Foam containing unique oil globules

A method of treating, alleviating or preventing a disorder of the skin, body cavity or mucosal surface, wherein said disorder involves insufficient hydration of skin or a mucosal surface as one of its etiological factors, comprising:

• administering topically to a subject having said disorder, a foamed composition comprising:
• (a) an oil globule system, selected from
• i. oil bodies;
• and
• ii. sub-micron oil globules
• (b) about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of at least one stabilizing agent, selected from the group consisting of
• i. a non-ionic surface-active agent, having an HLB value between 9 and 16,
• ii. an ionic surfactant, and
• iii. a polymeric agent;
• (c) surface-active agent;
• (d) water;
• and
• (e) a liquefied or compressed gas propellant at a concentration of about 3% to about 25% by weight of the total composition.

A method of promoting the penetration of an active agent into the surface layers of the skin and mucosal membranes, comprising:

• apply a foamable composition to the surface layers of a stem or mucosal membrane, the foamable composition comprising:
• (a) an oil globule system, selected from
• i. oil bodies, and
• ii. sub-micron oil globules;
• (b) about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of at least one stabilizing agent, selected from the group consisting of
• i. a non-ionic surface-active agent, having an HLB value between 9 and 16,
• ii. an ionic surfactant, and
• iii. a polymeric agent;
• (c) water;
• (d) an active agent;
• and
• (e) a liquefied or compressed gas propellant at a concentration of about 3% to about 25% by weight of the total composition.