Health regulators in the United Kingdom are warning that emollient skin creams—commonly used for dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, and other dermatological conditions—can make clothing, bedding, and dressings highly flammable once the creams soak into fabric and dry. This hidden buildup can trigger severe or fatal burns when exposed to open flames or heat sources.
The alert comes as many households worldwide, including in the Philippines, prepare for holiday traditions that involve candles, cooking, lanterns, string lights, and fireworks.
Locally, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) recorded 18,217 fire incidents in 2024, an 11.2 percent increase from 16,387 incidents in 2023—a reminder of how vulnerable Filipino homes can be during festive months.
Given the wide use of moisturizers and the surge in seasonal fire hazards, dermatologists and fire-safety experts say the international warning deserves urgent attention.
Safety and the science behind the risk
Emollients—creams, lotions, and ointments that help manage dry skin—are not flammable in their containers or immediately after application. The danger arises when they transfer from skin to fabrics such as clothing, nightwear, towels, bandages, dressings, or bedding.
A 2018 safety update from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reported that there is a fire risk with all emollients, including paraffin-free products, once residue builds up on fabric and later dries.
A 2025 open-access study published in the journal Fire reinforced this concern: fabrics treated with various emollients ignited faster, burned more intensely, and showed higher flame spread than untreated materials.
This means the moisturizer itself is not the problem—the danger comes from residue accumulating on everyday fabrics, which can act as fire accelerants when exposed to a spark or open flame.
Why this matters for the Philippines
The Philippines faces persistent fire-risk challenges. BFP data show fires increasing yearly, along with billions in property damage and loss of life.
At the same time, skin care use in the country continues to grow. Dermatologists report that many Filipinos frequently use leave-on moisturizers, especially during cooler or air-conditioned months.
When daily moisturizer use intersects with typical household fabrics—and a home environment filled with candles, gas stoves, parol lanterns, fireworks, and decorative lighting—the potential fire risks highlighted abroad may become relevant locally.
How festive habits add to the danger
The Christmas season in the Philippines brings multiple heat and flame sources:
- parol lanterns
- candles on home altars
- extensive holiday cooking
- decorative lights
- fireworks and sparklers
These activities usually take place in fabric-rich spaces—curtains, blankets, pajamas, cushions, sofas—often in homes with limited ventilation and small kitchen areas.
If pajamas, bedding, or blankets have absorbed dried emollient residue (especially after generous application), they may catch fire quickly from:
- candle flame
- gas stove flare
- cigarette ember
- lighter or match
- faulty Christmas lights
- flying fireworks debris
The BFP’s rising annual totals already strain fire-prevention efforts, especially in December and January. The added factor of emollient-contaminated fabric introduces a little-known risk that, while not widely recognized in the Philippines, is supported by scientific evidence abroad.
READ: Amihan Climate Swings: Why Seasonal Skin Problems Surge Among Filipinos
What global regulators recommend
International guidance is consistent:
- The MHRA has issued safety warnings (2008, 2016, 2018) covering all emollients, regardless of paraffin content.
- UK’s National Fire Chiefs Council advises treating emollient-soaked fabrics as fire accelerants.
- Patient information leaflets in the UK now include fire-safety warnings.
- A 2025 laboratory study found that contaminated fabrics showed shorter ignition times and greater flame spread—leaving people less time to react during real-world fires.
Dermatology organizations emphasize that emollients remain medically essential, particularly for eczema, but that patients and caregivers should understand fire risks associated with residue on clothing and bedding.
Practical fire-safety advice for Filipino households
To reduce risks, especially during the holidays, families can follow these evidence-based precautions:
1. Time your moisturizer use
Apply emollients after bath time or before bedtime, not immediately before cooking, lighting candles, or handling fireworks.
2. Change into clean clothing
After applying emollients to large body areas (arms, legs, torso), switch to fresh, recently washed clothes, towels, or pajamas before going near open flames.
3. Wash fabrics frequently
Launder clothing, bedding, and blankets often—ideally at the highest temperature allowed for the fabric.
Note: Washing reduces but does not completely remove residue.
4. Avoid smoking indoors
Smoking around emollient-soaked fabrics increases the risk of accidental ignition.
5. Keep heat sources far from fabrics
Maintain safe distance between fabrics and:
- candles
- kerosene lamps
- stoves
- Christmas lights
- space heaters
- fireworks and sparklers
6. Protect vulnerable household members
The elderly, people with mobility limitations, and those using long-term emollient therapy are at heightened risk. Ensure they wear freshly laundered garments and stay away from open flames.
7. Update public awareness campaigns
Existing safety drives—Ligtas Pasko, Iwas Paputok, BFP and DOH advisories—could incorporate warnings about moisturizer-soaked fabrics.
What remains unknown
There is no publicly documented fire case in the Philippines (2023–2025) where emollient-contaminated fabric was identified as the cause. The confirmed cases so far are primarily from the UK, where investigators and coroners have examined such incidents.
Filipino households may use different fabrics, lifestyles, and application amounts, which may reduce or alter risk levels. Nevertheless, the scientific mechanism—residue + fabric + flame—remains consistent and plausible.
The goal is not alarm, but awareness and prevention.
Toward “skin-smart, fire-safe” celebrations
As Filipino families light lanterns, cook for Noche Buena, decorate with strings of lights, and enjoy fireworks, one unnoticed factor deserves attention: moisturizer-soaked fabrics may ignite more easily than regular cloth.
Emollients are essential for skin health. They are safe when used correctly. The risk arises only under specific conditions involving fabric and flame.
With simple precautions—adjusting moisturizer timing, laundering frequently, and practicing flame-conscious behavior—families can enjoy the holidays with healthier skin and safer homes.
Photo by Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash
