Petrolatum

Petrolatum is a semi-solid mixture of long-chain alkanes and cycloalkanes derived from petroleum refining. It is commonly known as petroleum jelly or white petrolatum. Its primary use is as an occlusive agent that forms a protective barrier on the skin to lock in moisture and shield against external irritants. Petrolatum has no taste or odor when pure and appears colorless to pale yellow depending on its refinement level. It is widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals (as an ointment base), personal care products, and some industrial applications due to its inertness and hypoallergenic properties when properly refined. However, concerns exist regarding potential contamination with carcinogenic PAHs if the refining process is incomplete; thus regulatory standards require full documentation of refinement history for medicinal/cosmetic use.

Other names

Petroleum jellyWhite petrolatumSoft paraffinParaffinum liquidumVaselineWax paraffinParaffineWhite Vaselin