The Basics On Petrolatum
What is Petrolatum?
Vaseline is pure petrolatum, and petrolatum is a rich emollient and FDA-approved skin protectant.
What are other names for Petrolatum?
MINERAL GREASE (PETROLATUM), MINERAL JELLY, PETROLATUM, PETROLATUM AMBER, PETROLATUM WHITE, PETROLEUM JELLY, and YELLOW PETROLATUM
What is Petrolatum used for?
Petrolatum is an attractive and effective component of many skincare products. It offers the following benefits for our skin: It is an excellent emollient and restricts water loss from the skin. It has been found to be a more effective occlusive agent compared to a number of studied vegetable oils2 It has a long shelf life and does not oxidize or become rancid over time It is chemically inert and does not react with other active ingredients It is low cost to produce
How Petrolatum is classified
Skin-Soothing, Emollients
Recommendations for using Petrolatum during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Avoid, unless the company clearly indicates petrolatum is fully refined as white petrolatum (on the label or their company website).
Petrolatum During Pregnancy
What we know about using Petrolatum while pregnant or breastfeeding
When properly refined, petrolatum has no known health concerns. However, petrolatum is often not fully refined in the US, which means it can be contaminated with toxic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
A reproduction/developmental toxicity screening test was conducted in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats for glyceryl oleate.23 Both males and females were dosed by gavage with 0, 100, 300, or 1000 mg/kg bw/day glyceryl oleate in corn oil once daily for 14 days prior to mating; the males were dosed for an additional 28 days, and dosing of the females continued until day 4 of lactation. There were 12 females in the control and 3 test groups, 7 males in the control and high dose groups, and 12 males in the low- and mid-dose groups. A satellite group of 5 males and 5 females were dosed for 42 days, with a 14- day post-dosing observation period. The NOAELs for systemic toxicity (males and females), fertility (males and females), and development (F1 generation) were 1000 mg/kg bw/day. No effects related to the administration of the test-article were observed in parental animals or offspring. For Read-Across In the 28-day oral toxicity study with 0, 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg/day glycerides, C8-18 and C18-unsatd. mono- and di-, acetates in polyethylene glycol described in Table 10 (Repeated Dose Toxicity Studies), an additional 10 female Wistar Han rats were included in each group to assess reproduction and developmental toxicity. 22 After a minimum of 14 days of dosing, females of the reproduction study group were cohabitated with a male from the same treatment group. The test females were dosed for a total of 41-49 days, i.e. during those 2 weeks prior to mating, during mating, during post-coitum, and during at least 4 days of lactation. No treatment-related effects were observed, and the NOAEL for parental fertility was 1000 mg/kg bw/day
General safety info about Petrolatum from CIR
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel assessed the safety of 44 monoglyceryl monoesters that are structurally-constituted of the esterification products of glycerin and carboxylic acids (the majority of which are fatty acids); 36 of these monoesters were previously-reviewed by the Panel, and 8 are reviewed for the first time. Most of the monoglyceryl monoester have several functions in cosmetics, but the most common function among the ingredients is skin conditioning agent; a few are reported to function only as surfactant – emulsifying agents. The Panel reviewed relevant new data, including frequency and concentration of use, and considered the data from previous CIR reports. The Panel concluded these ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment.
Use this, not that!
Aquaphor; Glossier Balm Dotcom (refined petrolatum(
Products where you might find Petrolatum
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, Isle of Paradise Self Tanning Drops, belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb
List of References
General sources: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/
1. Feingold K, Elias P. Role of lipids in the formation and maintenance of the cutaneous permeability barrier. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2014;1841(3):280-294. [PubMed] 2. Patzelt A, Lademann J, Richter H, et al. In vivo investigations on the penetration of various oils and their influence on the skin barrier. Skin Res Technol. 2012;18(3):364-369. [PubMed]
Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions.