Why is Panthenol used in cosmetics?

Panthenol, also known as vitamin B5, is a substance commonly used in medicinal and cosmetic products by the body. But is it safe for you and your family when it comes to personal care products? Read on to find out why panthenol is in so many cosmetics and read the facts to understand how it affects your body.

If you've looked around your home, you've likely come across panthenol on some of the ingredient lists of the products you own. Panthenol occurs in many foods, supplements, and hygiene products. It has a similar chemical structure to alcohol. It is used to help moisturize and smooth your skin and hair from the inside in its edible form and from the outside in its topical form.
Panthenol is a chemical made from pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5. It is of organic origin and can also be produced from both plant and animal sources. It is used as an additive in various cosmetic products globally.
You most likely have pantothenic acid in your body right now, as it occurs in so many common food sources. And you may have used cosmetics or personal care products with panthenol within the last 24 hours.
Panthenol comes as a white powder or transparent oil at room temperature. You'll sometimes see panthenol listed under one of its other names in ingredient lists, including:
Dexpanthenol Alcohol d-pantothenyl Butanamide Alcohol analog of pantothenic acid Provitamin b-5 When absorbed into the body , panthenol will become vitamin B-5.

In topical cosmetics, product manufacturers often use panthenol as a moisturizer. But it is also included in many cosmetics as an emollient, soothing and anti-irritant. It also helps your skin build a barrier against irritation and dehydration.
2.1. Skin Products Vitamin B5 is essential for a healthy diet, skin and hair. This means that panthenol, its derivative, is a key ingredient in many skin care products, such as lotions and cleansers. It is also found in cosmetics such as lipstick, foundation or even mascara. Panthenol also appears in creams made to treat insect bites, poison ivy, and even diaper rash.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information lists panthenol as a skin protectant with anti-inflammatory properties. It can help improve skin moisture, elasticity, and smooth appearance. It also soothes:
Redness Inflammation Minor cuts or sores like bug bites or irritation when shaving Panthenol helps heal wounds, as well as other skin irritations like eczema.

2.2. Hair products Hair care products include panthenol because of its ability to improve your hair:
Shiny Soft Strong It can also help protect your hair from styling or lip damage. field by locking in moisture.
One study found that panthenol can help slow and mask the look of thinning hair. Research has tested it with other active ingredients as a leave-in treatment.
2.3. Nail Products Your nails are made of the protein keratin, just like your hair. So panthenol can strengthen your fingernails and toenails. You can find it in nail polish and firming treatments, or in hand creams and cuticle oils.
One study found that applying panthenol to nails can help keep nails hydrated and prevent breakage.

Both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission on Cosmetic Ingredients have approved panthenol for use in cosmetics. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) classifies panthenol as "possibly safe" for general topical applications and nasal sprays. And it's listed as "possibly safe" for topical use on children.
FDA now lists panthenol in its widely known “Generally Considered Safe” database when it is consumed as a food ingredient or as a supplement. But keep in mind that ingesting panthenol or panothenic acid in food or as a supplement is very different from using it on your skin or hair.
Although considered beneficial by many as a supplement, it is only classified as "possibly safe" for topical use on skin, hair, and nails. That means there's no substantial evidence that panthenol is harmful, and plenty of anecdotal evidence suggests it's helpful for many skin problems. But there isn't enough evidence to be sure, so the FDA suggests that more research is needed.
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), another prestigious consumer protection organization, assembled an expert panel in 2017 to evaluate the topical safety of panthenol based on recent research .
This review panel found no substantial evidence that cosmetic products containing panthenol cause irritation or harm to the skin, except in the case of allergies. Adverse reactions to topical panthenol are extremely rare. But when side effects do occur, they are usually in the form of contact dermatitis or gastrointestinal distress.

It's important to remember that, from the FDA's perspective, there is not enough evidence to officially give panthenol a "safe" indication. But the CIR notes that the amount of panthenol in cosmetics will not cause harm when absorbed into the body, since much higher levels of vitamin B-5 are already present in our foods. Therefore, there is no substantial evidence that topical panthenol will cause systemic problems.
It's hard to prove anything is unambiguously safe even with extensive testing. Even then, whenever you decide whether or not to use a product, you should weigh the benefits against the risk of side effects.
That said, most of the available research on panthenol suggests that using concentrations of 5% or less in topical skin, hair, or nail products poses a very low risk to consumers. And cases of negative side effects, like contact dermatitis, are very low.
Finally, if you are a healthy adult using or considering using a product with panthenol, you probably have nothing to worry about.

Reference source: healthline.com