Petroleum Jelly – Facts Not Fiction

Myth: Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) employed in hair and skin items is a dangerous chemical byproduct of petroleum or gasoline.

Fact: Refined USP Petroleum jelly is not the identical as the “Petrolatum” outlined by the Chemical Abstract Process (CAS) definition located in the EPA Harmful Substances Regulate Act (TSCA) Stock. This CAS range (8009-03-8) applies to an unrefined, major, waxy petrolatum content. In point, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) white petroleum jelly is not a byproduct but is a refined and purified product of hefty waxes and paraffinic oils. USP White Petroleum Jelly surpasses the protection standards established by the Fda for use in foodstuff and cosmetics products as properly as for each the European Union (EU) and Japanese Pharmacopeia Chemical Codes.

Fantasy: Vaseline or mineral oil when used to the skin results in an impassible barrier plugging hair and skin pores (comedogenic).

Truth: There are no credible scientific scientific tests that verify that Vaseline or mineral oil is in simple fact comedogenic (block skin pores). In reality, the expression comedogenic was produced by the Food and drug administration to only classify substances that brought on acne by blocking facial pores and skin pores. Later, overall health and dietary advocates attempted to increase this definition to involve merchandise utilized for the hair and human body. Nonetheless, the term “comedogenic” was by no means supposed to be utilised beyond the authentic scope as defined by the Fda. Lately, new scientific scientific studies have fixed the discussion. Complex papers published in the Journal of Beauty Dermatology (May possibly 24, 2005) and the Journal of the Modern society of Beauty Chemists (1996, vol. 47, pp. 41-48) demonstrated that white USP mineral oil (FG) and white USP Vaseline do not block skin pores.

PJ and mineral are categorised as “occlusive” moisturizers. In theory, occlusives reduce water loss from the pores and skin by building a hydrophobic barrier when used in excess of the skin. Occlusive moisturizers diffuse into the intercellular lipid domains and herein lay their success. Revealed experiments exhibit that though Vaseline reveals what appears to be occlusive homes when applied to the skin it neither varieties nor functions as an impermeable barrier but rather permeates gradually through the SC interstices, allowing for usual skin restoration.

In layman’s term Vaseline PJ does not clog pores and skin pores but slowly diffuses all over the pores and skin lipid layer and even helps the physique in pores and skin repair service.

Myth: PJ is economical weak moisturizer.

Actuality: Real, White USP PJ is an economical merchandise but on the opposite it is nevertheless the most price-successful moisturizer used nowadays in the cosmetic business. Petroleum jelly at minimal concentrations lessens transepidermal h2o reduction (TEWL) by additional than 98% and is followed by lanolin, mineral oil, and the silicones, which are powerful in the vary from 20%-30%. Other substances these as beeswax, stearic acid, shea butter, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and sunflower seed oil TEWL values are down below 20 %.