Emollient / Ocular lubricant
Yellow soft paraffin
Brand names: Vaseline, various
Adult dose
Dose: Skin: Apply PRN to affected area; Eye ointment: Apply small amount to inner canthus at night
Route: Topical / Ophthalmic
Frequency: PRN
Clinical pearls
- Cornerstone emollient for dry/eczematous skin
- As eye ointment (simple eye ointment) for ocular surface lubrication, nocturnal exposure keratopathy
- MHRA alert: paraffin-based emollients and fire risk — advise patient on flammability risk with fabric
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity (rare)
- Avoid on burns or raw wounds as occlusive dressing
Side effects
- Folliculitis with prolonged occlusive use
- Blurred vision (eye ointment)
- Contact dermatitis (rare)
- Fire hazard — paraffin-based emollients on fabric are flammable
Monitoring
- Skin condition response
- Ophthalmology follow-up for ocular use
Reference: BNF; MHRA Drug Safety Update 2020; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/yellow-soft-paraffin/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
- Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Scale · Toxicology
- Intraocular Pressure Stratification & Glaucoma Risk · Glaucoma
- Roper-Hall Classification of Chemical Ocular Burns · Ocular Trauma
- Dua Classification of Chemical Ocular Injuries · Ocular Trauma
- Traumatic Hyphaema Grading · Ocular Trauma
- LRINEC Score — Necrotising Fasciitis · Diagnosis
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