Skip to content
Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Zinc oxide

Skin Emollient and barrier preparations BNF 1302020E0
Data updated May 2026 Download CSV

Zinc oxide was ranked 518th of 1,792 medicines by items in May 2026, with 8,597 items, down 9.8% on a year earlier.

8,597items -9.8%

Dispensed in May 2026

108,426items

Rolling 12 months

£80,763

Net ingredient cost · May 2026

Figure 1. Zinc oxide: national items dispensed by month

0 7k 13k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Oct 2022 Aug 2023 Jun 2024 Apr 2025 May 2026 8,597 Jan 2021: 13k Feb 2021: 12k Mar 2021: 13k Apr 2021: 12k May 2021: 12k Jun 2021: 12k Jul 2021: 12k Aug 2021: 11k Sep 2021: 12k Oct 2021: 12k Nov 2021: 12k Jan 2022: 11k Feb 2022: 10k Mar 2022: 12k Apr 2022: 11k May 2022: 11k Jun 2022: 11k Jul 2022: 11k Aug 2022: 11k Sep 2022: 11k Oct 2022: 10k Nov 2022: 10k Dec 2022: 10k Jan 2023: 10k Feb 2023: 9k Mar 2023: 11k Apr 2023: 10k May 2023: 11k Jun 2023: 11k Jul 2023: 10k Aug 2023: 10k Sep 2023: 10k Oct 2023: 10k Nov 2023: 10k Dec 2023: 10k Jan 2024: 10k Feb 2024: 9k Mar 2024: 9k Apr 2024: 10k May 2024: 10k Jun 2024: 9k Jul 2024: 10k Aug 2024: 9k Sep 2024: 9k Oct 2024: 10k Nov 2024: 10k Dec 2024: 10k Jan 2025: 10k Feb 2025: 9k Mar 2025: 9k Apr 2025: 9k May 2025: 10k Jun 2025: 9k Jul 2025: 10k Aug 2025: 9k Sep 2025: 10k Oct 2025: 9k Nov 2025: 9k Dec 2025: 9k Jan 2026: 9k Feb 2026: 8k Mar 2026: 9k Apr 2026: 9k May 2026: 9k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Download CSV
Embed this chart

At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Emollient and barrier preparations
  • Presentations 3 shown
  • Average cost / item £9.39
  • Year on year Down 9.8% 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 Zinc oxide this month.

Presentations of Zinc oxide, May 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Sudocrem antiseptic healing cream 1302020E0BGAAAL 8,554 £80,342
Zinc and Castor oil ointment 1302020E0AAACAC 26 £147
Ovelle zinc and castor oil ointment 1302020E0BJAAAC 17 £273

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

Where Zinc oxide is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Zinc oxide volumes.

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

Compare Zinc oxide with

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