Ingredient Spotlight: Vitamin B5, Your Moisturization Master

If you take a look on the back of any of your Ultraceuticals products and you’re likely to see Panthenol or vitamin B5 sitting proudly in the ingredient list. With its hydrating properties, it’s no wonder this ingredient has become so well loved in the skincare industry. However, Panthenol is more than a one trick pony. Not only does it act as a moisturising humectant, but it also provides many other skin benefits, such as, helping to decrease inflammation, supporting wound healing, as well as providing benefits to the hair and nails just to name a few.    

Panthenol, like many ingredients can be a little tricky to find when looking for it on packaging, as it can also been known as dexpanthenol, D-pantothenyl alcohol, butanamide, alcohol analog of pantothenic acid or provitamin B-5 within an ingredients list.
Panthenol is the alcohol form of vitamin B5. Once applied topically, Panthenol is quickly absorbed by the skin and is then converted to vitamin B5, similar to the way retinol is converted to retinoic acid in the skin.
The most common use of panthenol within skincare is to act as a humectant and help increase skin moisturisation. Humectants attract water to themselves helping to increase the skins moisture content. They also help to strengthen the natural protective barrier of the skin which decreases dehydration caused by TEWL (Trans-epidermal water loss).

As a result of panthenol’s moisturising ability, it can also help decrease inflammation and stimulate the wound healing process. “There’s evidence that suggests panthenol can help decrease inflammation caused by UV exposure,” suggests Dr Suneel Chilukuri, MD, of Refresh Dermatology in Houston. This is why panthenol is a popular ingredient in many sunburn relief creams. It can also help to reduce itchiness and irritation caused by other skin conditions such as dermatitis. More scientific evidence to support this can be found in this article here:
Panthenol: 8 benefits of a multifunctional active ingredient (ulprospector.com)

In regards to hair and nails, panthenol’s moisturising ability is a winner once again. It can form a protective, hydrating film on hair stands which helps them to retain moisture for longer, and appear smoother and silkier. This ingenious ingredient can also reduce frizz and increase hair shine. Panthenol has a similar effect on our nails since they’re also made of keratin, equally to our hair and skin. It’s able to penetrate into the layers of the nails to hydrate and moisturise which is perfect for brittle, dry nails prone to breakage. 
 
So, if you’re concerned with dry, dull or dehydrated skin, hair or nails, then panthenol may be your perfect match. This unsung, yet common ingredient really is one of the best when it comes to hydration and moisturisation. 
 
- Skin x