Petrolatum: What It Is and Why It's Used

Origin

Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) was discovered in 1859 by Robert Chesebrough, a chemist working in the Pennsylvania oil fields who observed that oil rig workers used the waxy residue from pump rods to heal cuts and burns. Chesebrough developed a purification process, patented it in 1865, and commercialised it as Vaseline. It became one of the first mass-market personal care products in the United States.

Why It's Used

Petrolatum is an occlusive — it works by forming a physical barrier on the skin's surface that dramatically reduces transepidermal water loss, rather than adding moisture directly. It does not penetrate the skin. Its effectiveness as a skin protectant is among the best documented of any cosmetic ingredient. Cosmetic-grade petrolatum in the EU must meet purity specifications under Annex II and III of Regulation 1223/2009.

Elsewhere

Petrolatum is used extensively in industrial lubrication, as a rust inhibitor, in electrical cable compounds, and as a base for pharmaceutical ointments and topical preparations. It is also a component in some wood treatments and leather conditioning products.

What the Framework Sees

Question 3.

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