Background: Xerosis is one of the most common dermatologic complaints in the elderly. People in the tropics, including the Philippines, have effectively used coconut oil as a traditional moisturizer for centuries. Its film-forming qualities allow it to act as a skin moisturizer and as a protectant against moisture loss. To date, only one randomized clinical trial has proven the efficacy and safety of coconut oil as a skin moisturizer for xerosis. With the increasing number of VCO products in the market, this study aimed to validate the use of an indigenous agricultural product, virgin coconut oil, for senile xerosis. With its moisturizing, antioxidant, and antiseptic effects, VCO may be superior and more cost-effective compared to the frequently used synthetic mineral oil. Objective: This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of virgin coconut oil compared to mineral oil for the treatment of senile xerosis. Methods: This was a community-based assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial, which included elderly patients with mild to moderate senile xerosis of the legs. Participants were instructed to apply the test oil twice daily to the legs for 2 weeks. The following primary outcomes were measured at baseline and 2-weeks post treatment: skin dryness (over-all dry skin score, ODSS), skin hydration (corneometer readings), skin lipid content (sebumeter readings), and quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index). Secondary outcomes like patient-assessed clinical efficacy and adverse effects were also measured. Results: A total of 148 participants (59 males, 89 females) with mean age of 68 years (SD 6.02) were included in the study. Eighty-one (81) were assigned under the VCO group and 67 under the mineral oil group. There was a total of 25 dropouts, 7 in the virgin coconut oil group, and 18 in the mineral oil group. The distribution of the patients’ ODSS after treatment with VCO and mineral oil showed a trend towards improvement: 43% in the VCO group had no visible signs of leg xerosis versus 22.4% in the mineral oil group. The proportion of participants with>1 point decrease in ODSS, was statistically greater in the VCO group at 74% (60/81) compared to the mineral oil group, 34% (23/67) (p<0.0001). VCO showed significantly greater skin hydration at 74% (60/81) as compared to 46% (31/67) in the mineral oil group (p<0.0010). Improvement in the skin lipid content using the sebumeter showed 82.7% (67/81) in the VCO group compared to 61.2% (41/67) in the mineral oil group (p=0.6591). Moreover, the patients’ perceived efficacy of the oil applied on their skin was 29.6% (24/81) in the VCO group compared to 5.9% (4/67) in the mineral oil group (p=0.0030). Baseline DLQI scores showed no significant difference in the assessed quality of life of the patients between the two treatments (p=0.0161).Over all, the VCO group showed 32.1% (26/81) treatment success compared to 8.9% (6/67) in the mineral oil group (p=0.004614). Adverse events in the 2 groups were all mild and transient with 8% (6/74) patients in the VCO group and 26.5% (13/49) in the mineral oil group (p=0.089). Conclusion Among elderly patients with mild to moderate xerosis, 2-week topical application of VCO was superior to mineral oil in the immediate improvement of leg xerosis based on primary outcome measures of the Over-all Dry Skin Score (ODSS), corneometer, sebumeter readings, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index.
Coconut Oil ; Mineral Oil

Phototherapy with UVB has become a cornerstone in treating uremic pruritus. To investigate the additional benefit of emollient, we performed emollien-phototherapy in six uremic pruritus patients on hemodialysis, one of which was not responding with UVB only. After applying mineral oil over the whole body, UVB phototh.rapy was performed two to three times weekly. Improvement was noted within one to three treatments and after three to ten treatments, pruritus markedly or totally disappeared in al six patients. This result suggests that emollient-phototherapy is as effective as, or in some patients, more effective than phototherapy with UVB only in managing uemic pruritus.
Humans ; Mineral Oil ; Phototherapy ; Pruritus* ; Renal Dialysis

Frorn August to December 1973, 189 cases of scabies were examinecl by Muller's method and following results were obtained: 1) 91 cases (52. 6%) of 172 were confirmed by detecting mite. 2) From the reexamination of samples, adult form(58.2%), larva(52.7%), egg(41.8%), egg shell(30.8%) and scybala(29.7%) were identified in order and egg shell and scybala were also diagnostic. 3) Confirmed scraping lesions were burrow(61. 8%),papule(29.4%), vesicle(5.9%) pustule(2.9%), in order of frequency. 4) Adult Sarcoptes was found in 27 cases(64.3%) of 42 examined with burrows and in 13 cases(65%) of 20 with papules. 5) Mean of incubation period was 26.6 days in 14 cases.
Adult ; Animals ; Egg Shell ; Humans ; Mineral Oil* ; Mites ; Ovum ; Scabies*

