Emollient
Liquid paraffin with white soft paraffin and wool alcohols
Brand names: Hydrous ointment, Oily cream
Adult dose
Dose: Apply liberally and frequently to dry skin
Route: Topical
Frequency: liberally
Clinical pearls
- Eczema, ichthyosis
- MHRA: paraffin-based emollients are flammable when on fabric — counsel patients
Contraindications
- Wool-alcohols (lanolin) sensitivity
Side effects
- Local irritation
- Folliculitis
- Fire hazard with paraffin-based emollients (MHRA — keep away from naked flame, frequent laundering)
Reference: BNF; NICE CG57; MHRA Drug Safety Update; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/liquid-paraffin-with-white-soft-paraffin-and-wool-alcohols/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Pathways
- Suspicious Pigmented Lesion — Melanoma Pathway · NICE NG14 2015 / BAD
- Cellulitis and Erysipelas · NICE NG141 2019 / CREST
- Psoriasis — Severity Assessment and Step-Up Therapy · NICE NG153 2019 / BAD
- Atopic Eczema — Assessment and Step-Up Therapy · NICE NG95 2023
- Urticaria and Angioedema · BSACI / EAACI Guidelines 2022
- Acne Vulgaris — Grading and Treatment · NICE NG198 2021 / BAD