Can white soft paraffin cream be used for a small, non-bleeding laceration inside the lip of a child?

White Soft Paraffin for Pediatric Lip Lacerations

Yes, white soft paraffin ointment (or petroleum jelly) should be applied to keep the lips moisturized as the laceration heals, preventing cracking and promoting comfort. 1

Primary Wound Management

The laceration itself requires different treatment than the surrounding lip tissue:

• Clean the wound thoroughly with copious amounts of water or sterile normal saline to remove debris and reduce infection risk, ensuring the wound base is completely dry before applying any closure method 1

• For closure of the actual laceration: Use tissue adhesive for low-tension wounds, which provides essentially painless closure—this is the preferred method for small, non-bleeding lip lacerations in children 1, 2

• Sutures are only needed if the wound is under high tension or has edges that cannot be well-approximated 1, 2

Lip Care with White Soft Paraffin

Apply white soft paraffin ointment or petroleum jelly to the lips (not inside the wound itself, but to the lip surfaces) to prevent cracking and drying as healing occurs 1

• This recommendation comes from the British Association of Dermatologists and is specifically endorsed for lip care in children 1

• The ointment acts as a barrier emollient, reducing transcutaneous water loss and supporting the healing process 3

• Application frequency: In severe mucosal conditions, guidelines recommend application every 2 hours during acute illness 3, but for a simple laceration, regular application (3-4 times daily or as needed) is sufficient 1

Pain Management

• Acetaminophen at 60 mg/kg/day divided into four doses provides adequate pain control and remains well below toxic thresholds 1

• Encourage gentle oral hygiene with warm saline rinses to keep the area clean without causing trauma 1

Antibiotic Considerations

Do not use prophylactic antibiotics for simple traumatic lip lacerations 1

• Antibiotics should only be considered if signs of established infection develop (increasing pain after 24-48 hours, purulent discharge, fever, spreading redness) 1

Key Caveats

• White soft paraffin is for lip moisturization and comfort, not for wound closure or as a primary treatment for the laceration itself 1

• The wound must be completely dry before applying tissue adhesive if that closure method is chosen 1

• Ensure adequate lighting and proper visualization before beginning any procedure 1

• Monitor for wound dehiscence, which would require reassessment 1