What is white soft paraffin ointment used for?
- As a moisturiser for dry skin conditions.
- As a barrier cream to prevent nappy rash.
How does white soft paraffin work?
White soft paraffin is also known as white petroleum jelly. When you apply it to the skin it leaves a layer of oil on the surface of the skin that prevents water evaporating from the skin surface. It is a very greasy moisturiser. It is also water repellent and helps protect the skin from irritants.
Dry skin results from lack of water in the outer layer of skin cells known as the stratum corneum. When this layer becomes dehydrated it loses its flexibility and becomes cracked, scaly and sometimes itchy. The stratum corneum contains natural water-holding substances that retain water seeping up from the deeper layers of the skin, and water is also normally retained in the stratum corneum by a surface film of natural oil (sebum) and broken-down skin cells, which slow down evaporation of water from the skin surface.