Viscous surfactant emulsion compositions

A water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsion comprising an amphoteric surfactant solution comprising

• i) a mixture of a betaine selected from the group consisting of alkyl-N-betaines, alkyl amido ethyl betaines, alkyl amido propyl betaines, alkyl sultaines, alkyl amido propyl hydroxy sultaines, alkyl hydroxy propyl sultaines, alkyl-N-sulfobetaines and acyl-N-betaine or mixtures of two or more thereof and an amine oxide selected from the group consisting of alkyl-N,N dimethylamine oxides, alkyl-N,N-dihydroxyethylamine oxides and acylamide t-amine oxides or mixtures of two or more thereof;
• ii) a pharmaceutically or dermatologically acceptable substantially nonpolar hydrophobic material having a HLB value of 1 or less and
• iii) at least one water soluble, pharmaceutically or dermatologically acceptable nonionic, cationic or amphoteric emulsion aid.