In the age of social media, you may be bombarded with thousands of products that are supposed to give you the perfect skin. But what if that product was already in your possession?
Petroleum Jelly is an amazing product that has been used for different skin care uses for generations. Taking care of your skin does not have to break the bank.
All you need is a simple tub of petroleum jelly that you can find in your local drugstore or grocery store.
Whether you have some cuts that are slow healing or are dealing with extreme skin conditions such as eczema, petroleum jelly could save the day.
In this article, we will cover 5 simple ways to use petroleum jelly for skin care.
Save yourself the thousands of dollars you will unlikely spend on high-end skin care products, and grab some petroleum jelly to help your skin.
What Is Petroleum Jelly?
Mineral oils and waxes are combined to create petroleum jelly, also known as petrolatum, a semisolid jelly-like substance.
Since Robert Augustus Chesebrough discovered it in 1859, this product hasn’t undergone many alterations.
Chesebrough observed that oil workers would apply gooey jelly to their burns and wounds in order to treat them.
He then packaged petroleum jelly and branded it as Vaseline.
Petroleum, the major component of petroleum jelly, serves to coat your skin with a water-protective barrier, contributing to its beneficial effects.
This promotes skin healing and moisture retention.
5 Uses Of Petroleum Jelly For Skin Care
Since its discovery in 1859, petroleum jelly has become an essential product within the cabinets of households across the world.
And it has many uses for the skin. Below are 5 uses of petroleum jelly for skin care:
Soothe Dry Skin
Dry skin can bleed, itch, flake, and crack.
Apply petroleum jelly on dry skin, such as your lips and eyelids, as ointments are more beneficial and less irritating than lotions.
Your eyelids’ skin is the thinnest skin on your body and is readily inflamed.
Apply a tiny amount of petroleum jelly for moisture and protection if your eyelids become dry and flaky.
Petroleum jelly can only help protect and moisturize your nose from becoming cracked and flaky during cold or allergy season.
Suffer with cracked heels? Soak your feet in warm water that has been seasoned with salt.
Dry completely with a towel before applying petroleum jelly and fresh cotton socks.
Heal Injured Skin
Little ones who are constantly falling over are prone to minor wounds.
Or you yourself may be rather accident prone and find yourself covered in cuts, scrapes, and/or scratches.
Apply petroleum jelly to the wound to keep it moist.
This aids in preventing the wound from drying out and developing a scab, which slows down the healing process.
Additionally, this will help keep a scar from growing too big, too deep, or too irritating.
Antibacterial ointments are not necessary as long as the wound is cleaned every day.
Prevent Chafing
Most of us experience chafing when walking or running around on a hot day.
This is when body parts, particularly the thighs, rub together or against clothing and cause friction.
This can be extremely painful and in some cases lead to blisters and cuts. Apply a small amount to the problem areas such as the thighs and feet.
This will cause the skin to glide together rather than cause painful friction. Ensure the skin is cleaned daily.
You may require to reapply the petroleum jelly to the problem areas every few hours throughout the day.
Heal Diaper Rash
Maintaining as much dryness and cleanliness on your baby’s skin will help to prevent diaper rash.
If your infant does develop a rash, though, you should apply petroleum jelly each time you change his diaper.
The petroleum jelly forms a protective barrier around the skin to prevent constant exposure to moisture which causes the diaper rash.
Providing your baby with instant relief. Your baby’s rash should go away with the proper care in three to four days.
Consult with a board-certified dermatologist if the rash persists.
Keep Nails Hydrated
When frequently maintaining manicures and pedicures, your nails can become weak and brittle. This will cause them to break and snap more often.
Apply a small amount to the nails and cuticle in between polish appointments. This will help strengthen the nail and prevent brittleness.
You should see an improvement in the condition of your nails and they break or chip less than before.
For the best result, apply petroleum jelly when your nails are damp.
Side Effects Of Petroleum Jelly As Skin Care
Yes. petroleum jelly has excellent benefits are side care. Whether it is moisturizing dry skin, healing nappy rash, or protecting wounds.
However, there are some potential side effects to be aware of.
As petroleum jelly is not water soluble, it creates a barrier around the skin locking in the moisture that the skin already possesses.
Along with dirt and toxins under the barrier if it is not cleaned properly.
Below you will find the potential side effects of using petroleum jelly for skin care.
Allergies
If you have sensitive skin or are prone to allergies, you can develop an allergy or allergic reaction to petroleum derived products.
When using petroleum jelly based products regularly, it is important to pay attention to any changes to the area.
This may present itself in redness, irritation, or even swelling which may need professional medical attention.
If these symptoms do present themselves, it is important that you cease use of the product immediately.
Infections
As mentioned above, petroleum jelly is not a water soluble substance.
This means that it does not dissolve in water but rather creates a protective barrier around the area. For certain wounds, this can lead to infections.
The area must be clean and dried properly before applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly.
Otherwise the jelly will create a barrier which keeps further bacteria out but ensures the bacteria already on the wound has nowhere to go.
This can quickly cause fungal and bacterial infections. It is also important to ensure the container of petroleum jelly you are using is clean.
A contaminated jar can cause bacteria when placed on the infected area.
Aspiration Risks
You should always check with a medical professional before integrating a new skin care product into your routine.
Especially when applying around the nose area.
As you breathe in the mineral oils contained within petroleum jelly, you may be putting yourself at risk of developing aspiration pneumonia.
It is important to take extra care of these effects when using petroleum on children.
Clogged Pores
As petroleum jelly creates a rather thick protective barrier around the skin, this can cause breakouts for those with acne prone skin.
The skin must be cleaned and dried before the application of petroleum jelly to ensure the skin is free of bacteria.
Otherwise the bacteria will be trapped under the protective barrier and cause breakouts.
However, if used properly, petroleum jelly can aid in reducing redness and providing healthy, moisturized skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
When looking to use petroleum jelly as skin care, you may have some questions.
That’s why we have answered some of the most common questions regarding using petroleum jelly as skin care.
Can Vaseline Be Used As Skincare?
Vaseline is a high-grade form of petroleum jelly which has removed the unnecessary wax and oils from the product.
This makes Vaseline great for skin care (Also check out Is Vaseline Good For Hair?). It can be used to relieve dry skin, especially on your lips and eyelids.
Ensure the area is cleansed and dry before application.
What’s The Difference Between Petroleum Jelly And Vaseline?
The only real distinction between petroleum jelly and Vaseline is that Vaseline is formed of pure petroleum jelly, which contains minerals and microcrystalline wax to make it smoother, whereas petroleum jelly is made of a partially solid mixture of hydrocarbons that is mine-derived.
When Should You Not Use Petroleum Jelly As Skincare?
Petroleum jelly should never be used by anyone with acne or rosacea as these conditions might be made worse by using such thick emollients.
Those who use Vaseline to dry, cracked noses to treat colds may want to reconsider their actions as well.
When healing skin conditions such as acne and rosacea, it is important to let the skin breathe.
Ensure it is clean and dry before applying a light moisturizer to the area. This will allow the infected area to heal while remaining moisturized.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, petroleum jelly is an amazing product with a range of uses to help your skin. Dry, cracked lips or a minor scrape?
Apply a light layer of petroleum jelly to the cleansed area and watch as the skin heals itself to what it once was.
The important thing is to remember that the area must be clean and dry before application.
Otherwise, the bacteria which is already present on the skin can begin to create new problems such as infections.
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