E45 cream
E45 cream is a skin care product containing the active ingredients: lanolin, white soft paraffin and liquid paraffin, from the E45 brand of skin care products by Crookes Healthcare, a subsidiary of Reckitt.
Created in 1952, E45 was initially only available in hospitals. Due to increased demands and successful results, the cream was later expanded to retail.
E45 is an emollient. Emollients are proven to seal in the moisture. Paraffin creates a breathable and hypoallergenic layer over damaged skin to protect it from potential irritants whilst lanolin heals and softens the Epidermis.
The effectiveness of E45 doubles when applied on skin that is still slightly damp.
E45 cream
In 2016 it was one of the biggest selling branded over-the-counter medications sold in Great Britain, with sales of £35.5 million.[1]
The product contains paraffin (a fire accelerant) and can generate fire risks. It has been associated with deaths from fire and, from 2017, was set to carry a flammability warning.[2]
E45 cream contains the following:
| Active ingredients | Measure |
|---|---|
| Anhydrous Lanolin (Medilan) | 1.0%w/w |
| White Soft Paraffin | 14.5%w/w |
| Light Liquid Paraffin | 12.6%w/w |
| Additional ingredients | |
| Glycerol monostearate | |
| Cetyl Alcohol | |
| Sodium Cetostearyl Sulphate | |
| Carbomer | |
| Methyl Hydroxybenzoate (E218) | |
| Propyl Hydroxybenzoate (E26) | |
| Sodium Hydroxide | |
| Citric Acid Monohydrate | |
| Purified Water |
References
- ^ "A breakdown of the over-the-counter medicines market in Britain in 2016". Pharmaceutical Journal. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
- ^ "Skin creams containing paraffin linked to fire deaths". BBC News. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.