What is panthenol in skincare?

What does panthenol do for your skin?

Panthenol works as both a humectant, which attracts water, and an emollient, which softens rough areas. It draws moisture toward the skin's surface and helps smooth dry patches. That makes it particularly useful in products for dry, rough skin.1

Your skin barrier keeps water inside and helps keep irritants and allergens outside. Its uppermost layer contains flattened skin cells surrounded by fats, including ceramides and cholesterol. When that structure is disrupted, more water escapes and substances can enter more easily. Dexpanthenol supports the production of skin lipids and the development of cells in the epidermis, the skin's outer layers.2

What is D panthenol in skincare?

D panthenol is also called dexpanthenol. It is a precursor of pantothenic acid, the chemical name for vitamin B5. In skincare, dexpanthenol is used for hydration, reducing inflammation and supporting skin repair. It also appears in products intended for irritated skin, diaper rash and sunburn. Those uses do not make every cosmetic containing panthenol a treatment for those problems.3

How do you use panthenol?

An extra serum is usually unnecessary when panthenol is already in your routine, so B5 does not need a separate appointment.1

1. 1Check the ingredients of your existing serum or moisturizer for panthenol before adding another product.
2. 2If you need a moisturizer, look for a complete formula with water attracting ingredients, softening ingredients and ingredients that limit moisture loss.
3. 3Use the chosen product as directed. For eczema prone skin, applying moisturizer soon after bathing helps support barrier care.

Panthenol combines well with other skincare ingredients. Moisturizing formulas work best when humectants and emollients are paired with occlusives, ingredients that limit moisture loss. Examples include petrolatum, mineral oil and lanolin. Panthenol does not have to do every moisturizing job by itself.1

What is panthenol skincare cream?

Panthenol cream is a cream that includes panthenol in its formula. Choose a cream for its complete moisturizing formula rather than its front label, which is doing the job of an advertisement.1

For eczema prone skin, other useful moisturizer ingredients include ceramides and cholesterol to support the barrier's lipid structure, glycerol to help keep the outer layer hydrated, and petrolatum to reduce water evaporation. Panthenol is one useful component of barrier care, not a replacement for the rest of the formula. Eczema sometimes also requires medical treatment beyond moisturizing.2

Can panthenol irritate sensitive skin?

Allergy to vitamin B5 and related ingredients is considered rare, but it can occur. Repeated exposure on damaged skin appears to increase the possibility of sensitization, meaning the immune system starts reacting to an ingredient. People with atopic skin or several existing contact allergies deserve particular care. A product labeled for sensitive skin or described as hypoallergenic can still contain an ingredient that causes a reaction.4

Stop using a product that repeatedly worsens irritation and seek medical advice if the reaction persists. A dermatologist can investigate contact allergy using patch testing, including testing the actual product. Keep the product and its ingredient list available: a reaction needs investigation rather than automatically blaming panthenol.4

What are the uses of panthenol in hair care?

Panthenol helps moisturize dry hair, smooth the hair shaft and strengthen brittle strands. It appears in shampoos, scalp treatments and styling products. Hair regrowth is less certain: dexpanthenol has increased cell growth and reduced markers of cell aging and death in cultured human hair follicle cells. For choosing everyday hair care, hydration and smoother, stronger feeling hair are more practical expectations than regrowth.13