Aqueous cream

Last updated

Aqueous Cream BP, also known as sorbolene, is a light, hydrocarbon-based emulsion, which is officially registered in the British Pharmacopoeia and categorised by the British National Formulary as a non-proprietary emollient preparation. [1] It is used as a topical, external medicine, emollient, and general-purpose substitute for toiletries such as soap, shower gel, shaving cream, and lip salve. While sometimes thought to be a moisturiser, it is poor as such; official advice is not to prescribe the cream as a moisturiser. [2] [3]

Contents

Aqueous cream B.P. Aqueous cream B.P..JPG
Aqueous cream B.P.

Ingredients

The common ingredients are:

Contraindications

British researchers found evidence that using the cream to treat areas affected by eczema may actually aggravate the condition. [2] They suggested this was due to skin-thinning effects of the detergent sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). The National Eczema Society recommends alternatives such as white soft paraffin wax or other types of emollient; most emollients available on prescription in the UK besides aqueous cream and emulsifying ointment have been reformulated to omit SLS. [3]

References

  1. ↑ BNF index, archived from the original on 2007-09-28, retrieved 2007-01-12
  2. 1 2 "Aqueous cream 'aggravates eczema'". BBC News. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  3. 1 2 "Emollients - section Aqueous cream and eczema". National Eczema Society. 26 March 2025. Article with links to 2011 research.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.