Zinc & Castor Oil Cream 100g

Zinc and castor oil cream is the barrier preparation Australian families and aged care nurses have used for generations. Zinc oxide forms a protective, mildly astringent film over irritated skin while castor oil softens it and helps the cream stay where it is put. This is the 100g tube.

Why zinc and castor oil cream still works

It is a barrier, not a treatment, and that distinction is the whole point. Nappy rash and incontinence-associated skin damage are caused by prolonged contact with moisture and irritants. Nothing heals that skin while the contact continues, so the useful intervention is a physical layer between the skin and the wet - which is exactly what zinc oxide provides.

The castor oil earns its place too. It keeps the zinc in a soft, spreadable base that does not crack or flake off, and it makes the cream easier to apply over skin that is already sore. A stiffer zinc paste protects just as well but hurts more to apply and more to remove, which matters when you are doing it several times a day to a distressed baby.

It is inexpensive, has a long shelf life, and needs no refrigeration - so it is worth keeping before you need it rather than after. It is also one of the few products equally at home in a nappy bag and an aged care trolley, since the problem it solves is the same at both ends of life.

Key features

• Zinc oxide barrier - shields skin from moisture and irritants
• Castor oil base - soft, spreadable, stays in place
• For nappy rash and incontinence-associated skin damage
• Also protects skin around wound dressings and stoma sites
• Traditional formulation, long shelf life
• 100g tube
• No prescription required

Specifications

Common uses

Nappy changes are the classic use - a generous layer at every change, on skin that has been cleaned and properly dried first, since sealing moisture underneath defeats the purpose. Incontinence care in aged care and home nursing is the other major use, for exactly the same reason. It also protects intact skin around dressings, stoma sites and skin folds where friction and moisture combine. For a plain occlusive barrier without zinc, petroleum jelly is the alternative, and Kenkay Dual Purpose Zinc and Castor Oil Cream is the branded equivalent. Stocked with our home and family first aid supplies.