| Thesaurus Term : Mineral Oil- Scope note
- Mineral oil, medicinal liquid paraffin, or paraffinum liquidum, is a very highly refined mineral oil used in cosmetics and for medical purposes. The cosmetic or medicinal liquid paraffin should not be confused with the paraffin (or kerosene) used as a fuel. Liquid paraffin is considered to have a limited usefulness as an occasional laxative, but is unsuitable for regular use as it can seep from the anus and cause irritation; it can interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins; it can be absorbed into the intestinal wall and may cause foreign-body granulamatous reactions; and if it enters the lungs it can cause lipoid pneumonia. The name mineral oil by itself is imprecise, having been used to label many specific oils over the past few centuries. Other names, similarly imprecise, include white oil, liquid paraffin, pariffinum liquidum, and liquid petroleum. Baby oil refers to a perfumed mineral oil.
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