PURPOSE: This experimental study was to verify the effects of the mineral oil on skin under casts for relief of skin dryness and pruritus. METHOD: Participants in the study were inpatients at C university hospital in D city who had long leg casts. The mineral oil was applied to the skin under the casts in the experimental group of 18patients and was not applied to the control group, also 18 patients. During the experimentation, the participants in the experimental group were informed about how to apply the mineral oil and 1 week later were responsible for applying the oil themselves. The oil was applied three times a day. Data collection was done from July 28, 2002 to September 28, 2002. The analyses were carried using frequencies, percentages, x2-test, t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA with the SPSS WIN 10.0 program. RESULTS: Hypothesis 1, 'The experimental group using the mineral oil application showed remarkably less dryness in the skin compared to the control group' was accepted (F=16.39, P=0.000). Hypothesis 2, 'The experimental group using the mineral oil application showed remarkably less pruritus compared to the control group' was accepted (F=34.01, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that mineral oil application to skin under casts was effective in treating skin dryness and pruritus. Accordingly, it is concluded that mineral oil application to skin under casts can be an effective nurse intervention to treat skin dryness and pruritus.
Data Collection ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Leg ; Mineral Oil* ; Pruritus* ; Skin*

BACKGROUND: Uremic xerosis is the most common dermatologic condition present in patients with chronic kidney disease. Emollients were shown to be beneficial and are considered to be the first-line of treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of virgin coconut oil (VCO) compared to mineral oil as a therapeutic mosturizer for uremic xerosis.
METHODS: Adult patients undergoing hemadialysis who have uremic xerosis were randomized using a computer-generated list and were instructed to apply either VCO or mineral oil twice daily on the legs for 4 weeks. Primary outcome measures included investigator-assessed clinical efficacy based on overall dry skin score (ODSS), change in skin hydration (corneometer readings), change in skin lipids (sebumeter readings), and quality of life scores. Secondary outcome measures included patient-assessed efficacy and advent of adverse effects. Overall therapeutic response was determined in which treatment success was defined as total clearance of xerosis or reduction of ODSS score and increased objective measurements (i.e., corneometer and sebumeter readings) plus moderate to marked patient-assessed efficacy, while treatment failure was defined as failure in any one of these parameters.
RESULTS: A total of 45 (22 VCO group, 23 mineral oil group) were recruited and 36 (18 VCO group, 18 mineral oil group) completed the study. The majority of patients in both treatment groups showed improved ODSS, corneometer readings, and quality of life scores. Most patients considered both treatment oils to be moderately to markedly effective. Analysis of overall therapeutic response revealed treatment success of 4 out of 22 in the VCO group and 4 out of 23 in the mineral oil group. VCO demostrated a trend to benefit in improving xerotic skin (RRR = 1.0%, 95% CI: -30, 26.3; RR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.76, 1.3) but results are inconclusive due to the wide confidence interval.
CONCLUSION: The application of VCO or mineral oil for 4 weeks may be equally beneficial and safe in improving uremic xerosis. VCO showed a trend to benefit compared to mineral oil in terms of overall therapeutic response but this needs to be confirmed in larger randomized controlled trials.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Coconut Oil ; Emollients ; Mineral Oil ; Lipids ; Plant Oils ; Treatment Outcome ; Skin ; Treatment Failure ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Transmission of animal scabies to human is probably rare because of the relative host specificity of the mites. However, recurrent exposure to animal scabies mites can produce troublesome and diagnostically puzzling lesions. We report herein on a human infestation of canine scabies and this occurred in a 26-year-old male who presented with a 4-month history of severe pruritic skin lesions. His puppy was diagnosed with scabies infestation by a veterinarian two months previously. Since that time, he no longer raised the puppy. Microscopic examination of a mineral oil preparation after scraping the papules revealed a mite. He was diagnosed with canine scabies.
Adult ; Animals ; Host Specificity ; Humans ; Male ; Mineral Oil ; Mites ; Scabies ; Skin ; Veterinarians

