British Skin Foundation


Paraffin-Based Emollients & Flammability Risk

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Lisa BSF
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by Lisa BSF on Mon Feb 12, 2018 3:55 pm

Paraffin-Based Emollients & Flammability Risk

Paraffin-Based Skin Creams Pose Fire Risk, So Should You Ditch Them?

Dr Emma Wedgeworth, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson, advises against ditching your creams just yet. Instead, she says you should be well aware of the risks and do all you can to minimise them.

Emollients are a critical part of treating inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis, ichthyosis or eczema. They work by reducing water loss from the skin and covering the skin with a protective film. Nearly all emollients contain liquid paraffin or white soft paraffin, both of which are flammable.

But then, so are many other types of cream as Dr Wedgeworth explains: “It is important to note that all oils carry a flammability risk. A large proportion of over-the-counter products will contain mineral oils, because these are very effective at repairing the skin barrier function. The higher the percentage of these oils, the greater the risk, so thick greasy ointments or pure paraffin creams will have the highest risk of being flammable.”

She adds that even more ‘natural’ alternatives such as pure shea butter, glycerin or coconut oil still have a flammability risk. So the best thing you can do is to be aware of the dangers and stay safe.

Full story http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/p ... 031daa?e85