Petroleum Jelly

TYPE OF INGREDIENT​
Occlusive ingredient
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Ointments

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PETROLEUM JELLY?

Petroleum jelly has several benefits for the skin. Because it is an occlusive, it helps wound healing by creating a protective barrier overlying the skin. It also creates a seal, thereby preventing moisture loss. Because petroleum jelly is well tolerated in all skin types, it can be used to soothe inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema, and relieve dry skin on the face and body.

WHAT IS PETROLEUM JELLY?

Petroleum jelly is a semi-solid substance made by refining petroleum. It is a compound of a combination of mineral oils and waxes.

White petroleum jelly with blue container

IS PETROLEUM JELLY SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?

Yes, it is safe for all skin types and tones. Petrolatum is an FDA-approved active ingredient in skincare products, and when well refined, there are no known health concerns.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

None

Sources:

Czarnowicki T, Malajian D, Khattri S, Correa da Rosa J, Dutt R, Finney R, Dhingra N, Xiangyu P, Xu H, Estrada YD, Zheng X, Gilleaudeau P, Sullivan-Whalen M, Suaréz-Fariñas M, Shemer A, Krueger JG, Guttman-Yassky E. Petrolatum: Barrier repair and antimicrobial responses underlying this “inert” moisturizer. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016 Apr;137(4):1091-1102.e7.

Sethi A, Kaur T, Malhotra SK, Gambhir ML. Moisturizers: The Slippery RoadIndian J Dermatol. 2016 May-Jun;61(3):279-87.

https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/petroleum-jelly

U.S. FDA Code of Federal Regulations Title 21

Toral Vaidya, MD, MPH

Author

Toral Vaidya, MD, MPH, is a dermatology resident physician at Weill Cornell Dermatology in New York City. Her clinical interests include skin of color dermatology, cosmetic dermatology and skincare education. She has been involved with medical writing for the last 10 years.