So, What’s the Difference Between Aquaphor and Vaseline? Derms Break Down Everything You Need to Know

Whether or not you are wanting up movie star secrets and techniques for glowy pores and skin or searching for aid from winter dryness, you are more likely to run into two merchandise repeatedly: Vaseline and Aquaphor. And for good cause: The 2 skincare staples have a strong ingredient in widespread—petrolatum (often known as petroleum jelly). However despite the fact that Vaseline and Aquaphor have each been virtually synonymous with pores and skin therapeutic for many years, they are not truly 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 Seashore, 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 are not 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 waterproof 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.

• Protecting 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 high of face and physique lotions to maintain hydration sealed in (often known as “slugging“)
• Stopping pores and skin staining throughout hair coloring by performing as a barrier between pores and skin and dye

When to make use of Vaseline as a substitute of Aquaphor

“Though they will usually be used interchangeably, Vaseline is typically most popular in wound care,” Dr. Desai says. “In wound care, defending the surgical website from the skin setting could be extraordinarily essential. The occlusive results of pure petroleum jelly will help create a powerful barrier between the underlying pores and skin and outdoors setting (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.

Dr. Desai and Dr. Paul additionally like Vaseline for normal 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 circulation 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 can 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 choice 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 individuals with eczema, a continual 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 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 plenty of the identical pores and skin barrier advantages. If you happen to’re questioning whether or not Aquaphor is likely to be the higher choice 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 an enormous distinction when you’ve got eczema or dry pores and skin. “People with eczema (often known as 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 advantage of serving to to hydrate pores and skin that has skilled transepidermal water loss,” she says. “This makes Aquaphor an important choice for sufferers with eczema or dry pores and skin.”

In response to Dr. Paul, Aquaphor can be higher for terribly dry, cracked pores and skin and therapeutic minor pores and skin irritation. “It gives further hydration and barrier safety past what Vaseline provides,” 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. “Resulting from Aquaphor containing a decrease proportion of petroleum jelly, some individuals 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 high of retinoid or retinol merchandise at night time, you might discover elevated efficiency of the retinoids, inflicting the pores and skin to get extra irritated and dry.”

And although you should utilize each for wound care, neither Vaseline nor Aquaphor is an alternative choice to a go to to the physician. “Each can lure micro organism if used on damaged or contaminated pores and skin,” Dr. Paul warns. When you have a deep or open wound, an harm from an animal chew, 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 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 remember 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. “If you happen to expertise this response, it is strongly recommended 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 probably discover loads of makes use of for each. Hold 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.