Is panthenol toxic?

What is the risk with panthenol?

Panthenol is used to condition skin and hair, despite having a name that sounds like a laboratory department. Dexpanthenol, also called D panthenol, is a form used in products for dry skin and minor irritation. Dexpanthenol is also a recognised contact allergen: it can trigger allergic contact dermatitis, an allergic skin rash. How commonly this happens remains uncertain, so calling the allergy either common or extremely rare would be too definite.1

A reaction to a panthenol cream does not automatically identify panthenol as the culprit. Pantolactone, an impurity in panthenol raw materials, has also caused contact allergy in wound healing creams. Other cosmetic ingredients, including fragrances and preservatives, can cause reactions too. Identifying the trigger matters more than avoiding every product with a similar name.12

In the US, 'hypoallergenic' and 'for sensitive skin' have no federal standard definition.2

What should make you stop using it?

Watch for itching, a discoloured or swollen rash, burning, stinging, unusually dry or cracked skin, or blisters. Contact dermatitis can appear wherever a product touches your skin, and an allergic reaction can take time to appear. A cream intended to soothe skin should not be kept in use if the skin condition worsens after application.13

If a product causes a skin reaction, gently wash it off and stop using it. A cool compress or petroleum jelly can help relieve the skin. See a dermatologist if the reaction is severe or those measures do not help. Trouble breathing or swallowing, faintness, or loss of consciousness requires immediate medical attention.24

How can you test a new panthenol product?

Use this general skincare testing method before adding a new product. It helps predict a skin reaction; it tests the finished formula, not panthenol in isolation. Avoid ingredients you already know or suspect you are allergic to.24

1. 1Choose a spot about the size of a quarter on the underside of your arm or inside your elbow, where the product will not be rubbed or washed away.
2. 2Apply the normal amount and thickness twice daily for seven to 10 days.
3. 3Leave it on for its usual contact time. For a rinse off product, use five minutes or the time specified in its instructions.
4. 4If no redness, itching or swelling develops, start using the product. If a reaction develops, wash it off and do not use it again.

If reactions keep happening or the trigger is unclear, a dermatologist can arrange medical patch testing to identify the allergen. Medical patch testing is different from trying a cosmetic on your arm: it uses selected allergens and scheduled skin examinations.24

Read the ingredient panel rather than relying on front label claims, which have already had their turn at the microphone, however persuasive the bottle looks.2

What if a panthenol product is swallowed?

Do not treat a topical product as something safe to eat. For example, BABYSONS dexpanthenol 5% ointment is labelled for external use only and says to get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately if swallowed. Follow the instructions for the exact product involved; the whole formula matters, not just its panthenol content.5