What is Mineral Oil

Mineral oil, as the name goes, is extracted from the rocks and minerals located underneath the earth's surface. You might have come across mineral oil in the labels of skin care products or alternative medicine. But, actually what is mineral oil? Why it is called mineral oil? More information on mineral oil extraction, types, uses and other aspects are discussed in the upcoming paragraphs.

What is Mineral Oil: An Overview

If you visit a health food store, check out mineral oil from the shelves of skin care section. Basically, it is a light, clear, transparent and odor free oil. The mode of formation and extraction of mineral oil are almost similar to gasoline and petroleum. It is formed from organic materials that are embedded deep in the earth's crust, after being subjected to various geochemical processes. For your understanding what mineral oil is, refer to the following points.

Extraction
As this oil is derived from porous rock, minerals and underground traps, it is called mineral oil. Also known as paraffinic oil, it is one of the byproducts, yielded during the purification of crude oil for gasoline and petroleum production. Mineral oil is manufactured in large amounts, and is sold at a very low price.

Properties
Chemically, it is a liquid petrolatum similar to petroleum jelly, containing a mixture of hydrocarbons (alkanes and paraffins) and other compounds. According to the concentration of hydrocarbons and level of refining, mineral oil is sold in different grades in the market. In health food centers, you will find both light and heavy types of mineral oils.

As Lubricants and Coolants
The main uses for mineral oil are attributed to its lubricating properties. It is an excellent emollient and lubricant for automobiles. In electrical appliances that call for coolant, mineral oil serves as a coolant and the best part is, it does not conduct electricity. Mineral oil is also applied as non-conductive thermal fluid.

In Medicine
Mineral oil is used as a natural stool softener, to retain water in the feces. It is a common ingredient in baby oil, which is useful for combating eczema, diaper rash, dandruff and impacted earwax problem. It has a strong tendency to combine with another oil. Taking this advantage, mineral oil is applied topically over skin areas that are exposed to poison ivy oil or exudate.

Other Uses
Mineral oil takes up dust, dirt and foreign particles very easily. Thus, it is popularly used for temporary tattoo removal, makeup cleaning, metal polishing and furniture cleaning purposes. Thus, mineral oil uses are many, and keeping one bottle of this useful oil in the kitchen shelf is worth spending the cost.

Side Effects
Speaking on its side effects, internal use may cause adverse reactions like lung damage, intestinal problem and reduced nutrient absorption by the intestinal walls. An increased dose of mineral oil laxative causes stool incontinence. When using mineral oil for skin, this thick oil may clog up the pores, thus triggering acne breakouts.

Warning
In an animal study based on mice, applying skin moisturizers that contain mineral oil increases the risk for developing skin cancer. Also, it is to be borne in mind that mineral oil has no sun tanning action, and application for the same is baseless. Rather prolonged use of mineral oil on face can cause adverse skin symptoms.

In a nutshell, the uses of mineral oil for skin care and health care purposes received different claims. Hence, before using it in foods or routine skin care regimen, take proper guidance from a qualified physician. That way, you can prevent the dangers of mineral oil beforehand, instead of dealing them in future. While storing in your kitchen shelf, mix a few drops of some strong-smelling oils to avoid accidental ingestion.