What the science says about Petrolatum

Peer-reviewed research on Petrolatum, summarised in plain language. Every study links to its record on PubMed so you can read it yourself.

Petrolatum for skin barrier

Some evidence for skin barrier

Most studies found petrolatum helped the skin barrier
It often lowered water loss through the skin and helped skin hold more moisture
It helped damaged skin recover faster and protected skin from some irritants
It improved dry, itchy, or red skin in some studies, including in babies and older adults
Some studies found no clear difference, or it worked about as well as other creams

22 studies

Maintaining skin integrity in the aged: A systematic review.
International journal of nursing studies2020Systematic reviewPositive
In a large review of studies in older people, products with glycerin and petrolatum lowered the chance of skin tears.
PubMed 31945604 DOI
Prevention of diaper dermatitis in infants--a literature review.
Pediatric dermatology2014Systematic reviewNeutral
In a large review of studies in healthy infants up to 24 months, ointments with petrolatum had effects on diaper rash severity similar to other ointments, and prevention was unclear.
PubMed 24890321 DOI
Clinical Evaluation of a Diaper Containing a Shea Butter-Based Emollient and Impact on Diapered Skin Erythema.
Pediatric dermatology2025RCTPositive
In a 6-week clinical trial in babies, petrolatum in a diaper helped protect diaper-area skin, with less redness than a diaper without an emollient.
PubMed 40189822 DOI
Implications of a Diabetic Foot Xerosis Treatment With an Emulsion Containing the Plant-Based Anionic Phospholipids.
Journal of primary care & community health2022RCT54 participantsPositive
In a clinical trial of 54 people with diabetic dry feet, petrolatum cream helped dry skin about as well as the other cream tested.
PubMed 35354339 DOI
Comparison of Urea-Based Compounding Moisturizers and Similar Commercial Products on Skin Barrier Function: A Randomized Biometric Study.
Journal of cosmetic science2021RCT30 participantsPositive
In a 1-week clinical trial of 30 people with dry skin, urea moisturizers that contained hydrophilic petrolatum improved water loss through the skin and skin hydration.
PubMed 35361325
Reducing unpleasant side effects of topical 5-Fluorouracil treatment for actinic keratosis: a randomized controlled trial.
The Journal of dermatological treatment2020RCT30 participantsPositive
In a 5-week trial of 30 people after 5-fluorouracil, petrolatum jelly improved how much water the skin held and reduced redness.
PubMed 30821548 DOI
Combined effects of glycerol and petrolatum in an emollient cream: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study in healthy volunteers with dry skin.
Journal of cosmetic dermatology2020RCT51 participantsPositive
In a 12-hour trial of 51 people with dry skin, petrolatum in a cream improved the skin barrier by lowering water loss through the skin.
PubMed 31532576 DOI
Efficacy of an emollient containing diethylene glycol/dilinoleic acid copolymer for the treatment of dry skin and pruritus in patients with senile xerosis.
Journal of cosmetic dermatology2017RCT50 participantsPositive
In a 4-week trial of 50 people with age-related dry skin, petrolatum improved skin dryness and itch versus no treatment.
PubMed 28371078 DOI
Treatment by a moisturizer of xerosis and cracks of the feet in men and women with diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association2017RCT167 participantsPositive
In a 4-week trial of 167 people with diabetes and cracked heels, a cream with petrolatum, urea, and glycerine improved dry skin and helped heel cracks heal more than a placebo.
PubMed 28627029 DOI
Mechanism for prevention of infection in preterm neonates by topical emollients: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.
The Pediatric infectious disease journal2014RCT491 participantsPositive
In a clinical trial of 491 preterm infants, petrolatum-based ointment slowed worsening of skin barrier condition compared with no treatment.
PubMed 24853544 DOI
Silicones as nonocclusive topical agents.
Skin pharmacology and physiology2014RCT26 participantsPositive
In a single-use study of 26 healthy women, petrolatum lowered water loss through the skin and increased skin hydration for more than 4 hours.
PubMed 24457536 DOI
Efficacy of petrolatum jelly for the prevention of diaper rash: a randomized clinical trial.
Journal for specialists in pediatric nursing : JSPN2013RCT213 participantsNeutral
In a clinical trial of 213 newborns, petrolatum jelly used on its own did not clearly prevent diaper rash better than the control.
PubMed 23560584 DOI
Does skin hydration influence keratinocyte biology? In vivo evaluation of microscopic skin changes induced by moisturizers by means of reflectance confocal microscopy.
Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI)2013RCT10 participantsPositive
In a short study of 10 healthy volunteers, petrolatum used together with another moisturizer increased how much water the outer layer of the skin held and reduced dry, rough surface changes.
PubMed 23441646 DOI
A randomized comparison of an emollient containing skin-related lipids with a petrolatum-based emollient as adjunct in the treatment of chronic hand dermatitis.
Contact dermatitis2003RCT30 participantsPositive
In a 2-month trial of 30 adults with chronic hand dermatitis, a petrolatum-based moisturizer improved hand dermatitis, but it did not work better than a lipid-based moisturizer.
PubMed 14531866 DOI
Skin benefits from continuous topical administration of a zinc oxide/petrolatum formulation by a novel disposable diaper.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV2001RCT268 participantsPositive
In a 4-week trial of 268 infants, a diaper that put zinc oxide and petrolatum on the skin reduced diaper rash and redness more than a similar diaper without them.
PubMed 11720074 DOI
Continuous topical administration of a petrolatum formulation by a novel disposable diaper. 2. Effect on skin condition.
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland)2000RCT391 participantsPositive
In 391 children ages 8-24 months, a diaper that continuously delivered a petrolatum-based formula reduced diaper rash and skin redness more than a control diaper.
PubMed 10828633 DOI
Skin-identical lipids versus petrolatum in the treatment of tape-stripped and detergent-perturbed human skin.
Acta dermato-venereologica2000RCTPositive
In a 14-day study of human skin damaged on purpose, petrolatum helped the skin barrier recover and worked about as well as skin-identical lipids in a cream.
PubMed 11243632 DOI
Measuring transepidermal water loss: a comparative in vivo study of condenser-chamber, unventilated-chamber and open-chamber systems.
Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI)2009Clinical trial6 participantsPositive
In a 6-person study, petrolatum put on the skin for 1 hour changed water loss through the skin from the start, showing a short-term skin barrier effect.
PubMed 19832948 DOI
A controlled, three-part trial to investigate the barrier function and skin hydration properties of six skin protectants.
Ostomy/wound management2005Clinical trial18 participantsPositive
In a trial of 18 healthy volunteers, petrolatum-containing skin protectants helped protect the skin barrier from irritants and maceration and gave some hydration.
PubMed 16439809
Efficacy of protective creams in a modified repeated irritation test. Methodological aspects.
Acta dermato-venereologica1998Clinical trial15 participantsPositive
In a 9-day trial of 15 healthy volunteers, petrolatum helped protect skin barrier measures against several irritants, but protection varied by the irritant.
PubMed 9689294 DOI
Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skin.
The British journal of dermatology1996Clinical trial21 participantsNeutral
In a clinical trial of 21 healthy people, petrolatum did not improve water loss through the skin or visible irritation after the skin was irritated on purpose.
PubMed 8746332
Effects of petrolatum on stratum corneum structure and function.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology1992Clinical trialPositive
In human volunteers, petrolatum used on its own helped the skin’s protective layer heal faster after it was damaged on purpose.
PubMed 1564142 DOI

Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not any one product.

How we grade research

Products with Petrolatum

Products we have confirmed contain Petrolatum, from their ingredient lists.