Original Ointment — Reddit Reviews

• Skin Barrier

  Some evidence

  Petrolatum: 13 studies tested it on its own. See all 22 studies→

  What the studies found

  • Most studies found it helped the skin barrier
  • It often helped dry, rough, or itchy skin look and feel better
  • It helped the skin's protective layer heal faster after damage in some studies
  • It could lower water loss through the skin, even after a single use
  • Some studies found no clear difference for diaper rash or irritated skin

• Eczema

  Some evidence

  Petrolatum: 6 studies tested it on its own. See all 8 studies→

  On Reddit: Cracked patches stay intact and non-cracking through rough stretches, though the ointment sustains rather than solves the problem. 3 mentions

  What the studies found

  • Most studies found it helped with eczema
  • It often eased eczema signs like scaling and other skin symptoms
  • Some studies found skin held more water and the outer layer looked stronger
  • It was not better than another moisturizer in one study
  • One study found another product helped more than petrolatum

Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.