Petroleum jelly

Petroleum jelly, also known as petrolatum, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons, originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties. It is recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an approved over-the-counter skin protectant and remains widely used in cosmetic skin care.

History

The raw material for petroleum jelly was discovered in 1859 in Titusville, Pennsylvania, US, on some of the country's first oil rigs. Workers disliked the paraffin-like material forming on rigs because it caused them to malfunction, but they used it on cuts and burns because it hastened healing.

Composition

Petroleum jelly is a mixture of hydrocarbons, having a melting point usually within a few degrees of human body temperature, approximately 37 °C (99 °F). It is flammable only when heated to liquid; then the fumes will light, not the liquid itself, so a wick material like leaves, bark, or small twigs is needed to ignite petroleum jelly. It is colorless, or of a pale yellow color (when not highly distilled), translucent, and devoid of taste and smell when pure.

Uses

Petroleum jelly's effectiveness in accelerating wound healing stems from its sealing effect on cuts and burns, which inhibits germs from getting into the wound and keeps the injured area supple by preventing the skin's moisture from evaporating.

Safety

In the European Union, petrolatum can only be used in cosmetics "if the full refining history is known and it can be shown that the substance from which it is produced is not a carcinogen". There is a risk of contamination from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), cancer-causing chemicals found in crude oil and its by-products.

See also

• Mineral oil
• Paraffin wax
• Lip balm
• Skin care

References

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  A jar of white petrolatum, commonly known as petroleum jelly.
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  The original patent for Vaseline, a brand of petroleum jelly.
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  A photo of Echinopsis pachanoi, also known as San Pedro cactus.