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a-chlorosorbic acid, angelic acid, cinnamic acid, p-chloro› cinnamic acid, ~-stearylacrylic acid, itaconic acid, citraconic acid, mesaconic acid, glutaconic acid, aconitic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tricarboxyethylene, and maleic anhy› dride, copolymers of unsaturated monomeric acids with suitable co-monomers, and partially neutralized salts of such polymers; acidic cellulose derivatives, such as carboxym› ethyl cellulose at least partially wherein the cellulose deriva› tives are at least partially protonated, cellulose phosphate, and oxidized cellulose; and cation exchange resins wherein the cation exchange resin is at least partially protonated. 

[0059] Exemplary inorganic acid salts include alkali metal monohydrogen phosphates, blends of alkali metal monohy› drogen and dihydrogen phosphate salts, alkali metal mono› hydrogen pyrophosphate salts, and blends of alkali metal monohydrogen and dihydrogen pyrophosphate salts. 

[0060] In an alternative embodiment, materials which can decompose in the environment adjacent to a wearer’s skin into a proton donating active are also suitable for the purposes of the present invention. For example, esterase enzymes in feces (e.g. fecal lipases) can hydrolyze certain esters to provide a proton donating active. Suitable proton donating actives of this type have the formula: 

[0061] wherein R$_{1}$ , R$_{2 }$ and R$_{3 }$ are independently hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or a hydroxyalkyl group with from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. An exemplary ester of this type is triacetin. As can be seen in Example 6, such mate› rials, in the presence of bodily exudates, are effective in providing a pH reduction. 

[0062] In order that the proton donating active be effective in helping maintain skin at an acidic pH the proton donating active should be provided at a level of at least 0.01 % of the skin care composition; typically at least about 0.5%; pref› erably at least about 3%. Such suitable proton donating actives may be used as a component of the skin care compositions of the present invention at a level of between about 0.01 % and about 40%, depending on the specific proton donating active chosen. Preferably, the proton donat› ing actives are used at a level of between about 0.5% and about 20% of the skin care composition of the present invention. In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the proton donating actives are provided at a level of between about 3% and about 7%. 

[0063] IV. Delivery Systems 

[0064] A proton donating active delivery system in an absorbent article preferably contains a minimum effective concentration of a proton donating active(s) and does not 

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itself interfere with the normal function of the vanous structures of the article ( e.g., the absorbency of the core, the liquid perviousness of the top sheet, and the like). In a preferred embodiment, described in greater detail below, the proton donating active(s) is positioned in proximity to the wearer’s skin in a clean dry article, such as on or near a body contacting surface, from where at least a portion of the proton donating active(s) may be delivered to the wearer’s skin during normal use of the article, preferably before a bowel movement occurs, for availability to act at the skin/ feces interface after a bowel movement. In a more preferred embodiment, the. proton donating active(s) is (are) a com› ponent of a skin care composition containing various emol› lients and immobilizing agents, as described further below, that is delivered directly from a wearer-contacting surface to the wearer’s skin to perform a barrier function to high pH exudates, as well as helping maintain the wearer’s skin at an acidic pH. Most preferably, repeated normal use of articles having delivery systems that deliver proton donating actives directly to the skin provides an accumulation of the proton donating active for more effective prevention of inflamma› tion of the skin due to contact with urine and feces. 

[0065] Thus, proton donating actives, or compositions containing them, may be incorporated into absorbent articles in any delivery system known to those skilled in the art that facilitates contact of a proton donating active with a wear› er’s skin to inhibit pH increases thereon. The delivery system may be a component of any portion or portions of the absorbent article including, but not limited to, the topsheet, the absorbent core, the backsheet, other secondary structures such as additional sheets, specialized structures to contain bowel movements (e.g., bowel movement "pockets"), and the like, and any cuffs, side panels, fasteners and the like that may also be a component of the article, whether or not the portion of the article is a wearer-contacting surface. Such delivery systems include those which deliver the proton donating active in dispersed form as a component of another composition, in solution in a substantially anhydrous com› position, and in an aqueous vehicle as a part of a substan› tially oleaginous composition (e.g. as a water-in-oil emul› sion). Exemplary delivery systems include, but are not limited to, those described below. 

[0066] The delivery system may provide the proton donat› ing active in powder, flake or particulate form. The delivery system may include pressure-rupturable or dissolvable microcapsules or "bubbles" containing the proton donating active or a proton donating active-containing composition. Further, the delivery system may include the ingredients or an ingredient-containing composition in any other form that is activated ( e.g. by hydrolysis of a precursor material) in the presence of bodily exudates. A particularly suitable delivery system for use with the proton donating actives of the present invention is one having a continuous phase com› prising substantially oleaginous materials. As used herein a delivery system comprises "substantially oleaginous mate› rials" if at least about fifty percent of the continuous phase thereof comprises oleaginous emollients, immobilizing agents, and the like as are discussed individually below. Dispersions or solutions of solid proton donating actives in substantially anhydrous compositions and water-in-oil emulsions, wherein the proton donating actives are a com› ponent in the disperse aqueous phase thereof, are specifi› cally contemplated as having a continuous phase comprising substantially oleaginous materials. As used herein, a com- 

