Compositions suitable for providing a protective coating to the skin comprise a water miscible pharmaceutical extending medium having an aqueous base and containing a dispersed bodying agent and having homogeneously dispersed therein a latex-like dispersion, compatible therewith, of an oleophobic and hydrophobic physiologically inert stable elastomeric homopolymer or copolymer derived from a monomer of the formula &lt;FORM:1049063/C3/1&gt; or &lt;FORM:1049063/C3/2&gt; or &lt;FORM:1049063/C3/3&gt; in which R1 is hydrogen or methyl, R2 is ethyl or propyl, n is 0, 1 or 2, m is an integer from 1 to 6 and q is an integer from 3 to 11, or a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and trifluorochloroethylene containing from 35 to 65% by weight of vinylidene fluoride; the polymer having a glass transition temperature below about 40 DEG  C. and forming from 0.3 to 20% by weight of the composition; and the composition having a viscosity of from 1000 to 5000 centipoises when determined at 60 r.p.m. and 25 DEG C. using a Brookfield viscometer.  To obtain the desired glass transition temperature, the polymer may be plasticized with a suitable non-toxic plasticizer, e.g. (N - ethylperfluorooctanesulphonamido)-ethanol; or the polymer may be internally plasticized with a suitable monomer such as dodecyl or octadecyl acrylate or methacrylate. Bodying agents specified are methyl cellulose, polyethylene glycols, poly- and diethylene glycol monostearate, polyacrylic acid, gum tragacanth, gum kharaya, stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, lanolin, petrolatum, cholesterol and bentonite. The extending medium may also contain solvents, e.g. ethanol, and emulsifying agents, e.g. sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium stearate, polyethoxylated octylphenol, commercial soap flakes or potassium N-ethyl-N - perfluorooctanesulphonamido - glycinate. Other optional ingredients of the compositions include perfumes; humectants; pigments, e.g. titanium dioxide, rouge, chalk or talc; ultra-violet screening agents, e.g. glyceryl p-aminobenzoate or beta-methyl-umbelliferone; insect repellants, e.g. dimethyl phthalate or diethyl-toluamide; and topical medicaments, e.g. non-ionic mercurial compounds and hexachlorophene.ALSO:Compositions suitable for providing a protective coating to the skin comprise a water miscible pharmaceutical extending medium having an aqueous aqueous base and containing a dispersed bodying agent and having homogeneously dispersed therein a latex-like dispersion, compatible therewith, of an oleophobic and hydrophobic physiologically inert stable elastomeric homopolymer or copolymer derived from a monomer of the formula &lt;FORM:1049063/A5-A6/1&gt; in which R1 is hydrogen or methyl, R2 is ethyl or propyl, n is 0, 1 or 2, m is an integer from 1 to 6 and q is an integer from 3 to 11, or a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and trifluorochloro-ethylene, the the polymer forming from 0.3 to 20% by weight of the composition.  The polymer may be plasticized with a compound such as (N -ethylperfluoro-octanesulphonamido)-ethanol. Bodying agents specified are methyl cellulose, polyethylene glycols, poly-and di-ethylene glycol monostearate, polyacrylic acid, gum tragacanth, gum kharaya, stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, lanolin, petrolatum, cholesterol and bentonite.  Optional ingredients include solvents, e.g. ethanol, emulsifying agents, perfumes, humectants, pigments such as titanium dioxide, rouge, chalk or talc, ultraviolet screening agents such as glyceryl p-aminobenzoate or betamethyl umbelliferone, insect repellants such as dimethyl phthalate or diethyl-toluamide, and topical medicaments such as non-ionic mercurial compounds or hexachlorophene.  The compositions can range, in form, from lotions via flowable jellies to jellies having a consistency like petroleum jelly.