What can you use Vaseline for?

What does Vaseline actually do?

Petroleum jelly is an occlusive, meaning it forms a coating that reduces water loss from the skin's outer layer. It holds onto moisture already in your skin rather than adding water itself. That makes damp skin a better starting point than completely dry skin.24

Ointments give dry, thick or scaly areas a lasting protective coating. Creams are lighter and absorb more quickly but need more frequent application; lotions suit mild dryness and hairy areas better. The greasy finish is part of the bargain, not a surprise feature.4

How do you use Vaseline on dry skin?

1. 1Wash with warm rather than hot water and a gentle cleanser.
2. 2Rinse well and gently pat your skin dry, leaving it damp.
3. 3Apply petroleum jelly to the dry areas soon after washing, ideally within three minutes of leaving the bath or shower.
4. 4Spread it gently rather than rubbing your skin hard.
5. 5Reapply during the day whenever your skin feels dry.

There is no single schedule for every dry patch. General moisturiser guidance allows application at night for slight dryness, while very dry skin can benefit from a greasy moisturiser every couple of hours. Match the frequency to the dryness rather than treating bedtime as the only available appointment.4

Can you put Vaseline on chapped lips?

White petroleum jelly is useful for very dry, cracked lips because a thick ointment seals in water longer than waxes or oils. Apply it several times a day and before bed. Stop using any lip product that burns, stings or feels uncomfortable; those sensations mean irritation, not that the product is working.5

While your lips heal, avoid licking, biting or picking them. Licking makes lips drier as saliva evaporates, and picking or biting interferes with healing. Avoid lip products containing fragrance, menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, or cinnamon, citrus, mint and peppermint flavourings while your lips are chapped.5

For outdoor protection, use a nonirritating lip balm with SPF 30 or higher containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide, and reapply every two hours outdoors. With appropriate lip care, noticeable improvement should take two to three weeks. See a dermatologist if your lips have not improved by then, because persistent chapping can have causes other than dry weather.5

Can you use Vaseline on your face and eyelids?

A small amount can moisturise and protect dry, flaky eyelid skin. Eyelids have the thinnest skin on the body and are easily irritated. Apply petroleum jelly while the skin is damp. Avoid putting petroleum jelly on your face if you are prone to acne, because it can cause breakouts in some people.1

How do you use Vaseline on minor cuts and scrapes?

1. 1Clean the minor cut or scrape with mild soap and water.
2. 2Apply petroleum jelly to keep the wound moist.
3. 3Cover the wound with a basic bandage.
4. 4Continue cleaning the wound daily, and leave any scab alone rather than picking it.

Keeping a wound moist prevents it from drying into a hard scab, while covering it protects against irritants and infection. This care can reduce scarring. A scab is not a reason to deliberately dry a wound out, and picking one prolongs the injury. For a minor wound cleaned daily, an antibacterial ointment is not necessary.16

Vaseline's role is wound protection, not erasing an existing scar. Protect healing scars from sunlight with sunscreen or clothing, and avoid overexerting the injured area because movement can widen a healing scar. If a wound looks likely to leave a substantial scar, especially after surgery or major trauma, seek medical advice early rather than waiting for healing to finish.6

Can Vaseline prevent chafing?

Apply petroleum jelly before an activity to areas where skin rubs against skin or clothing, such as your inner thighs or upper arms before running. You can also use it on already chafed areas until the skin heals. The purpose is to reduce the rubbing that causes irritation, not just to moisturise afterwards.7

Pair petroleum jelly with clean, dry clothing suited to the activity, such as running tights or cycling shorts. Avoid coarse clothing. Dried sweat, dirt and other debris on clothing can contribute to irritation, so adding jelly is not the only useful change when rubbing keeps happening.7

Can you use Vaseline for diaper rash?

Keep your baby's skin clean and as dry as possible to help prevent diaper rash. If a rash develops, apply petroleum jelly at each diaper change. With appropriate care, the rash should clear in about three to four days. See a dermatologist if it does not go away.1

What about nails and cuticles?

Apply petroleum jelly to damp nails and cuticles, especially between polishes if you frequently have manicures or pedicures. This helps reduce brittleness and prevent nail chipping.1

Can you use it with prescription creams?

Emollients can complement prescription treatment for dry skin conditions such as eczema. Follow your prescriber's application instructions: some medicines or products with active ingredients need to go on before an emollient. If a chronic skin condition is not improving, discuss other treatment options rather than continuing with moisturising alone.2

When should you stop or get medical help?

Stop using a moisturiser if it causes an allergic skin reaction. Occlusive products can aggravate acne and inflamed hair follicles. Contact a healthcare professional for a wound that will not heal or ongoing irritation, itching, redness or rash. Seek urgent medical care for a rash with fever, blistering, red streaks, yellow or green discharge, or sudden rapid spreading.24

Keep clothing and bedding containing residue from paraffin ointments away from cigarettes and naked flames. If those fabrics ignite, they can cause dangerous burns.4