Panthenol, also called provitamin B5 or dexpanthenol, is a soothing, moisturizing ingredient that skin turns into vitamin B5. It shows up in creams, balms and lip care for dry, tight or irritated skin. Controlled studies found it raised hydration within 7 days and helped skin hold up against irritating soap.
- Helps with
- dry skin, tight or irritated skin, redness after irritation, chapped skin
- Evidence
- Moderate. Several small double-blind studies plus about 70 years of clinical use.
- Typical strength
- 5% in the hand-balm study cited here
- Works well with
- ceramides, glycerin
What does panthenol do for skin?
Panthenol is the ingredient for skin that feels raw: hands that sting after too much washing, cheeks that turn tight and pink after a strong product, a nose rubbed sore during a cold. It softens and calms, and helps the surface hold on to water.
A 2002 review summarizes it in plain terms: “Topical dexpanthenol acts like a moisturizer, improving stratum corneum hydration, reducing transepidermal water loss and maintaining skin softness and elasticity.” Put simply, more water stays in the top layer and less escapes.
How does panthenol work?
Skin converts panthenol into pantothenic acid, vitamin B5, which cells use to make the fats in the skin’s protective layer. A 2017 review notes that the exact mechanism is still not fully worked out, but that it appears to help the barrier’s building blocks move into place.
Does panthenol help irritated skin recover?
In controlled tests, yes. When skin was deliberately irritated with a harsh soap ingredient, a panthenol cream sped barrier repair, raised hydration and reduced roughness more than the same cream without it. In a 26-day double-blind study, 25 volunteers used a 5% panthenol hand balm on one forearm and a placebo on the other, with irritation added from day 15 to 22. The panthenol side kept more moisture, and of the 6 people who developed irritation, 5 had worse symptoms on the placebo side.
How long until you notice a difference?
In a double-blind study, 7 days of panthenol improved hydration and reduced water loss compared with the plain base.
How do you use panthenol?
As a cream or balm after washing, or as a soothing step after exfoliating products. For the full rundown, see what panthenol does for skin; for lips, see why lips get drier than skin.
Who should be careful with panthenol?
It is widely used on irritated skin, but contact allergy to panthenol does occur: a 2025 review put positive patch-test reactions at roughly 0.2% to 1.2%, and noted it often appears in products sold as gentle. Stop if a panthenol product makes skin worse rather than calmer.
- Ebner F, et al. Topical use of dexpanthenol in skin disorders. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2002;3(6):427-33.
- Gehring W, Gloor M. Effect of topically applied dexpanthenol on epidermal barrier function and stratum corneum hydration. Arzneimittelforschung. 2000;50(7):659-63.
- Biro K, et al. Efficacy of dexpanthenol in skin protection against irritation: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Contact Dermatitis. 2003;49(2):80-4.
- Proksch E, Nissen HP. Dexpanthenol enhances skin barrier repair and reduces inflammation after sodium lauryl sulphate-induced irritation. J Dermatolog Treat. 2002;13(4):173-8.
- Proksch E, et al. Topical use of dexpanthenol: a 70th anniversary article. J Dermatolog Treat. 2017;28(8):766-773.
- Weber B, Hylwa S. Panthenol allergic contact dermatitis: sources of exposure, reported cases, and a call for more frequent testing. Dermatitis. 2025;36(4):343-351.
Editorial content, not medical advice.