The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the National Fire Chiefs Council have issued a winter advisory on emollient safety, published on 24 December 2025. The agencies stress that while skin creams are not flammable, residue that transfers to clothing, bedding, dressings and soft furnishings can make these materials ignite more easily and burn faster when exposed to a flame, lit cigarette or heater.
The joint advice is practical and specific: avoid smoking and other naked flames if fabrics may be contaminated with emollients; sit at least one metre from open fires and heaters; and wash clothing and bedding at the highest temperature permitted on the care label to reduce build‑up. Washing lowers but does not eliminate the risk, so continued caution is required.
This seasonal message sits within established MHRA guidance. The regulator’s Drug Safety Update, extended in 2018 and clarified in 2020, confirmed that the fire hazard applies to paraffin‑containing and paraffin‑free emollients alike. CHM concluded the products’ benefits outweigh a very rare but serious risk, provided users keep away from naked flames and understand the hazard posed by contaminated fabrics.
The evidence base has strengthened. Peer‑reviewed testing shows dried emollient residues reduce time to ignition and increase flame spread across common textiles, including cotton and poly‑cotton blends, irrespective of paraffin content. Laboratory work also indicates residues can persist in fabrics after domestic washing cycles, underlining why repeated laundering reduces but does not remove risk.
NFCC’s public education materials identify higher‑risk circumstances: frequent application over large body areas, smoking, reduced mobility, living alone and receiving care. National health information adds that all emollient users should keep well away from flames and heat sources and be alert to contamination of clothing, bedding and dressings.
For clinicians, the MHRA asks that fire risk advice accompanies prescribing, dispensing and counselling. Discussions should cover avoiding smoking or naked flames when fabrics may be contaminated, changing and washing clothing and bedding regularly, and the fact that creams remain an effective first‑line treatment that should not be stopped without clinical reason. Documenting this advice in records and care plans is recommended good practice.
Care settings and domiciliary care teams should build these controls into routine procedures. Seating and beds used by regular emollient users merit frequent linen changes and hot‑wash cycles; residents should be positioned at least one metre from heaters; and kitchen tasks should be supervised where loose sleeves or contaminated fabrics could contact hobs. Local fire services’ prevention teams can support with tailored risk assessments.
Manufacturers were directed to add prominent ‘fire hazard’ warnings and pictograms to outer packs and containers, with matching wording in patient information and instructions for use. Pharmacy teams should check that labelled warnings are present, reinforce key messages at the point of supply, and ensure carers receive printed safety information alongside repeat prescriptions.
Incident learning remains vital. The MHRA asks that any suspected emollient‑related burn incidents are reported through the Yellow Card scheme, and NFCC encourages services to log and share relevant evidence to support ongoing risk reduction work.
Members of the public can complete the Online Home Fire Safety Check and review NFCC’s Know the Fire Risk resources for further advice. The core message remains stable: continue necessary skin treatment, keep contaminated fabrics away from flames and heaters, maintain distance and laundering routines, and seek local fire service support where needed.