4 Reasons Why You Should Never Put Vaseline or Other Petroleum Jelly Products on Your Body Again

Petroleum jelly (also known as petrolatum) has been a staple in homes for over a century thank you to its myriad uses. For years, it had been a dry pare savior, providing instant relief to chapped lips and cracked eczema patches—until reports about it mayhap containing carcinogenic substances began to arise. Nothing quite beats the feeling of smoothing a thick petroleum-based lotion onto crude peel, but is it actually safe to use? The concern has to do with the manufacturing process which includes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are considered to have potential links to breast cancer.

To separate fact from fiction, nosotros chatted with lath-certified dermatologists Lily Talakoub, Medico, FAAD and Dr. Flora Kim, Dr., FAAD also as cosmetic chemist Warren Wallo, sometime director of Scientific Affairs for Johnson & Johnson, consulted recent research, and dug deep to learn about the origins of petroleum, all its intended uses, and whether or not it's okay to go along slathering information technology on your body from head-to-toe. Go along scrolling for the full run-down on all things petroleum.

Petroleum Jelly

Type of Ingredient: Occlusive

Primary Benefits: Seals in wet, soothes cuts and abrasions, accelerates the healing process

Who Should Use It: In general, it'south safe for all ages and pare types and is peculiarly benign for those with small wounds and dry, sensitive skin

How Often Can Yous Use It: Petroleum jelly is condom to use daily

Works Well With: Moisturizers

Don't Use With: Very oily, acne-prone skin

What Is Petroleum Jelly?

Petrolatum is a mixture of natural mineral oils and waxes, which are formed into partially solid, gel-like substance. It was outset discovered in 1859 when the thick oil was found clogging upward the mechanism on oil drilling sites. It was later converted to petroleum jelly, and then packaged and sold after oil workers constitute that the white, gooey balance appeared to help in the healing process of burns and cuts on their peel.

Kim refers to Vaseline as "the quintessential petroleum jelly," and we concur. Those mega-sized tubs with blue lids full of a semi-solid substance are what well-nigh of us think of when we hear the phrase "petroleum jelly," although the ingredient can exist found in endless moisturizers, lip balms, lotions, and fifty-fifty some cosmetics.

Benefits of Petroleum Jelly for Skin

• Accelerates wound healing: Petroleum jelly forms a barrier over the skin that protects wounds and accelerates healing.
• Prevents moisture loss: While petroleum jelly itself doesn't hydrate the pare, information technology does help seal in existing moisture, significant that it pairs well with lotions and creams.
• Minimizes scabs and scars: Applying this ingredient to small cuts, scrapes, and burns tin can prevent scabs and scars from forming.
• Treat rashes and eczema: The American University of Dermatology recommends petroleum jelly to soothe ailments such as diaper rash in children, eczema, and extremely dry skin.

Side Effects of Petroleum Jelly

Petrolatum is regularly added to lotions and creams because of its ability to retain wet. Merely, in more recent years, there has been controversy surrounding the popular ingredient. Trying to keep up with the alien reports is plenty 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 really trap leaner in the skin and should not be used on fresh burns, while others sing its praises.

And then, what's the truth? Well, information technology'south complicated. But starting time matter'south outset, according to Talakoub, "Petroleum jelly is ane of the safest products for the skin. It is safe on all peel types and has very lilliputian allergenic or irritant potential. It holds moisture in the skin and can help heal wounds."

A representative from Vaseline also bodacious us that their products are safe to utilise and can assist during the wound healing procedure. The brand's enquiry and development team confirms, "for minor scrapes and burns, it has been proven that Vaseline is efficacious for protecting the skin and locking in skin's natural moisturizers in order to let the skin to repair." An independent written report also confirms that white petrolatum is an effective tool in wound care, every bit it helps to forbid scabbing.

On the converse, some problems with petroleum have been discovered through the years, including something chosen lipid pneumonia, which occurs when petroleum jelly is used effectually and inside the nose. Lipid pneumonia is an infection caused by the inhalation of fats. According to dermatologists, yous will not develop lipid pneumonia through occasional use. With petroleum jelly (and any beauty product, for that matter), take intendance to use the product only as directed. Misuse ofany product could atomic number 82 to undesirable results.

Vaseline'southward representative notes, "Lipid pneumonia is not a known side-effect of using Vaseline in the directed way. Vaseline Jelly is intended for external apply only and is safe when used as directed on the packaging." In short, you should be completely fine as long as you don't eat the stuff.

