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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Emulsifying wax vs Light liquid paraffin

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated May 2026

Light liquid paraffin was dispensed 11.7× as often as Emulsifying wax in May 2026 — 14,010 items versus 1,196 in England.

1,196items

Emulsifying wax · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

14,010items

Light liquid paraffin · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Emulsifying wax versus Light liquid paraffin: national items dispensed by month

▬ Emulsifying wax   ·   ╌ Light liquid paraffin

0 19k 37k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Oct 2022 Aug 2023 Jun 2024 Apr 2025 May 2026 Light liquid par… 1,196 Jan 2021: 4k Feb 2021: 4k Mar 2021: 5k Apr 2021: 4k May 2021: 4k Jun 2021: 4k Jul 2021: 4k Aug 2021: 4k Sep 2021: 4k Oct 2021: 3k Nov 2021: 4k Dec 2021: 3k Jan 2022: 4k Mar 2022: 4k Apr 2022: 4k May 2022: 4k Jun 2022: 2k Jul 2022: 2k Aug 2022: 8 Sep 2022: 9 Oct 2022: 5 Nov 2022: 6 Dec 2022: 4 Jan 2023: 8 Feb 2023: 5 Mar 2023: 5 Apr 2023: 4 May 2023: 9 Jun 2023: 11 Jul 2023: 10 Aug 2023: 12 Sep 2023: 2k Oct 2023: 3k Nov 2023: 3k Dec 2023: 4k Jan 2024: 3k Feb 2024: 2k Mar 2024: 4k Apr 2024: 3k May 2024: 2k Jun 2024: 2k Jul 2024: 2k Aug 2024: 2k Sep 2024: 2k Oct 2024: 2k Nov 2024: 2k Dec 2024: 2k Jan 2025: 1k Feb 2025: 2k Mar 2025: 2k Apr 2025: 2k May 2025: 2k Jun 2025: 2k Jul 2025: 2k Aug 2025: 2k Sep 2025: 2k Oct 2025: 1k Nov 2025: 2k Dec 2025: 2k Jan 2026: 2k Feb 2026: 1k Mar 2026: 2k Apr 2026: 1k May 2026: 1k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Emulsifying wax versus Light liquid paraffin, May 2026
Measure Emulsifying wax Light liquid paraffin
Items, May 2026 1,196 14,010
Items, last 12 months 19,979 178,277
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £7,444 £135,249

See the full profile for Emulsifying wax or Light liquid paraffin.