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Barrier creams and their various derivatives are taken for granted today. Few people realise that the foundations of these products dates back thousands of years.
Evidence exists that show the Ancient Egyptians experimented with lotion mixtures that were intended to provide skin protection.
It was not until 1872 that the traditional barrier cream that we know today was formulated.
During 1859, Robert Augustus Chesebrough, a young, British born chemist, was in Titusville, Pennsylvania visiting the oil fields looking for useful by-products of this newly discovered fuel. Here, Chesebrough notice that the oil rig workers had an unconventional method of treating the cuts that they frequently suffered during the course of their hard manual work.
Rod wax collected around the pump rods on the oil wells. This sticky waste product had to be routinely removed as it hindered the efficient running of the equipment at the well head. what Chesebrough saw fascinated him. Oil workers often took a handful of the otherwise unwanted rod wax and used it for protecting fresh cuts and wounds. Such was their confidence in its abilities that they dispensed with using bandages at all. It was claimed that the rod wax not only protected the wound, but it halted any bleeding and also lead to quicker healing times.
It is likely that the beneficial side effects of rod wax were stumbled upon by chance. perhaps a worker responsible for removing the waste from the pump rod heads had suffered cuts and realised that the injuries on his hands, that were covered with this otherwise unwanted waste, healed quicker than the cuts he suffered on other parts of his body.
The exact details of the original discovery may be uncertain but this did not impact Chesebrough’s almost instant realisation of the commercial potential that was unfolding before him.
Chesebrough’s search for a valuable by-product of the oil industry was over, but his real work was just beginning.
For over 10 years, Robert Chesebrough refined and perfected the new health care petroleum jelly as it was to become known.
Using himself as a guinea pig, Chesebrough even cut and burnt his own body in order to test the various guises of the petroleum jelly that he was devising. Chesebrough’s use of the oil-based jelly was not confined to rubbing it on the skin. he also took the, perhaps foolhardy, step of swallowing a teaspoonful a day to promote inner body health. just imagine the taste of that. Indeed, Chesebrough was hopeful that he had stumbled upon a wonder, cure-all treatment.
Working mostly from home, Chesebrough soon realised that he needed additional storage capacity to hold the increasing quantities of jelly substances that he was producing. This was a problem that the fledgling chemist solved with his usual practical, no nonsense approach. Flower vases, which were abundant in his typically Victorian household, were the obvious, if somewhat unconventional, choice.
Emptied of foliage and water, the vases proved to be excellent vessels in which to hold the ever growing quantities of the petroleum jelly. In fact, so useful were these vases that Chesebrough devised the name Vaseline to refer to his fledgling medicinal product (elaion being the Greek word for oil).
Vaseline was first patented in 1872. from that date, the barrier cream product that we are all familiar with become a permanent feature in the minds of consumers.
1872 might have been a defining date, but in some respects the launching of the first patented barrier cream also proved to be a partial failure for the young British Chemist.
Chesebrough’s initial claims that the petroleum jelly was a miracle cure-all, stating that it had even aided his recovery from pleurisy, were not substantiated by scientific studies. However, Vaseline is today recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an approved, over-the-counter skin protectant.
Petroleum jelly has many beneficial properties. In the sphere of skin protection, it is used mainly to prevent dust, grime, dirt and other skin irritants from coming in direct contact with the epidermis.
In providing a protective covering for the skin, petroleum jelly also inhibits sources of infection from direct contact with the skin.
Unfortunately, as beneficial as petroleum jelly is, today’s modern lifestyles has impacted its usefulness.
Traditional barrier creams have to be renewed every time your hands go near soap and water. Traditional barrier creams have a tendency to cover the skin with an enduring greasy, slippery and sticky film. This film can persist and lead to the blocking of the skin’s pores and prevent the natural process of perspiration. Manual dexterity can also be impeded, especially if your hands are left feeling sticky or slippery. Wearing protective items such as gloves can be a problem if used in conjunction with many barrier creams. often, a thick and greasy barrier cream can become clogged and feel uncomfortable when constrained by tight fitting clothing.
Technological advancement and the need to find more cost effective solutions has lead to a new approach to skin protection.
Today’s skin care products have superseded traditional barrier creams and leave the skin feeling natural and clean – suddenly, you normal everyday work routine is not encumbered by greasy, slippery, tacky residues left on your hands.
The modern mousse based applications are water resistant and remain effective for four to five hours – even after repeated washing. if you work where hygiene is of the utmost importance, or you just want to keep your home spotless, there is no need to reach for the barrier cream tube every time you wash your hands.
As an additional property, the modern skin protectant not only inhibits contact with skin irritants but it also moisturises and aids recovery of any existing skin damage. Combined, these properties are of particular benefit for those people who are prone to suffer from contact dermatitis and/or dry skin conditions.
The oil industry has advanced considerably since the early days of 1859. Likewise, skin protection products have similarly improved. The Egyptians, resplendent in their ancient society would have undoubtedly offered their blessings for the developments that has led to traditional barrier creams being superseded by more advanced products.