Another major concern that has flooded the Cyberspace with numerous pro and con articles and inflammatory clickbait headlines surrounds those PAHs, which are known contaminants in unrefined petrolatum. Nigh commercial petroleum jelly products are made from pure, refined petroleum jelly, and many health professionals, similar Andrew Weil, MD, take stated that there is no link between petroleum jelly and cancer.

Per Vaseline's representative, "Vaseline Jelly meets U.Due south. and EU Pharmacopoeia standards on purity. It is triple-purified to remove any blazon of carcinogenic material—significant information technology does non pose a risk of causing cancer. It's the only petroleum jelly with the unique triple-purification seal."

How to Use Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is the ultimate multi-use product. It'due south swell for sensitive peel, says Kim, considering it doesn't require many "additives/chemicals/potential-irritants to formulate." This means that pure petroleum jelly is very uncomplicated and typically lacking things like fragrance and essential oils that can cause redness and breakouts in some. It tin be applied directly to the pare or incorporated equally an occlusive ingredient in moisturizers, lotions, and other hydrating products. There'southward no real limit to how often yous can utilize 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).

"Petroleum jelly is often how 'ointments' are formulated, and 'ointments' are used as effective delivery systems of active ingredients for various weather," Kim explains. She cautions against using plainly petroleum jelly on open up or infected wounds. Merely that doesn't mean yous need to avert the ingredient when you're injured: "For open wounds, you should be applying an antibody agile ingredient that is delivered via the vehicle of an ointment, just not only petroleum jelly solitary." Basically, expect for an ointment like Neosporin ($five) that includes petroleum jelly alongside antibiotic ingredients, rather than slathering on raw Vaseline.

Summertime chafing is no fun, and petroleum jelly tin can provide a quick, cheap ready. 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.

Refined Petroleum Jelly vs. Unrefined Petroleum Jelly

A lot of the debate about the safety of petroleum jelly use can exist summed up by understanding the difference betwixt refined and unrefined petroleum jelly. USP grade petroleum jelly (i.eastward. "the purest grade" of petroleum, which "obeys the standards set by the U.s. Pharmacopeia involving consistency and purity tests," according to Dermveda) is not the aforementioned every bit the unrefined petrolatum cloth, which is said to exist carcinogenic. Petrolatum in drugs, food, and food packaging must run across FDA impurity restrictions. White petroleum jelly is a refined, purified extract of heavy waxes and paraffinic oils, and USP white petroleum jelly has passed the prophylactic standards of the FDA for use in food and cosmetics.

The problem is that not all manufacturers cull to employ refined petrolatum or utilise low-grade refinement processing, and in that location is the potential for PAHs to still be nowadays. Consumers should look for USP white petroleum jelly (known as BP in Uk and Ph. Eur in Europe), which indicates the grade, where it was refined, and that information technology meets specific purity standards, and go with trusted brands like Vaseline and Aquaphor. The Ecology Working Grouping (EWG) has given Vaseline Petroleum Jelly a 1 rating, meaning that the organization considers information technology to be a low run a risk.

The Best Products with Petroleum Jelly

Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly $4.00

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We'd be remiss not to include the ultimate 100% pure petroleum jelly. The formula is as simple as it gets, with no additives or fragrances, and is safe to use on eczema and minor injuries.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment $xiv.00

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Another simple, fragrance-gratis pick that's safe to use directly on irritated skin. "The majority of dermatologists recommend Aquaphor Ointment or CeraVe's Healing Ointment—cleaner formulations with a few actress bells and whistles added to raise desired efficacy," says Kim.

CeraVe Healing Ointment $12.00

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Kim'south other recommendation is fragrance-free and contains gentle, soothing ceramides for an ultra-moisturizing formula. CeraVe is lanolin-free and boasts a seal from the National Eczema Clan.

The Terminal Takeaway

Wallo explains that the skin needs wet to repair itself and considers petroleum jelly to be safety for use in cosmetics. However, he does share that it's an individual selection and one that consumers tin can make with the help of their physician and trusted reference sources. (In other words, you might need to do some enquiry). "In that location's no reason to use it if you're not comfortable," he says.

It hasn't been definitively proven that petroleum-based products are carcinogenic in humans. Nevertheless, if you want to avoid petrolatum in your skincare products, exist sure to review the ingredients listed.

Up next: Discover the skincare ingredient that is the complexion savior you've never heard of.

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Source: https://www.byrdie.com/is-petroleum-jelly-safe-2442885