Aqueous Cream BP is a light, paraffin

Paraffin

In chemistry, paraffin is a term that can be used synonymously with "alkane", indicating hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2. Paraffin wax refers to a mixture of alkanes that falls within the 20 ≤ n ≤ 40 range; they are found in the solid state at room temperature and begin to enter the...

-based emulsion

Emulsion

An emulsion is a mixture of two or more liquids that are normally immiscible . Emulsions are part of a more general class of two-phase systems of matter called colloids. Although the terms colloid and emulsion are sometimes used interchangeably, emulsion is used when both the dispersed and the...

 which is officially registered in the British Pharmacopoeia

British Pharmacopoeia

The British Pharmacopoeia is an annual published collection of quality standards for UK medicinal substances. It is used by individuals and organizations involved in pharmaceutical research, development, manufacture and testing....

 and categorised by the British National Formulary

British National Formulary

The British National Formulary is a medical and pharmaceutical reference book that contains a wide spectrum of information and advice on prescribing and pharmacology, along with specific facts and details about all medicines available on the National Health Service , including indication,...

 as a non-proprietary emollient preparation. It is used as a topical, external medicine, emollient moisturiser and general-purpose substitute for toiletries such as soap, shower gel, shaving cream and lip salve.

Ingredients

The common ingredients are:

• liquid paraffin
• white soft paraffin
• purified water
• emulsifying wax containing sodium lauryl sulphate
• cetostearyl alcohol
• chlorocresol
  Chlorocresol
  Chlorocresol may refer to either of two chemical compounds:* 2-Chloro-m-cresol* p-Chlorocresol...
  
  

Indications

It is commonly prescribed in the United Kingdom for conditions such as eczema

Eczema

Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis . In England, an estimated 5.7 million or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions...

, aquagenic pruritus

Aquagenic pruritus

Aquagenic pruritus is a skin disease characterized by the development of severe, intense, prickling-like epidermal itching that is without observable skin lesions and that is evoked by contact with water.-Presentation:...

 or atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory, chronically relapsing, non-contagious and pruritic skin disorder...

 . Whilst undergoing radiotherapy, patients are advised to use aqueous cream as part of a skin care regime to remedy the erythema

Erythema

Erythema is redness of the skin, caused by hyperemia of the capillaries in the lower layers of the skin. It occurs with any skin injury, infection, or inflammation...

 which is caused by such treatment.

Contraindications

British researchers found evidence that using the cream to moisturise areas affected by eczema may actually aggravate the condition. This is thought to be due to skin thinning effects of sodium laurylsulphate. The National Eczema Society recommends alternatives such as white soft paraffin or other types of emollient without such a high sodium laurel sulphate content.

Some sources indicate that it is not always suitable for use as an emollient, because the preservatives such as phenoxyethanol

Phenoxyethanol

Phenoxyethanol is an organic chemical compound, a glycol ether often used in dermatological products such as skin creams and sunscreen. It is a colorless oily liquid. It is a bactericide , often used in place of sodium azide in biological buffers as 2-phenoxyethanol is less toxic and non-reactive...

used to prolong the cream's shelf-life may cause an adverse reaction. Some creams use an alternative preservative—chlorocresol—which is said to cause less reaction.