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For a long time it was thought to be harmful or even carcinogenic. Then the turning point: some American skin influencers consider it positive and beneficial for the skin. Let’s see below what petroleum jelly is, what it is used for and what are the possible contraindications.
Vaseline: what is it?
Said in scientific terms, petroleum jelly is a semi-solid paraffinic hydrocarbon, which is subjected to a purification to make it become colorless, tasteless, neutral. On the other hand, in simpler words, petroleum jelly, also called petrolatum, is one sort of jelly which is obtained from petroleum through a refining process. But be careful not to think that there are traces of petroleum inside the petroleum jelly because this is not the case.
This kind of jelly was discovered for the first time in 1859 in the United States and has since spread all over the world. But as we said before, for a long time the common idea insisted on negative, harmful and even carcinogenic properties. Only today is the opposite thought. Thanks also to work of some doctors and skin influencers who have seen positive results for the skin.
Difference between petroleum jelly and glycerin
Very often petroleum jelly is confused with glycerin but, on the contrary, they are two different products. The first is physiologically inert, has good moisturizing and emollient properties, the skin does not absorb it and does not irritate it. While the second also hydrates and remains more humid than the first, on the skin.
Vaseline: what is it for?
The uses of petroleum jelly are many and in different fields, from food to household up to pharmaceutical and cosmetic. It is even used in the aeronautical field to release smoke from aerobatic planes.
But among the different uses, the most common ones are in pharmaceutical field for the production of ointments, creams, gels, antifungals. And especially in the cosmetic one, where it is used as a moisturizing and emollient ingredient for lip or hair balms and lip glosses. There are many American skin influencers, in fact, who have shown on social media how to use it. For example, as a nourishing balm for chapped lips or as a moisturizing lip balm for the eyelids. But not only that: it can also be used to reduce friction and consequently, the rubbing between the thighs while exercising.
Finally, a last use that is part of the beauty and skin routine of many influencers is that of petroleum jelly as a sort of face mask. In a nutshell, you have to cover the skin of the face with a thick layer of petroleum jelly as if it were a real face mask. Leave to act and put on for about ten minutes but even more. This care allows you to create one protective and moisturizing layer on the skin, thus preventing it from losing the water it needs.
Are there any contraindications?
At a dermatological level, petroleum jelly has no contraindications. Of course, it is very effective and creates an occlusive layer but it does not completely solve the problems. The talk about the side effects must be done for one ecological-environmental issue. In fact, petroleum jelly, compared to other ingredients or cosmetic products, has a strong environmental impact. In its place, you can choose less heavy and greener solutions, but still effective and decisive.
