Epaderm emollient doesnt contain any active ingredients as such it is a mixture of yellow soft paraffin liquid paraffin and emulsifying wax that produces a greasy moisturiser it works by providing a layer of oil on the surface of the skin to prevent water evaporating from the skin surfacedry skin results from lack of water in the outer layer of skin cells known as the stratum corneum when this layer becomes dehydrated it loses its flexibility and becomes cracked scaly and sometimes itchy