When to Use Vaseline vs. Aquaphor

Whether or not you are wanting up movie star secrets and techniques for glowy pores and skin or searching for reduction from winter dryness, you are more likely to run into two merchandise many times: Vaseline and Aquaphor. And for good purpose: The 2 skincare staples have a strong ingredient in widespread—petrolatum (often known as 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 elements 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 whenever 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 maintaining 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 prime of face and physique lotions to maintain hydration sealed in (often known as “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 will typically be used interchangeably, Vaseline is typically most popular in wound care,” Dr. Desai says. “In wound care, defending the surgical website from the surface atmosphere could be extraordinarily vital. The occlusive results of pure petroleum jelly will help create a robust barrier between the underlying pores and skin and out of doors atmosphere (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 preserve your pores and skin sort in thoughts. “Individuals with oily or acne-prone pores and skin could need to keep away from Vaseline as it could 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 movement of oxygen. Aquaphor’s different elements 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 elements additionally make Aquaphor a very good possibility for some further 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 continual situation that weakens the pores and skin’s barrier operate and causes dry, itchy, and infected pores and skin
• Bettering pores and skin situations in infants
• Treating keratosis pilaris, a continual 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 numerous the identical pores and skin barrier advantages. If you happen to’re questioning whether or not Aquaphor is perhaps the higher possibility for you versus Vaseline, look to the extra elements present in Aquaphor. “These components assist with deeper moisture by enhancing hydration and enhancing pores and skin barrier operate,” Dr. Paul says.

Glycerin makes an enormous distinction when you have eczema or dry pores and skin. “People with eczema (often known as atopic dermatitis) have elevated transepidermal water loss as a consequence of decreased pores and skin barrier operate,” Dr. Desai explains. Whereas the petroleum jelly in each Vaseline and Aquaphor can forestall additional water loss and assist restore pores and skin barrier operate, Aquaphor additionally accommodates 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 incredible possibility for sufferers with eczema or dry pores and skin.”

Based on Dr. Paul, Aquaphor may also be higher for terribly dry, cracked pores and skin and therapeutic minor pores and skin irritation. “It offers further 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 primary moisturizing.

One other bonus? Aquaphor can really feel much less greasy on pores and skin if that is one thing that icks you out. “As a result 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 in opposition to 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 prime of retinoid or retinol merchandise at night time, it’s possible you’ll 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. In case you have a deep or open wound, an damage from an animal chunk, or a extreme burn, it’s best to 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 will be significant that the an infection is addressed earlier than occlusive moisturizers are used.”

Relating to Aquaphor particularly, there’s one further (uncommon) threat to bear in mind due to the lanolin. “There are some individuals who do have a pores and skin allergy to lanolin. This signifies that they develop purple, itchy bumps (or generally blisters) within the areas of pores and skin uncovered to lanolin,” Dr. Desai says. “If you happen to expertise this response, it’s endorsed 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 possible discover loads of makes use of for each. Maintain each useful, 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.