Kerosenes

Products

Pure kerosenes are available in pharmacopoeia quality in pharmacies and drugstores. They are also found in creams, ointments, pastes, body lotions, baths, eye drops, cosmetics, gauzes and emulsions for ingestion, among other products. Kerosenes are also known as mineral oils and have been used medicinally since the 19th century.

Structure and properties

The pharmacopoeia monographs two liquid kerosenes that differ in viscosity. The viscous one is more common in practice:

  • Viscous kerosene (Paraffinum liquidum).
  • Thin kerosene (Paraffinum perliquidum)

They are purified mixtures of liquid saturated hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. They exist as colorless, clear and oily liquids without odor and taste and are virtually insoluble in water. They consist of only two chemical elements, carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). Saturated means that the molecules do not contain double bonds. Hard kerosene is a purified mixture of , saturated hydrocarbons. It exists as a colorless or white mass. The melting temperature is 50 to 61°C. Kerosenes are fossil natural products. Over millions of years, petroleum has been produced from biomass deposited in oceans, such as algae and plankton, in the absence of oxygen. However, petroleum is not sustainable and, in terms of CO2 release of concern.

Effects

Kerosene has skin conditioning, protective, regenerating, occlusive, and hydrating properties. Administered perorally, it has a laxative effect. It softens the stool and makes it more slippery, thus facilitating intestinal transit. The effect occurs after approximately 6 to 12 hours.

Indications for use

Medical and pharmaceutical indications:

  • Kerosenes are present in many personal care products and cosmetics and are used for skin care and for the prevention and treatment of skin diseases and dry skin.
  • As a vehicle for the external administration of active pharmaceutical ingredients, as an ointment base.
  • Kerosene waxes for the treatment of wounds.
  • Peroral preparations with viscous kerosene are approved for the short-term treatment of constipation and for softening the stool, for example, in hemorrhoids.
  • As a lubricant. Caution: kerosenes can affect the safety of latex products (condoms, diaphragms) for contraception.

Contraindications

Contraindications to peroral administration include:

  • Hypersensitivity
  • Acute abdominal illness
  • Intestinal obstruction
  • Appendicitis

Due to the risk for lipid pneumonia, kerosenes should not be used for nasal oils. Refer to the drug label for complete precautions.

Interactions

Ingested kerosenes may inhibit absorption of lipophilic agents, fat-soluble vitamins, and fat-soluble nutrients.

Adverse effects

Today, kerosenes have a bad reputation and are repeatedly criticized. However, according to a detailed 2018 analysis by the German Federal Office for Risk Assessment, health risks are not expected in external therapy based on current knowledge, including the use of lip balms. This applies to medicines and cosmetics that meet European quality requirements. Other articles also come to this conclusion. Kerosenes are not carcinogenic. And apparently it is also not true that they cause comedones (e.g. Rawlings, Lombard, 2012). When taking the laxatives, the following side effects may rarely occur:

  • Vitamin deficiency (fat-soluble vitamins), fluid and salt loss (long, high-dose treatment).
  • Lipid pneumonia due to accidental aspiration.
  • Anal exudation
  • Foreign body reactions in the intestine, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen
  • Anal itching