Emollients are products that are applied to the skin to rehydrate and provide comfort. They are key therapeutic products for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, but they may also be used to soothe itchy skin (particularly in the elderly). There are a plethora of emollients available on prescription and many more on the market that can be bought over the counter. Most emollients (often also known as moisturisers) contain paraffin in some format, usually either liquid or white soft.