Panthenol
Details
An easy-to-formulate, commonly used, nice to have ingredient that’s also called pro-vitamin B5. As you might guess from the “pro” part, it’s a precursor to vitamin B5 (whose fancy name is pantothenic acid).
Its main job in skincare products is to moisturise the skin. It’s a humectant meaning that it can help the skin to attract water and then hold onto it. There is also research showing that panthenol can help our skin to produce more lovely lipids that are important for a strong and healthy skin barrier.
Another great thing about panthenol is that it has anti-inflammatory and skin protecting abilities. A study shows that it can reduce the irritation caused by less-nice other ingredients (e.g. fragrance, preservatives or chemical sunscreens) in the product.
Research also shows that it might be useful for wound healing as it promotes fibroblast (nice type of cells in our skin that produce skin-firming collagen) proliferation.
If that wasn’t enough panthenol is also useful in nail and hair care products. A study shows that a nail treatment liquide with 2% panthenol could effectively get into the nail and significantly increase the hydration of it.
As for the hair the hydration effect is also true there. Panthenol might make your hair softer, more elastic and helps to comb your hair more easily.
Show me some proof
- Proksch, Ehrhardt, et al. "Topical use of dexpanthenol: a 70th anniversary article." Journal of Dermatological Treatment 28.8 (2017): 766-773.
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, Volume 29 (4) – Aug 1, 2007, In vitro human nail penetration and kinetics of panthenol
- Journal of cosmetic science., 2011 Jul-Aug;62(4):361-70., Skin moisturizing effects of panthenol-based formulations.
- Clinics in Dermatology, Volume 27 (5) – Sep 1, 2009, Common cosmeceuticals
