Petroleum jelly has been used for over 150 years. Made from oil and gas extraction waste, it is a very affordable and versatile skin care product (2).
Petrolatum can be used to relieve dry skin, heal injured skin, prevent chafing, treat diaper rash, and even rehydrate nails (6).
However, because of what it is made of, some people are concerned petroleum jelly could contain carcinogenic contaminants. Rest assured, petrolatum designed for human use is safe to use on your skin as the contaminants are removed in the purification process (21,22).
A big shoutout to @cynthiadulude whose insight and knowledge helped inspire this post!
Sources
- Robert Chesebrough and the Dermatologic Wonder of Petroleum Jelly | JAMA Dermatol. | November 2017
- Petroleum jelly: A comprehensive review of its history, uses, and safety | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology | April 2024
- How Is Petroleum Jelly Made | AvaCare Medical Blog | January 2023
- Petrolatum – Canada.ca | Government of Canada | March 2015
- Trending – Petroleum Jelly | Center for Research on Ingredient Safety | February 2023
- 5 ways to use petroleum jelly for skin care | American Academy of Dermatology Association
- Petrolatum and waxes – Canada.ca | June 2016
- Evaluating Existing Substances – Screening Assessment – PSSA4 – Petrolatum and Waxes – Section 5.1 Petrolatum Uses | Environment and Climate Change Canada | March 2015
- Conditioning Agents for Hair and Skin
- Exploring Ingredients – Occlusives & Emollients | Michigan State University
- Petrolatum, Petroleum Jelly – Safe Cosmetics
- Petrolatum: Barrier repair and antimicrobial responses underlying this “inert” moisturizer | Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology | April 2016
- Bacteria induce skin regeneration via IL-1β signaling | Cell Host & Microbe | April 2021
- Excision of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: Care Instructions | My Health Alberta | March 2023
- Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) | Canadian Cancer Society
- Rheological evaluation of petroleum jelly as a base material in ointment and cream formulations: Steady shear flow behavior | Archives of Pharmacal Research | February 2010
- The Dirty Dozen: Petrolatum | David Suzuki Foundation
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) | ToxFAQs™ | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry | August 2014
- PolycyclicAromatic Hydrocarbons Canada | Environment Canada | 1994
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Factsheet | National Biomonitoring Program | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | March 2022
- ICSC 1440 – PETROLATUM (WHITE)
- Evaluating Existing Substances – Screening Assessment – PSSA4 – Petrolatum and Waxes – Section 9.1.1.1 Petrolatum Regulatory framework | Environment and Climate Change Canada | June 2016
- Parliamentary question | Answer to Question No E-008297/16, E-009099/16 | E-008297/2016(ASW) | European Parliament
- Petrolatum is not comedogenic in rabbits or humans: A critical reappraisal of the rabbit ear assay and the concept of &ldquo | Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists | February 1996
- Petroleum Jelly: Uses, Benefits, Dangers, and More | Healthline | March 2017
- What is Petrolatum in Skincare? | Faces & Benefits | CeraVe
- Allergic contact dermatitis caused by white petrolatum on damaged skin | Dermatitis | December 2006
- Allergic contact dermatitis to white petrolatum | The Journal of Dermatology | May 2004
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