Panthenol - Skin Care Ingredients Curated By Mia Seilern

By KimReviewed Nataly

⚠️ Data is provided for informational purposes only. It may contain inaccuracies and should be independently verified. This is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making health decisions.

Description: Panthenol — soothing, hydration.

All Functions: soothing, hydration

Quick Facts:

Category: humectant
Also Known As: Pro-Vitamin B5
Comedogenic Rating: 0/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

Panthenol is a skin-conditioning ingredient found in various skincare products
Research shows panthenol-containing products may help soothe sensitive skin and reduce redness
Studies indicate panthenol can help strengthen the skin barrier and retain moisture
Panthenol citrate (a form of panthenol) demonstrates antioxidant properties in laboratory settings
Panthenol appears well-tolerated with minimal adverse effects in clinical studies

Safety: Generally Low ConcernResearch confidence: Good

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

Pregnancy safe

🧪 Panthenol

Panthenol

CAS Number: 81-13-0 / 16485-10-2

Also Known As: Pro-Vitamin B5

Category: humectant

EC Number: 201-327-3 / 240-540-6

Korean Name: 판테놀

Butanamide, 2,4-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethyl-, (2R)-; dl-Panthenol

Panthenol is a humectant ingredient used in skincare formulations.

soothinghydration

🌍 Regulatory Status

EU: No restriction on fileUS: No restriction on file

📊 Comedogenicity

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜

0/5

📚 Research & Evidence

PUBMED CITATIONS

Data sources: EU CosIng PubMed

🔬 The Science

Panthenol is a humectant and skin-conditioning agent that has been studied in several clinical and laboratory contexts. Here’s what the research actually shows:

#1: Sensitive skin relief. In a study of 88 Chinese women with sensitive skin using a facial cream containing panthenol (along with Centella asiatica and ceramide NP), sensitive skin scores dropped 66% after 2 weeks and 76% after 4 weeks (J Cosmet Dermatol, 2025). The cream reduced four key symptoms—skin irritation, tautness, itching, and redness—though this was a formulation study, so panthenol’s individual contribution isn’t isolated. #2: Barrier strengthening. The same sensitive skin study found that TEWL (transepidermal water loss, a measure of moisture escape) decreased at weeks 1-2, and skin pH normalized at week 1 and weeks 2-4 (J Cosmet Dermatol, 2025).

A separate trial of a panthenol-enriched mask in 177 participants across three skin types (dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne-prone) showed increased skin hydration and reduced TEWL in the oily acne subgroup, with sebum regulation across groups (J Cosmet Dermatol, 2024). #3: Post-treatment skin comfort. When applied after daylight photodynamic therapy (a medical treatment for actinic keratosis), a prebiotic and panthenol-containing cream significantly reduced local skin reactions compared to untreated skin through day 14, with milder redness and faster crusting resolution (Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther, 2024). However, the cream did not affect the overall efficacy of the medical treatment itself.

#4: Antioxidant potential in lab conditions. Panthenol citrate, a modified form of panthenol, showed antioxidant activity in ex vivo human skin models, scavenging free radicals and reducing UV-induced DNA damage comparably to vitamin C (ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2025). A wound-healing study using panthenol citrate in diabetic rodent models found it promoted cell migration, reduced inflammation, and improved tissue regeneration (Adv Healthc Mater, 2023)—but these are laboratory findings, not human clinical data. Important limitations: Most human studies examined panthenol as part of a multi-ingredient formula, making it difficult to determine its individual effects. The antioxidant and wound-healing benefits come primarily from panthenol citrate in controlled laboratory settings, not from standard panthenol in typical skincare products.

All reviewed studies reported excellent tolerability with no serious adverse effects.

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

100%

Sensitive

100%

Oily

100%

Dry

100%

Combination

100%

Acne-prone

100%

Normal

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.