Paraffin is a hydrocarbon compound derived from petroleum, primarily used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial industries. It is widely known for its emollient, moisturizing, and skin-conditioning properties, making it a common ingredient in various skincare products. Paraffin is also used in the form of wax for its protective and soothing qualities, particularly in treatments for dry skin and therapeutic applications such as paraffin baths.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Paraffin consists of saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes), primarily consisting of long-chain molecules. It is composed of:

• Hydrocarbons: Paraffin is primarily made up of alkanes, which are straight-chain or branched molecules with single bonds between carbon atoms.
• Carbon and Hydrogen: The structure includes carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) atoms, which form a stable structure that makes paraffin non-reactive under normal conditions.

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Paraffin is typically a white, odorless, and tasteless solid or liquid, depending on its molecular weight and form (liquid paraffin or solid paraffin wax).
• Melting Point: Solid paraffin wax has a melting point between 46–68°C (115–154°F), depending on its grade.
• Solubility: Paraffin is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents such as alcohol and ether.
• Stability: Paraffin is chemically stable and inert, making it ideal for long-term storage in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations.

Production Process

• Extraction: Paraffin is obtained through the distillation process of crude oil or petroleum. It is separated from other products in the refining process.
• Purification: After extraction, paraffin undergoes a refining process to remove impurities, resulting in a clean, white substance that is suitable for use in a wide range of products.
• Standardization: Paraffin is processed to ensure consistency in its melting point, color, and other properties.

Applications

Medical Applications

• Topical Moisturizer: Paraffin is used in various medical and pharmaceutical applications, particularly as a moisturizing agent for dry or damaged skin.
• Therapeutic Treatments: Paraffin baths are used in physical therapy to soothe joint pain, increase circulation, and improve skin flexibility, especially for conditions like arthritis.
• Wound Protection: Paraffin is sometimes used in medical ointments for its protective and soothing properties on minor burns, cuts, and abrasions.

Cosmetics

• Moisturizing: Paraffin is commonly used in creams, lotions, and lip balms to provide moisture and smooth the skin. It forms a barrier that locks in moisture, preventing dryness.
• Skin Softening: Paraffin has emollient properties that help soften and smooth rough, dry skin.
• Cosmetic Wax: Solid paraffin is used in waxes for hair removal, as well as in body treatments like paraffin hand and foot soaks.

Emollient agent. The presence of Paraffinum liquidum produces, in the biophysical properties of the skin, a reduction in the natural loss of trans epidermal water, as an occlusive agent that physically blocks the evaporation of water from the skin (1). but, while glycerine attracts water to the surface of the skin and in this way maintains the hydration of the stratum corneum, Paraffinum liquidum is adsorbed onto the skin and reduces the loss of trans epidermal water by producing an emollient film. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in inter-epidermal clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Antistatic agent. Static electricity build-up has a direct influence on products and causes electrostatic adsorption. The antistatic ingredient reduces static build-up and surface resistivity on the surface of the skin and hair.

Skin protectant. It creates a protective barrier on the skin to defend it from harmful substances, irritants, allergens, pathogens that can cause various inflammatory conditions. These products can also improve the natural skin barrier and in most cases more than one is needed to achieve an effective result.

Solvent. It is the substance for dissolving or dispersing surfactants, oils, dyes, flavourings, bactericidal preservatives in solution.In fact, it dissolves other components present in a cosmetic formulation. Solvents are generally liquid (aqueous and non-aqueous).

Industrial Applications

• Lubricant and Sealer: Paraffin is used in industrial applications as a lubricant for machinery or a sealing agent for various products, including food packaging.
• Candle Manufacturing: Paraffin wax is a popular material for candle production due to its smooth texture and ability to burn cleanly.
• Coating: It is also used to coat certain foods, pharmaceuticals, and other items for preservation or protection against moisture.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

• Biodegradability: Paraffin is not highly biodegradable and can persist in the environment if improperly disposed of.
• Safety Profile: Paraffin is generally regarded as safe for topical use, but it can cause irritation in some individuals, especially when used in large amounts or on sensitive skin.
• Sustainability: Paraffin is derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, which raises concerns about its long-term sustainability. However, it is widely used because of its effectiveness and low cost.

