Panthenol is a pharmaceutical product used in countless skincare and haircare products.
It is one of the most versatile ingredients for your skin that is often overlooked by well-known components such as hyaluronic acid or aloe. Plus, you probably use it more often than you think as panthenol is commonly found in mascaras, serums, and creams.
It’s worth getting to know panthenol and its excellent, multi-faceted qualities. Read on to learn more.
Highlights:
What Is Panthenol?
Structurally, panthenol, also known as pantothenic acid, is a compound that’s similar to pantothenic acid or vitamin B5. It’s known as provitamin B5 as it gets oxidized into pantothenic acid vitamin B5 when you apply it topically.
Panthenol is a stable form of vitamin B5. B5 can bind and hold on to water effectively, resulting in skin that’s soft and moisturized. Hence, panthenol is known for its repairing, soothing and moisturizing properties.
Interestingly, the name panthenol comes from the Greek word ‘pantothen,’ meaning ‘everywhere.’
Panthenol makes hair easier to manage as it gives it a smoother texture and helps battle frizzy hair. Consistent use of panthenol will prevent your hair from looking fragile or dry.
With skincare and hair care, you can find panthenol in several creams, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in conditioners due to its emulsifying properties. You can effortlessly spread it and achieve complete coverage.
The advantage that panthenol holds over other common moisturizing ingredients is that it acts as both an emollient and a humectant. Emollients seal any cracks in the skin, and humectants attract water to the skin.
With such distinctive abilities, panthenol is a critical component in many skincare, makeup, and hair care products. It’s moisturizing and emollient properties make it a top choice in makeup.
If you don’t find your labels mentioning panthenol, look for its pseudonyms such as d-pantothenyl, butanamide, or provitamin B5, they’re all the same. [1]
How To Use Panthenol?
Panthenol plays well with most ingredients and is largely innocuous. It works very well on freshly cleaned skin. It’s recommended that you wash your face, use a toner to get rid of any surplus grime or dirt then follow up with a cream or lotion that contains panthenol.
You can find panthenol in a multitude of products. Based on the type of product you use, you can determine how often to use it.
Benefits Of Panthenol
Along with its already listed properties, panthenol also has some other noteworthy benefits and effects.
1. Improves Moisture Retention In The Skin
Don’t let the fact that panthenol is an alcohol form of vitamin B5 mislead you. Unlike alcohol that is drying for your skin, panthenol deeply moisturizes your skin. Being a humectant, it continually draws water, retains it, and allows your skin to hydrate from within and look fresh and dewy.
Panthenol is known to create a protective barrier on your skin, which locks in moisture, prevents natural water loss and helps reduce the risk of dryness or dehydration. You can preserve your youthful and healthy skin by maintaining optimal moisture levels. [2]
2. Helps With Healing Wounds
Would you have ever thought that panthenol can help heal wounds? If you are someone who’s been continually battling with acne and acne scars, you’re in for a treat.
For a wound to heal fully, it needs to recover from the inner layers. It is crucial that your skin starts the healing process from the inside and defend itself from external stimuli. You can find the cells that make your skin resilient and supple in panthenol.
A daily dose of panthenol will enhance your skin and its texture. [3]
SkinKraft Tip
Boost your skin’s healing process with a combination of vitamin C and panthenol that boosts the production of collagen.
3. Delivers Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Many ointments and creams contain panthenol, as it is shown to possess anti-inflammatory effects. It’s also helpful for those who deal with itchiness because of dermatitis.
Additionally, if your skin is dry, it loses moisture and becomes dry. Panthenol provides ample moisturization to protect the skin from external stimuli.
Did You Know?
- After you get a tattoo, tattoo artists often recommend moisturizing creams with panthenol for quicker healing.
How Is Panthenol Used In Your Products?
It’s moisturizing, repairing, and soothing properties make it a popular ingredient in many products.
1. Skin Products
An essential part of your diet is vitamin B5 for healthy hair and skin. Doesn’t it make sense that a derivative of B5 is a significant part of products like cleansers and lotions?
For the skin, panthenol helps improve elasticity, hydration, and lends a smooth appearance.
Other products like mascara, foundation, and lipstick also include it. As you read earlier, you can also find panthenol in ointments to treat rashes, red skin, insect bites, inflammation, sores, and minor cuts from shaving.
2. Hair Products
Panthenol can improve your hair. It makes your hair healthier, softer, and shinier. It has the ability to lock in moisture by binding to the hair shaft and helps protect your hair from environmental damage and styling products.
3. Nail Products
Like your hair, nails too are made from keratin proteins. In this manner, panthenol can help make your toenails and fingernails stronger. [4]
Side Effects Of Panthenol
Panthenol is incredibly gentle, and so most people can use it. Typically, panthenol is a substance that most people can tolerate, and reactions are rare. If you take supplements more than 10-20 grams in a day then you might have diarrhea.
As with other ingredients, there is a possibility of allergy, but the chances are low. If you want to be on the safer side, it’s better to test a dollop somewhere on your body before you smother the product onto your face and develop unpleasant symptoms.
If you face some irritation with panthenol, you should contact your dermatologist immediately.
It’s good to note that panthenol is also used in food and supplements. With this in mind, panthenol is generally recognized as safe. [5]
Wrapping Up
It’s common to find panthenol is most of your cosmetic and skincare products. When it comes in contact with your skin, it turns into vitamin B5 and has anti-inflammatory and stellar moisturizing properties. It’s also compatible with other ingredients.
The right products in your vanity will help you get rid of issues like flaky skin or dryness. If you’re on the lookout for a product - search for ingredients with panthenol.
Ask your dermatologist for the right products, and you’ll find yourself with healthy and radiant skin.
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