Petroleum Jelly: Uses, Benefits, Warnings (2024)

When you apply petroleum jelly to the skin, it creates a barrier that locks in moisture and protects the skin from outside infections. This means it can moisturize skin and be beneficial for dry skin, minor wounds, eczema, and more.Petroleum jelly is a common product in the United States. People use it in many situations, including when there are weather changes, when they have chapped lips, and more.

In some situations, you should seek advice from your doctor before using petroleum jelly.

Keep reading to learn what petroleum jelly contains, how to tell if it is safe, and what some popular uses and benefits may be.

White petroleum jelly is made from 100% white petrolatum, also known as soft paraffin or mineral oil.

Other products that contain petroleum jelly include:

• Vaseline Petroleum Jelly: 100% white petrolatum
• Quality Petroleum Jelly: 100% yellow petrolatum
• Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Deep Moisture Cream: 30% petrolatum
• Quality Petroleum Jelly (Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter, or Jelly Baby scent): 99.9% yellow petrolatum

According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, petrolatum is safe to apply to your skin as long as it has been fully refined. This should be clearly stated on the product label.

Avoid any product that does not state whether it has been fully refined. There may be a risk of contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a known carcinogen.

Refined petroleum jelly is safe for some uses, such as on minor wounds and in certain skin care circumstances. However, in some situations, you should seek advice from a doctor before applying it.

These situations include:

• any wound that may not be considered minor
• if you notice recent changes to your skin
• if you are applying it to ease the symptoms of an underlying condition

Petroleum jelly can be a useful treatment for cuts, scrapes, and burns if they are minor. This is because petroleum jelly can be Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source a very good modulator of antimicrobial activity on the skin, which can help prevent infection. It also helps support the epidermal (skin) barrier, which helps prevent water loss in the skin.

However, you should not use petroleum jelly on more serious wounds unless you have specific instructions from your doctor to do so. This includes deeper wounds, puncture wounds, bites, or severe burns.

Learn when to see a doctor for a cut.

Many people use petroleum jelly directly on their lips if they notice their lips becoming chapped. Chapped lips can happen for many reasons, including cold weather and licking your lips.

Petroleum jelly can be a safe and effective way to reduce the effects of chapped, dry skin and lips.

Contact a doctor if your chapped lips or skin do not go away after 7 days.

Learn more about chapped lips and remedies.

You may notice flaky, bleeding, or itching skin if you have dry skin. You can apply petroleum jelly to dry skin to help lock in moisture. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises that you can also apply petroleum jelly to your eyelids if you experience dry skin in that area.

Many people experience dry skin due to cold weather, and applying petroleum jelly can be an effective way to rehydrate the skin.

Petroleum jelly can protect the skin from the wind and cold by acting as a barrier, as well as being a beneficial moisturizing ingredient in itself.

Learn more about sensitive skin in cold weather.

Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is a common skin condition that causes cracked skin. People with eczema may find that their skin becomes itchy and sore.

Petroleum jelly can be Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source an effective maintenance treatment for eczema because it is moisturizing and can help prevent infection.

However, a 2020 study Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source mentions that some people find it “greasy” upon application. You may find that using a petrolatum-based ointment, rather than petroleum jelly itself, may be Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source more pleasant to apply.

Learn more about eczema and sensitive skin.

A 2016 study Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source suggests that petroleum jelly may be a useful treatment for wound care in people who have undergone surgery. This is because it can have certain healing effects while also helping prevent infections.

However, you should not apply petroleum jelly to your post-surgical wounds without the express instructions of your doctor. This is because applying petroleum jelly to some deep wounds can be dangerous.

Learn warning signs of infection in post-surgical wounds.

One 2022 study Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source found that petroleum jelly could potentially have benefits in preventing the spread and infection of COVID-19.

The study looked at 40 people who had never experienced COVID-19 and were not displaying any symptoms. These participants applied petroleum jelly inside their nostrils twice a day for around 2 months. At the end of the study, they were tested for signs of COVID-19, along with a group of participants that did not apply petroleum jelly. The researchers noted a significant difference in infection rates between people who applied petroleum jelly and those who did not.

However, do not attempt to apply petroleum jelly to the inside of your nose. It can trickle down the throat and you may swallow it by accident, which can be dangerous.

Learn more about why you should not apply petroleum jelly to your nose.

More research would be needed to determine a definite link.

Learn more about preventing COVID-19.

Many people use petroleum jelly as a moisturizer. It works by stopping water from evaporating from the surface of the skin by forming a protective barrier over the skin.

However, some people do find that petroleum jelly can be overly sticky or shiny. Instead, they use other products that contain petroleum jelly, such as petrolatum-based ointment. This way, they can get the benefits of petrolatum products without the consistency of using petroleum jelly directly.

Do not use petroleum jelly on deep wounds or punctures, bites, or severe burns.

When applying petroleum jelly, be careful not to get it into your eyes.

Keep petroleum jelly out of reach of children. If a child swallows the product, call a doctor or a Poison Control Center immediately.

If you are applying it to treat a certain condition and the condition does not improve within 7 days, seek medical help.

Be aware that petroleum jelly is extremely flammable.

Petroleum jelly is a popular substance featured in many moisturizing products in the United States, as well as being sold in its pure form as 100% petrolatum. It can form a barrier on the surface of the skin to lock in moisture and protect the skin from infections.

Petroleum jelly can be an effective moisturizer and can be beneficial for certain conditions, such as dry skin and eczema, as well as for minor wound care.

Never use petroleum jelly on any wound that may not be considered minor unless you have been directed by your doctor.

Always check the label of petroleum jelly to ensure it uses refined petrolatum. Seek medical care if your condition persists for longer than 7 days.