Paraffins

During the extraction of paraffin waxes from their starting product crude oil, paraffin oils are obtained as a by-product, among others, which can be further refined into so-called "white oils". Highly purified paraffin oils are used as mineral oils in medicine and pharmaceuticals, as well as in the production of vaseline. They are colourless and odourless, very well tolerated by the skin and particularly suitable for medical and care purposes.

In contrast to vegetable oils, paraffin oils in skin care products do not contain any preservatives as they are not decomposed by microorganisms (no rancidity). Paraffin waxes accumulate in the upper layers of the str. corneum. They reduce the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and thus prevent an excessive water loss through the skin in case of pre-damaged skin. In this way, the skin moisture in the upper layers of the skin is increased (application in baby care, ichthyosis and atopic eczema).

The saturated hydrocarbons (recently alkanes instead of paraffins) are opposed by the alkenes (formerly alkylenes or olefins), unsaturated hydrocarbons with characteristic C=C double bonds and the molecular formula CnH2n. Alkynes are also unsaturated hydrocarbons with a characteristic C-C triple bond.

1. Stamatas GN et al (2008) Lipid uptake and skin occlusion following topical application of oils on adult and infant skin. J Derm Sci 50: 135-142.