Is cream with paraffin in it REALLY the best treatment for dry skin?

[Chicchicchicchiclana]

My mum has thin, dry and itchy skin on her legs.

She's been prescribed this sticky paraffin based cream and everything about it sounds yuk and counter-intuitive to me.

Is there an alternative? Was thinking maybe lovely Aveeno which is oat based?

Any thoughts anybody?

I can’t use either
Also some Aveeno products have perfume

It sounds 'yuck' to you. How does it sound to your mum?

Sounds like an occlusive which creates a protective barrier, you might want to first use a humectant to moisturise before applying a barrier. An emollient can provide a soothing barrier too.

Depends what's causing it. Aveeno can be lovely in the right circumstances, but Hydromol was the best thing for really fragile sensitive dry skin in my own experience. Looks like a vat of lard but really worked and was much nicer when applied than it appeared in the tub!

Have either of you actually tried it?

Try it first, then complain.

Keep away from sources of flame.

I bought some for husband for his dry legs and it is the only thing that worked, after months of creams.
I regularly get it prescribed for patients with very dry legs. Yes, it does feel wierd but it works.

Nope here anything paraffin based makes everything worse.

We stick to stuff like burts bees or neals yard.

Is it something like Hydromol? Works well here. But we like Aveeno too.

DS gets very dry cracked hands in winter and Oilatum (paraffin based) works like magic so I’d say go for it!

I use liquid parrifin from the chemists for my psoriasis and it really softens the scales. I find it great

Also, a once-a-day option like a paraffin based cream can be a lot better than a three-times-a-day lighter-feeling option, in terms of efficacy, the time realistically available from carer(s) to apply it, and the patience of the patient iyswim.

I think like pp says, you should give it a go and see.

Otherwise have a go at a lighter option like Doublebase, but be prepared for multiple applications some days.

Or start with the paraffin one for a week, and move to a lighter option after.

You gotta watch that stuff. It can build up on sheets, clothing and dressings and is highly flammable. People have died using it. And who the hell wants to put paraffin on their skin? Try an organic cream with essential oils that work on dry skin like Frankincense and patchouli. Much kinder.

I prefer aveeno (or other colloidal oatmeal based cream) for my children’s excema. My doctors switched from aveeno to a cheaper one which is just as good called Zeroveen. Non petrol based is also less flammable I think which in my view is safer.

Is it oilatum? We use it for my daughter and that's paraffin based I believe. The doctor only just explained to me that it's best used as a wash and it then hold the moisture in. So wash the hands with water then cover in the cream and rinse excess off. Now I know that it's working really well.

Thanks all for the replies. It's just that something that is based on a flammable product to be used on sensitive skin seems so weird.

Just a heads up that non-paraffin creams aren't any less flammable - seems to be a problem with moisturisers generally
www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/emollients-new-information-about-risk-of-severe-and-fatal-burns-with-paraffin-containing-and-paraffin-free-emollients

Do not put essential oils on skin, they cause all sorts of reactions and are irritants. Honestly paraffin stuff is generally brilliant, there’s a reason we use it

As well as chemically irritating the skin, essential oils are also flammable, with or without a carrier oil.

Was thinking maybe lovely Aveeno which is oat based? ... and which contains "paraffinum liquidum".

I am bumping this thread because I think it's useful - thanks!

Mineral oil (paraffinum liquidum etc) isn't technically flammable and isn't the same thing as paraffin fuel. Baby oil is mineral oil and while you can set it on fire, it's not a 'fire hazard' and is safe at high atmospheric temperatures.

It's a neutral emollient and can be good for skin, it tends not to cause reactions. I have sensitive skin and I find mineral oil fine, but can't tolerate essential oils or many moisturising creams. Plant oils and alcohol-containing products are more likely to be flammable or irritant.

It's not particularly eco-friendly but most industrially-processed oils aren't.