When to Use Vaseline vs. Aquaphor

Whether or not you are wanting up movie star secrets and techniques for glowy pores and skin or in search of aid from winter dryness, you are prone to run into two merchandise time and again: Vaseline and Aquaphor. And for good motive: The 2 skincare staples have a strong ingredient in widespread—petrolatum (also called petroleum jelly). However though Vaseline and Aquaphor have each been virtually synonymous with pores and skin therapeutic for many years, they don’t seem to be really interchangeable.

So, when do you have to use one over the opposite? We requested board-certified dermatologists Dr. Tia Paul, founding father of Balanced Pores and skin Dermatology and Aesthetics in Newport Seaside, California, and Dr. Kavya Desai of U.S. Dermatology Companions Fairfax in Virginia to give us the lowdown forward.

What’s Vaseline?

Vaseline is pure petrolatum, a semisolid jelly-like substance created from the processing of petroleum oil. There aren’t any different substances in Vaseline, however don’t worry—petrolatum, aka petroleum jelly, is a powerhouse all by itself. Petroleum jelly is occlusive, which means it can create a water resistant barrier on the pores and skin to lock in moisture.

Advantages and makes use of of Vaseline

As a result of Vaseline is nothing however pure petroleum jelly, it is a go-to once you want its occlusive powers.

• Preserving moisture locked in when the outermost layer of pores and skin is therapeutic from minor scrapes, burns, and different accidents.
• Stopping pores and skin infections in surgical websites after surgical procedure by preserving pores and skin moist.
• Defending pores and skin from environmental irritants, like chilly winter temperatures and wind.
• Utilized after a bathe on barely damp pores and skin to gradual the evaporation of hydration.
• Layered on high of face and physique lotions to maintain hydration sealed in (also called “slugging“)
• Stopping pores and skin staining throughout hair coloring by appearing as a barrier between pores and skin and dye

When to make use of Vaseline as a substitute of Aquaphor

“Though they’ll typically be used interchangeably, Vaseline is usually most popular in wound care,” Dr. Desai says. “In wound care, defending the surgical website from the surface surroundings may be extraordinarily essential. The occlusive results of pure petroleum jelly may help create a robust barrier between the underlying pores and skin and out of doors surroundings (micro organism and different organisms) to forestall postoperative surgical website an infection,” she explains. Analysis has additionally discovered postoperative wound redness and swelling decreased with plain petrolatum in contrast with Aquaphor.

Associated Tales

Dr. Desai and Dr. Paul additionally like Vaseline for basic moisturizing—simply hold your pores and skin kind in thoughts. “Individuals with oily or acne-prone pores and skin might need to keep away from Vaseline as it will possibly clog pores,” says Dr. Paul.

What’s Aquaphor?

Aquaphor is a semi-occlusive formulation with 41% petroleum jelly and panthenol, glycerin, and lanolin alcohol. Like Vaseline, the petroleum jelly in Aquaphor retains moisture within the pores and skin—however as a result of it isn’t pure petroleum jelly, it additionally permits for the stream of oxygen. Aquaphor’s different substances do some heavy lifting too—lanolin is a pure moisturizer derived from sheep’s wool, glycerin hydrates the pores and skin earlier than petroleum jelly locks within the hydration, and panthenol, a type of vitamin B5 that holds in moisture and smooths and softens pores and skin.

Advantages and makes use of of Aquaphor

Aquaphor has a few of Vaseline’s occlusive advantages so it may also be used for therapeutic from minor scrapes, burns, and different accidents, post-surgical wound care, post-shower hydration, defending pores and skin from chilly temperatures and wind, and skincare slugging. However the decrease proportion of petroleum jelly and the extra substances additionally make Aquaphor a great possibility for some extra makes use of:

• Moisturizing and defending dry pores and skin
• Hydrating pores and skin and restoring the pores and skin barrier in folks with eczema, a persistent situation that weakens the pores and skin’s barrier perform and causes dry, itchy, and infected pores and skin
• Bettering pores and skin situations in infants
• Treating keratosis pilaris, a persistent situation that blocks hair follicles and causes dry, tough patches and tiny bumps on the pores and skin

When to make use of Aquaphor as a substitute of Vaseline

Since Aquaphor is 41% petroleum jelly, which makes up 100% of Vaseline, you get quite a lot of the identical pores and skin barrier advantages. When you’re questioning whether or not Aquaphor could be the higher possibility for you versus Vaseline, look to the extra substances present in Aquaphor. “These components assist with deeper moisture by enhancing hydration and enhancing pores and skin barrier perform,” Dr. Paul says.

Glycerin makes a giant distinction you probably have eczema or dry pores and skin. “People with eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) have elevated transepidermal water loss resulting from decreased pores and skin barrier perform,” Dr. Desai explains. Whereas the petroleum jelly in each Vaseline and Aquaphor can stop additional water loss and assist restore pores and skin barrier perform, Aquaphor additionally incorporates glycerin, a humectant. “Humectants have the additional benefit of serving to to hydrate pores and skin that has skilled transepidermal water loss,” she says. “This makes Aquaphor an ideal possibility for sufferers with eczema or dry pores and skin.”

In response to Dr. Paul, Aquaphor may also be higher for very dry, cracked pores and skin and therapeutic minor pores and skin irritation. “It supplies extra hydration and barrier safety past what Vaseline presents,” she says. In different phrases, escape the Aquaphor when your pores and skin has further wants past fundamental moisturizing.

One other bonus? Aquaphor can really feel much less greasy on pores and skin if that is one thing that icks you out. “Because of Aquaphor containing a decrease proportion of petroleum jelly, some folks really feel that it’s much less greasy and heavy on the pores and skin than Vaseline,” Dr. Desai says.

Dangers of Vaseline and Aquaphor

Whether or not you attain for Vaseline or Aquaphor, Dr. Paul cautions towards overdoing it. “Overuse of Vaseline or Aquaphor, particularly for “slugging,” can result in zits or clogged pores,” she says. Dr. Desai additionally says to maintain the remainder of your skincare routine in thoughts. “When used on high of retinoid or retinol merchandise at evening, you might discover elevated efficiency of the retinoids, inflicting the pores and skin to get extra irritated and dry.”

And although you need to use each for wound care, neither Vaseline nor Aquaphor is an alternative to a go to to the physician. “Each can lure micro organism if used on damaged or contaminated pores and skin,” Dr. Paul warns. You probably have a deep or open wound, an harm from an animal chunk, or a extreme burn, you must have your pores and skin evaluated by a medical skilled earlier than utilizing both, Dr. Desai provides.“If there may be an an infection current, it’s important that the an infection is addressed earlier than occlusive moisturizers are used.”

In relation to Aquaphor particularly, there’s one extra (uncommon) danger to bear in mind due to the lanolin. “There are some individuals who do have a pores and skin allergy to lanolin. This implies that they develop purple, itchy bumps (or generally blisters) within the areas of pores and skin uncovered to lanolin,” Dr. Desai says. “When you expertise this response, it is suggested to keep away from Aquaphor. A lanolin allergy is fairly unusual, so most individuals will not have any issues with it.”

The underside line on Vaseline vs. Aquaphor

Each Vaseline and Aquaphor are nice skincare staples, and you’ll seemingly discover loads of makes use of for each. Preserve each helpful, and you will be all set whether or not you want a superpowered occlusive that acts as a pores and skin barrier seal or a semi-occlusive that may concurrently hydrate and moisturize.