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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Light liquid paraffin

Skin Emollient and barrier preparations BNF 1302011L0
Data updated May 2026 Download CSV

Light liquid paraffin was ranked 438th of 1,792 medicines by items in May 2026, with 14,010 items, down 21.2% on a year earlier.

14,010items -21.2%

Dispensed in May 2026

178,277items

Rolling 12 months

£135,249

Net ingredient cost · May 2026

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

0 19k 37k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 14,010 Jan 2021: 35k Feb 2021: 32k Mar 2021: 36k Apr 2021: 37k May 2021: 32k Jun 2021: 34k Jul 2021: 31k Aug 2021: 28k Sep 2021: 28k Oct 2021: 26k Nov 2021: 28k Dec 2021: 27k Jan 2022: 28k Feb 2022: 26k Mar 2022: 30k Apr 2022: 28k May 2022: 29k Jun 2022: 28k Jul 2022: 25k Aug 2022: 23k Sep 2022: 23k Oct 2022: 23k Nov 2022: 24k Dec 2022: 23k Jan 2023: 25k Feb 2023: 23k Mar 2023: 25k Apr 2023: 22k May 2023: 24k Jun 2023: 24k Jul 2023: 21k Aug 2023: 20k Sep 2023: 20k Oct 2023: 20k Nov 2023: 20k Dec 2023: 19k Jan 2024: 21k Feb 2024: 19k Mar 2024: 20k Apr 2024: 21k May 2024: 20k Jun 2024: 19k Jul 2024: 19k Aug 2024: 17k Sep 2024: 17k Oct 2024: 18k Nov 2024: 17k Dec 2024: 17k Jan 2025: 19k Feb 2025: 16k Mar 2025: 18k Apr 2025: 17k May 2025: 18k Jun 2025: 16k Jul 2025: 16k Aug 2025: 14k Sep 2025: 15k Oct 2025: 15k Nov 2025: 14k Dec 2025: 14k Jan 2026: 15k Feb 2026: 14k Mar 2026: 15k Apr 2026: 15k May 2026: 14k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

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At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Emollient and barrier preparations
  • Presentations 9 shown
  • Average cost / item £9.65
  • Year on year Down 21.2% on a year earlier
What this is
Net ingredient cost is the list price before discounts and dispensing fees, not what the NHS finally pays.

Top presentations, May 2026

The individual products dispensed under Light liquid paraffin this month.

Presentations of Light liquid paraffin, May 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Oilatum Junior bath additive 1302011L0BKAFAI 4,125 £33,902
Oilatum Emollient 1302011L0BKAEAI 2,960 £36,721
Oilatum Bath Formula 1302011L0BKADAI 2,039 £16,317
Oilatum Plus bath additive 1302011L0BEAAAD 2,038 £21,241
Oilatum shower gel fragrance free 1302011L0BKACAH 1,903 £21,019
E45 emollient wash cream 1302011L0BJAAAG 772 £5,018
Liquid paraffin light 63.4% bath additive 1302011L0AAAIAI 150 £867
Oilatum gel 1302011L0BKAAAH 12 £89
Cetraben emollient 82.8% bath additive 1302011L0BFAAAE 11 £75

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis · to May 2026 OGL v3.0

Where Light liquid paraffin is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Light liquid paraffin volumes.

Regional volumes from NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis; practice volumes from NHS dispensing data.

Compare Light liquid paraffin with

Other medicines in the same BNF section, by prescribing volume.