In the past, liquid paraffin had been used to restore the atrophy of body for cosmetic purposes. The injected paraffine had resulted in granulomatous foreign reaction. causing the paraffinoma. Because of the severe complications, currently the therapeutic use of paraffin had generally been abandoned. We examined a 62-year old woman who complained of irregular masses of both upper lids and difficulties of eye opening and ptosis and had undergone injection of foreign material into both lids 30 year ago for the restoration of superior sulcus deformities. We removed the mass and did the levator resection of the upper lids. Histologic findings showed multiple irregular shaped vacuole with peri vacuolar dense fibrotic rim and chronic inflammatory cell infiltration in interstitium. These findings were consistent with paraffinoma. We report our experience of a case of the paraffinoma which showed foreign body granuloma composed of many vacuoles and severe fibrosis.
Atrophy ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mineral Oil ; Paraffin ; Vacuoles

A paraffinoma is a type of inflammatory lipogranuloma that develops after the injection of an artificial mineral oil, such as paraffin or silicon, into the foreskin or the subcutaneous tissue of the penis for the purpose of penis enlargement, cosmetics, or prosthesis. The authors experienced a case of macro-paraffinoma associated with sexual dysfunction, voiding dysfunction, and pain caused by a buried glans penis after a paraffin injection for penis enlargement that had been performed 35 years previously. Herein, this case is presented with a literature review.
Foreskin ; Granuloma* ; Male ; Mineral Oil ; Oils ; Paraffin* ; Penis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Silicon ; Subcutaneous Tissue

There have been no known therapeutic modalities as effective as glucocorticoids for the treatment of chronic intractable atopic dermatitis. However, various attempts including phototherapy with UVB irradiation have been tried to avoid side effects from long term corticosteroids treatment. The therapeutic effect of UVB irradiation in the management of chronic atopic dermatitis was examined. Sixteen patients with atopic dermatitis showing severe itching and lichenified lesions, who were dependent on corticosteroids, were treated with UVB. After applying mineral oil or vaseline, patients received phototherapy. Intractable pruritus subsided or ameliorated after mean 5.2 times of treatments in 10 of 11 patients, and the skin lesions disappeared or improved after mean 13 times of treatments in 9 of 10 patients. No side effects were observed. UVB phototherapy could be avaluable alternate for the treatment of intractable atopic dermatitis.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Mineral Oil ; Petrolatum ; Phototherapy* ; Pruritus ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Hydration, the water content of the stratum corneum, is an important factor in both the appearance and the barrier function of the skin. Many non-invasive methods have been developed in order to assesa the hydration state of the skin and the effect of various moisturizers. The hydrometer and carneometer are commercially available instruments which are widely used in dermatologic research. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the measuring usefulnes of both instruments on normal subjects with a wide range of hydration states of the hornylayer. METHODS: We measured the conductance with the hydrometer and the capacitance with the corneometer in various hydrating eonditions and compared both insruments. RESULTS: Conductance had a non linear correlation with capacita ice. Capacitance measured with the corneometer had a high sensitivity to moisture in a wide range of hydration levels. On the other hand, conductance guaged with the hydrometer showed a few sensitivity to moisture at a low level. When the hydretion level was measured after a moiturizer was added, 10 % urea cream showed a sharp increase by 256% in terms of conductanae, and H-base by 97.8%. Mineral oil decreased by 41.5% and petrolatum by 62% respectively. On the other hand, when measured in terms of capacitance under the same conditions as above, 38.9 increase in 10% urea cream, 19.3% increase in H-base, 20% decrease in mineral oil, and 43.5 % decrease in petrolatum were reported. Conductance showed a higher hygroscopicity and a lower water holding capacity than capacitance did. When the measurement of the moisture level iri virious parts of the human body is performed, the corneometer provided us with more stable alies than the hydrometer. While the hydrometer can not the available and appropriate under the condition of insulation, the corneometer can measure moisture levels even down at the depth of 250mm. When measured after the oily surface of the forehead was cleansed with soft tissue, conductance and capacitance revealed higher values of moisture levels than before the eleanin. However, there is no statistical significance in these values. CONCLUSION: The hydrometer is a more appropriate tool for the measurement of moisture at a high level, and the corneometer at a low moisture level. The hydrcmeter is a more sensitive method of measuring the increase and the decrease in the moisture level.
Forehead ; Hand ; Human Body ; Ice ; Lasers, Gas ; Mineral Oil ; Petrolatum ; Skin* ; Urea ; Water ; Wettability