PANTHENOL

Name / description

Panthenol; Dexpanthenol, D-Panthenol, Pantothenyl Alcohol, Pantothenol

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Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

ANTISTATIC

Reduces electrostatic charges (eg of the hair)

FRAGRANCE FUNCTIONAL

Functional ingredient (excipient) of perfume oils and / or flavours

HAIR CONDITIONING

Leaves the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and / or imparts volume

SKIN CONDITIONING

Maintains the skin in good condition

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Origin

synthetic

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Occurrence in cosmetics

Creams, lotions, lip care products, sunscreens, haircare products

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Occurrence in other products

Medicinal products and medical devices for wound healing support or vitamin supplement

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Background information on use in cosmetics

Dexpanthenol (INCI: PANTHENOL) is the precursor of a B vitamin and is also referred to as provitamin B5. This is a viscous, colourless, slightly sticky substance with a discreet characteristic odour. Panthenol is easily solvable in water and alcohol. The provitamin has a very good skin tolerance, and has humectant, skin smoothing as well as regenerative properties. Moreover, the substance supports the protective barrier function of the skin and improves its elasticity. Panthenol is usually used in caring cosmetic products such as creams, lotions, lip care products, sunscreens and haircare products. In haircare products panthenol supports the regeneration of the moisture balance and the strengthening of the hair. Panthenol is also well suited for products for sensitive skin. Since panthenol supports the new cell formation of the skin after injuries, it is also used in medical creams, for instance, to treat sunburns and minor injuries: skin reddening is relieved and itching is reduced. Fragrances or mixtures of fragrances are often referred to in the cosmetics area as "perfuming agents" or "perfume oils" or "parfum oils". On the cosmetic products they are declared with the INCI name "PARFUM". These are undiluted individual substances or their mixtures which originate from natural raw materials or can be produced (semi-) synthetically. They are starting materials for the production of perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne and other perfumed cosmetic products. The average content of fragrances amounts in perfume to 15-30 %, in eau de parfum to 10-14 %, in eau de toilette to 6-9 %, in eau de cologne to 3-5 % as well as in skin creams, shampoos, hair and deodorant sprays to approximately 0.2-1 % and approximately 1-3 in deodorant sticks. The perfume oils include essential oils, resinoids and absolutes. The sources are, amongst others, flowers, leaves and stems, fruits and fruit peels or roots of plants; woods, grasses or herbs, needles, resins and balsams. Moreover, only compounds isolated from natural products such as aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohols etc. are used (geraniol, citronellal, citral, eugenol, menthol) as well as semi-synthetic (citronellol, geranyl acetate, jonone) and synthetic scents (eg phenylethyl alcohol and linalool) are used. Scents of animal origin such as musk and ambra are only rarely used.

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Further information

For the clarification of a suspicion of a contact allergy this substance can be routinely tested in the epicutaneous test at the dermatologist.

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Belongs to the following substance groups

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Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.