Safety

In this recent study (2) Paraffinum liquidum was tested in the laboratory for its degree of toxicity and all concentrations used caused the release of lactate dehydrogenase, resulting in cytotoxicity. A 1% to 50% increase in lactate dehydrogenase levels was observed after treatment of the cells compared to the negative control groups. This increase was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The maximum cytotoxic effect of Paraffinum liquidum was observed at the 50% dilution. Since hydrocarbons with saturated ring systems and aromatic hydrocarbons are present in the production of this chemical compound, some of the compounds such as benzene hydrocarbons may be of potential health hazard, which includes carcinogenic effects in particular (3).

Commercial applications

Cosmetics. Used as an emollient and moisturizing agent in skincare and haircare products.

Baby Care Products. Found in baby lotions and oils.

Laxative. Sometimes used as an oral laxative in medicine.

Food Industry. Used as a coating or thickening agent in some food products.

Lubricant. Employed in some industrial and mechanical applications as a lubricant.

Plastic Production. A plasticizing agent in certain plastic formulations.

Pharmaceutical Applications. Used as a component in some pharmaceutical formulations.

The most relevant studies on the subject have been selected with a summary of their contents:

Paraffinum liquidum studies

Molecular weight   423 g/mol

CAS  8012-95-1   8042-47-5

EC number   232-384-2   232-455-8

Synonyms :

• Mineral oil
• Paraffin Oil
• Paraffin, Liquid
• Heavy Liquid Petrolatum
• Heavy mineral oil
• Liquid Paraffin
• Liquid Petrolatum

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Samadi A, Khosrowpour Z, Nasrollahi SA, Ayatollahi A, Firooz A. Protective Effects of Moisturizers on Skin Barrier during Regular Hand Washing with Soap Bars. Indian J Dermatol. 2021 Mar-Apr;66(2):207-208. doi: 10.4103/ijd.IJD_687_19.

(2) Kirkik, D., Hacimustafaoglu, F., & Altunkanat, D. (2022). Cytotoxic Effects of Ceteareth-20 and Paraffinium Liquidum.

Abstract.  Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of ceteareth-20 and paraffinium liquidium on cell viability and cytotoxicity in human lymphocyte in vitro. Methods: We studied the cytotoxic and inhibitory effects of ceteareth-20 and paraffinium liquidum on cell proliferation using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay and cell proliferation (WST-1) assay. Results: The cytotoxicity was enhanced when cells were treated with 1%, 5%, 25% and 50% paraffinium liquidium dilutions (p < 0.05). Moreover, cell number significantly reduced after 24 hours when they were treated with the same concentrations of paraffinium liqudium (p < 0.05). On the other hand, ceteareth-20 at concentrations at 1%, 5%, 25% and 50% showed no significant cytotoxic effect. These results showed that paraffinium liquidum dilutions have cytotoxic and proliferative effect otherwise ceteareth-20 dilutions have only proliferative effects on cultured human lymphocytes. Conclusion: It can be said that paraffinium liquidum and ceteareth-20 is harmful to use in beauty and cosmetic products. Future studies might allow alternative agents to be used instead of paraffinium liquidum and ceteareth-20.

(3) Weber S, Schrag K, Mildau G, Kuballa T, Walch SG, Lachenmeier DW. Analytical Methods for the Determination of Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons (MOSH) and Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH)-A Short Review. Anal Chem Insights. 2018 Jun 4;13:1177390118777757. doi: 10.1177/1177390118777757. 

 Abstract. Mineral oils (such as paraffinum liquidum or white oil), which consist of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH), are widely applied in various consumer products such as medicines and cosmetics. Contamination of food with mineral oil may occur by migration of mineral oil containing products from packaging materials, or during the food production process, as well as by environmental contamination during agricultural production. Considerable analytical interest was initiated by the potential adverse health effects, especially carcinogenic effects of some aromatic hydrocarbons. This article reviews the history of mineral oil analysis, starting with gravimetric and photometric methods, followed by on-line-coupled liquid chromatography with gas chromatography and flame ionization detection (LC-GC-FID), which still is considered as gold standard for MOSH-MOAH analysis. Comprehensive tables of applications in the fields of cosmetics, foods, food contact materials, and living organisms are provided. Further methods including GCxGC-MS methods are reviewed, which may be suitable for confirmation of LC-GC-FID results and identification of compound classes. As alternative to chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has recently been suggested for MOSH-MOAH analysis, especially with the possibility of detecting only the toxicologically relevant aromatic rings. Furthermore, NMR may offer potential as rapid screening especially with low-field instruments usable for raw material control.