinfectant  antibacterial actives, antiviral agents, vitamins, pharmaceu› tical actives, film formers, deodorants, opacifiers, astrin› gents, solvents, preservatives, and the like. In addition,  stabilizers can be added to enhance the shelf life of the  composition such as cellulose derivatives, proteins and  lecithin. All of these materials are well known in the art as  additives for such formulations and can be employed in  appropriate amounts in the compositions for use herein.  [0128]  If  water-based skin care compositions are used, a  preservative will be needed. Suitable preservatives include  propyl paraben, methyl paraben, benzyl alcohol, benzylkon› nium chloride, tribasic calcium phosphate,  BHT,  or acids  such as citric, tartaric, maleic, lactic, malic, benzoic, sali› cylic, and the like. Suitable viscosity increasing agents  include some of the agents described as effective immobi› lizing agents. Other suitable viscosity increasing agents  include alkyl galactomannan, silica, talc, magnesium sili› cate, sorbitol, colloidal silicone dioxide, magnesium alumi› num silicate, zinc stearate, wool wax alcohol, sorbitan  sesquioleate, cetyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and other modi› fied celluloses. Suitable solvents include propylene glycol,  glycerin, cyclomethicone, polyethylene glycols, hexylene  glycol, dial and multi-hydroxy based solvents. Suitable  vitamins include A, D-3, E, B-5 and E acetate.  [0129]  VI. Treating Articles With the Skin Care Compo› sition  [0130]  In preparing absorbent articles to carry out the  methods of the present invention, the skin care composition  containing the proton donating active is applied such that  during wear, at least some portion of the composition will  transfer from the treated article to the wearer’s skin. That is,  the skin care composition is either applied directly to one or  more body contacting surfaces, or is applied in alternate  locations or means such that the skin care composition is  readily available for transfer from one or more body con› tacting surfaces during use without intervention by the  user/caregiver. (For example, materials positioned beneath  the body contacting surface, encapsulated compositions,  etc.) Of course, to effectuate delivery of the composition to  those body regions most susceptible to skin roughness, it  will be preferred to include the composition on the portion  of the topsheet and cuffs that will contact the wearer’s  buttocks, genitals, intertriginous and anal regions during  wear. Additionally, the composition may be applied to other  article regions for delivery to one or more of the wearer’s  hips, abdomen, back, waist, sides, thighs, etc. Suitable  methods include spraying, printing (e.g., flexographic print- ing), coating ( e.g., contact slot coating, gravure coating),  extrusion, or combinations of these application techniques,  e.g. spraying the skin care composition on a rotating surface,  such as a roll surface, that then transfers the composition to  the desired portion of the article. The skin care composition  containing the proton donating active can also be applied as  a solid material via any of a variety methods, for example  extrusion.  [0131]  When applied to the article’s topsheet, the manner  of applying the composition to the article should be such that  the topsheet does not become saturated with the composi› tion, at least in the region corresponding to the liquid  discharge region of the article, if the composition is hydro› phobic in nature.  If  the topsheet becomes saturated with the  composition in the liquid discharge region, there is a greater  potential for the composition to block the topsheet openings,  reducing the ability of the topsheet to transmit liquid to the  underlying absorbent core. Also, saturation of the topsheet is  not required to obtain the therapeutic and/or protective  benefits. Similarly, saturation of other treated article com› ponents may not be necessary or desired to transfer sufficient  composition for desired skin benefits. Particularly suitable  application methods will apply the composition primarily to  the outer surface of the topsheet of the article.  [0132]  The minimum level of the composition containing  the proton donating active to be applied to the article’s  wearer-contacting surface is an amount effective for provid› ing the therapeutic, protective and/or skin conditioning  benefits when the composition is delivered pursuant to the  present invention. The level of composition applied will  depend on various factors, including the article component  treated, the relative amount of surface area of the wearer› contacting surface not treated with the composition, the  composition’s content and the like. In general, with com› positions that are relatively hydrophobic and are to be  applied to essentially all of the topsheet, the composition is  preferably applied to the article topsheet in an amount  ranging from about 0.1 mg/in 2  (0.016 mg/cm 2 )  to about 15  mg/in 2  (2.33 mg/cm 2 ), more preferably from about 1 mg/in 2  (0.16 mg/cm 2 )  to about 10 mg/in 2  (1.55 mg/cm 2 ).  It  will be  recognized that higher levels of skin care composition may  be applied to other article components where fluid handling  properties are not impacted (e.g., cuffs, waist band, side  panels, etc.).  It  will also be recognized that for compositions  that are relatively hydrophilic, higher add-on levels may be  used on the topsheet without adversely impacting liquid  handling properties to an unacceptable degree. Conversely,  higher levels of a hydrophilic composition may be undesired  when applied to components (e.g., cuff, waist) other than the  topsheet, to avoid wicking of exudates to the edges of the  article which may result in leakage.  [0133]  Because the composition is preferably substantially  immobilized on the surface of the region treated, relatively  small amounts of composition are needed to deliver an  effective amount of the proton donating active.  It  is believed  that the ability to use low levels to impart the desired skin  benefits is due to the fact that the composition is continu› ously, automatically delivered as articles are worn.  As  indicated, the ability to use relatively low levels of skin care  composition, allows the article’s topsheet to maintain its  liquid transfer properties in the liquid discharge region.  [0134]  The composition can be applied nonuniformly to  the body contacting surface of the article. By "nonuniform" 