A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oil

Abstract

Synopsis This review was initially prepared in 2011 before Professor Johann Wiechers tragically passed away. It has been updated and is being published in his memory. It discusses the importance of mineral oil and its benefits to skin. Its source, structure, properties and efficacy are discussed. Mineral oil has been shown to improve skin softness and barrier function better than some other emollients using the gas‐bearing dynamometer and standard water vapour transmission testing as well as in vivo studies showing its effects on suppressing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). It has also been subjected to the rigour of the newer in vivo confocal microscopic measurements now used for testing the performance of moisturizers by following the swelling characteristics of the stratum corneum and been found favourable compared with many vegetable oils. Its introduction as a cosmetic oil was in the late 1800s, and still today, it is used as one of the main components of moisturizers, a true testament to its cost to efficacy window. Naturally, it has physical effects on the stratum corneum, but it is expected that these will translate into biological effects simply through its mechanism of hydrating and occluding the stratum corneum from which many benefits are derived.

Analysis of Human and Porcine Skin in vivo/ex vivo for Penetration of Selected Oils by Confocal Raman Microscopy

“…Among them are mechanical influence [5], solar irradiation [6,7,8], environmental pollutants [9,10], and topically applied formulations [11,12]. Oils have been topically used as the basis of many skin care products and ointments for a long time in the cosmetic industry and medicine [13,14,15,16]. Even though there have been some efforts to understand how the oils interact with the skin tissue, some aspects of oil penetration into the intact human skin are still controversially discussed [17,18,19,20].…”

Mineral Oil in Skin Care: Safety Profile

“…Vegetable oils are smaller and more chemically diverse (Rawlings and Lombard 2012;Patzelt et al 2012;Stamatas et al 2008;DiNardo 2005;Rieger and Deem 1974;Powers and Fox 1959). The components of the vegetable oils are susceptible to oxidation and photo-oxidation and chemical instability which turns them to rancid.…”

“…By definition vegetable oils are plant-derived, while mineral oil is derived from fossilized animal material (fossil plankton and algae; Rawlings and Lombard 2012). Vegetable oils are smaller and more chemically diverse (Rawlings and Lombard 2012;Patzelt et al 2012;Stamatas et al 2008;DiNardo 2005;Rieger and Deem 1974;Powers and Fox 1959).…”

“…Mineral oil has been approved as a food additive and as "skin protectant" ingredient for topical products by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA and is listed in European and Japanese pharmacopeia (Rawlings and Lombard 2012). A skin protectant is defined as an ingredient that temporarily protects injured or exposed skin from harmful or annoying stimuli and may provide relief to such skin.…”

“…Mineral oil or liquid paraffin ( paraffinum liquidum) has been used as an ingredient in personal care products since the late 1800s (Rawlings and Lombard 2012). Together with paraffin and petrolatum, mineral oil is derived from petroleum through a series of refining steps and purification.…”