Uses for an Aquaphor

An aquaphor is most commonly referred to as petroleum jelly, petrolatum, white petrolatum, or white paraffin. Because of its unique, semi-solid consistency, there is a plethora of practical applications for aquaphors. Solid yet pliable, slick yet slightly sticky, it is a substance that behaves in a way that few others do. Since its inception it has been used as a topical ointment, even once considered a universal "cure all" remedy. Though modern medical science has put most of its "cure all" claims to rest, it remains the most common ingredient in lotions and is also found in a host of other products.

Lotions

• Because aquaphors, also known as petrolatum, are derived from petrol, they contain an enormous amount of oil. Not long after petrolatum was created, people became abundantly aware of its uses for the skin. Today it is still used as an ointment and in various cosmetics, albeit with many other ingredients such as perfumes. Ironically though, it is precisely because of its oil content that petrolatum does not find its way into the more high end lotions and cosmetics. It is claimed to have an oily feel when applied, so most expensive lotions and cosmetics contain water soluble ingredients instead.

Candles

• Without the addition of aquaphors, wax candles would be far too brittle for practical use. As such, nearly every candle on the market today contains some degree of petrolatum. Because of its unique molecular composition, it mixes exceedingly well with waxes (it is arguably a wax itself) and is able to change their characteristics. As a result, modern day wax candles come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are able to adhere very well to the stands or molds they are placed in, such as standard dinner table candle holders.

Sports

• Over the years, aquaphors have found a wide variety of uses in sports. The most common today is in American football, where players are known to smear some petroleum jelly under their eyes to help keep out dust and dirt. Another extremely common use is found in the various disciplines of martial arts. Ranging from boxing to jujitsu, fighters smear petroleum jelly over their face and bodies in order to more easily deflect blows and escape from holds. Yet another use found in sports is the outdated and outlawed spitball, famous during baseball's heyday. A small amount of petroleum jelly, or spit, smeared over the baseball allowed it to leave the pitchers hand in such a way that it would fly wildly and unpredictably through the air.

Anti-Corrosive

• Because aquaphors, due to the high level of oils, are such great repellents of water, they are commonly used on metal objects to keep them from rusting or otherwise deteriorating over time. It should also be noted that aquaphors do not allow air to pass through either, therefore completely blocking the surface it is placed on from any foreign molecules. Paraffin, the most commonly used aquahor for anti-corrosion, is smeared over gun barrels, steel blades and other metals during storage.