Those mega-sized tubs with blue lids full of a semi-solid substance are what most of us think of when we hear the phrase "petroleum jelly," although the ingredient can be found in countless moisturizers, lip balms, lotions, and even some cosmetics.
Petrolatum is regularly added to lotions and creams because of its ability to retain moisture. But, in more recent years, there has been controversy surrounding the popular ingredient. Trying to keep up with the conflicting reports is enough to make a casual skin care user's head spin: Some sources claim that petroleum jelly does not actually heal cuts and wounds and that it could actually trap bacteria in the skin and should not be used on fresh burns, while others sing its praises.
So, what's the truth? Well, it's complicated. But first thing's first, according to Talakoub, "Petroleum jelly is one of the safest products for the skin. It is safe on all skin types and has very little allergenic or irritant potential. It holds moisture in the skin and can help heal wounds.
A representative from Vaseline also assured us that their products are safe to use and can help during the wound healing process. On the converse, some problems with petroleum have been discovered through the years, including something called lipid pneumonia, which occurs when petroleum jelly is used around and inside the nose.
Lipid pneumonia is an infection caused by the inhalation of fats. According to dermatologists, you will not develop lipid pneumonia through occasional use. With petroleum jelly and any beauty product, for that matter , take care to use the product only as directed.
Misuse of any product could lead to undesirable results. Vaseline's representative notes, "Lipid pneumonia is not a known side-effect of using Vaseline in the directed way. Vaseline Jelly is intended for external use only and is safe when used as directed on the packaging. Another major concern that has flooded the Internet with numerous pro and con articles and inflammatory clickbait headlines surrounds those PAHs, which are known contaminants in unrefined petrolatum.
Most commercial petroleum jelly products are made from pure, refined petroleum jelly, and many health professionals, like Andrew Weil , MD, have stated that there is no link between petroleum jelly and cancer. Per Vaseline's representative, "Vaseline Jelly meets U. It is triple-purified to remove any type of carcinogenic material—meaning it does not pose a risk of causing cancer.
Petroleum jelly is the ultimate multi-use product. It can be applied directly to the skin or incorporated as an occlusive ingredient in moisturizers, lotions, and other hydrating products.
There's no real limit to how often you can apply petroleum jelly; it can be used as needed or on a daily basis, with some notable exceptions for example, Kim suggests skipping the Vaseline if you're super oily or acne-prone, as it can be pore-clogging. She cautions against using plain petroleum jelly on open or infected wounds. But that doesn't mean you need to avoid the ingredient when you're injured: "For open wounds, you should be applying an antibiotic active ingredient that is delivered via the vehicle of an ointment, but not just petroleum jelly alone.
Summertime chafing is no fun, and petroleum jelly can provide a quick, inexpensive fix. Kim cites the American Academy of Dermatology, which suggests applying your favorite formula on "problem areas, such as the feet or thighs" to prevent irritation. A lot of the debate about the safety of petroleum jelly use can be summed up by understanding the difference between refined and unrefined petroleum jelly.
USP grade petroleum jelly i. The petroleum in Vaseline makes it oily AF and therefore very effective at removing stubborn makeup, like waterproof mascara. As one dermatologist notes, all this makes it an excellent option to add to your nighttime routine, since the residual product will seal in hydration while you sleep.
The buffering action of Vaseline makes it an effective barrier between your boo-boos and bacteria, which allows minor cuts and scrapes to heal more quickly. No need to splurge on fancy brow kits. A little dab of Vaseline will do the trick to groom your brows into place and boost the appearance of fullness. Harsh weather can wreak havoc on your lips — talk about snap, crackle, and pop. Vaseline keeps your pout perfectly kissable by keeping moisture in, without any perfumes or funky flavors to worry about.
Psoriasis flare-ups are more likely to happen if your skin is dry. Applying Vaseline in areas where you often see psoriasis symptoms is a good proactive measure. While it may not be practical for everyday use, you can seal moisture in using Vaseline on your face without irritating your skin. Use vaseline to proactively protect the areas that are prone to flare-ups. While the symptoms and triggers of rosacea are highly individual, research has shown that the occlusive quality of petroleum jelly helps protect areas of the skin that become red and inflamed.
Not only is Vaseline safe to use, it may even speed recovery. People shell out more than a few bucks for fancy creams that list peptides as one of their hero ingredients for a firmer, more radiant complexion. Peptides or not, Vaseline helps keep your skin hydrated, and quenched skin is better skin.
The oily formulation can actually lock in heat and further any sun damage to the skin. While the label indicates Vaseline can be used to treat minor burns, this is only the case AFTER these wounds have begun to heal — like, many hours after the fact. Petroleum jelly based products like Vaseline can actually bring on a breakout, according to the American Academy of Dermatologists. If your skin tends to border on crocodilian, Vaseline can help alleviate the discomfort with its moisture-locking properties.
Maybe that is why so many people are battling some form of cancer or another these days. You cannot argue with science! You think they are going to tell you its unsafe?? People been using it for decades and now there are huge lawsuits because obviously it is NOT safe. Do some homework! Sorry but I will not put Petroleum on the largest organ of my body which is my skin. Why dog the person doing the actual research by trying to help people with a science based article???
Go fish! The horse and buggy was the standard used by families for generations…. What finally worked? Someone who decided to leave the era of the horse and buggy and conduct studies NOT paid for by BIG MONEY companies like Vaseline helped step me into the planes, trains and vehicle world and taught me about natural products. I now manufacture natural products for people who actually care about doing the best they can with what we know in this era.
I am not at all against oil companies or capitalism. They simply need to stay in the fuel business and get out of wound care and skin care. Why use cheap crap on your skin with no health benefit when you can put healthful ingredients on your skin which also have scientifically proven to more effectively protect and create a barrier which does not suffocate your pores??
The only FAKE news here comes from companies misbranding and mislabeling petroleum products by claiming them as healing. There are not any wound healing properties in petrolatum, only vapor barrier properties, protecting, and suffocating yes, healing NO.
Obviously your opinion is tainted and biased by your desire to get rich on your so-called new natural skin products. Oh please-really?? Good grief-present science based facts to you and thats all you can come up with? People should not use coconut oil on their face!! It causes breakouts and congestion and using that as an alternative in your article is just stupid. Yes, I do Celia.
Great info. I have been saying that for years. I use Argan oil. I am 70 and no one ever has guessed my age. Thanks for the info. Keep at it. The only people that say petroleum is good, are those that make money from it. Why they call it petroleum jelly is because it was used to lubricate the drilling rigs. Now, what we have today is a cleaned up version of that lubricant. Again, the petroleum industry used it on the rigs, it is NOT a byproduct of the petroleum.
So what is the mineral source of their mineral oil? The industry shills sure have swarmed this reply section! Same goes for plastics also. Plastic Plastic Plastic everywhere and in everything.
Rockerfeller medicine? Have you read the list of 4, products created by petroleum industry? Few people seem to notice or care. I woke up this morning with a horrible rash on my face, after sleeping with Vaseline on it for dry skin. The skin around my eyes took the hardest hit. Who would have known!!!
This is quite rare but can happen. With any new product that you use, natural or non-natural, do first a patch-test to see how your skin reacts to it. Thank you for writing this detailed article. It is hard to find well written information for the general public. You did a great job citing many studies and you put effort into maintaining a neutral tone. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Petroleum jelly peril WebMD.
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