The conclusion: No, Vaseline does not treat acne. In fact, using Vaseline on your face may actually cause breakouts.
While petroleum jelly has many benefits, it shouldn't be used for everything. Avoid putting petroleum jelly on your face if you are acne-prone, as this may cause breakouts in some people. If you have questions about your skin or how to take care of it, see a board-certified dermatologist.
He goes on to say that the petroleum jelly itself doesn't actually treat the pimple. It actually helps protect the skin barrier as the pimple heals by forming a seal over the skin. "Think of an angry pimple like a wound that needs to heal," Dr. Zeichner says.
While Vaseline is an occlusive moisturizer, meaning it forms a barrier on the skin to prevent moisture loss, it is non-comedogenic, meaning it does not clog pores. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, non-comedogenic products are less likely to cause acne.
To clear this type of acne blemish, try washing your face twice daily with an acne face wash that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. If you have a lot of papules, it can be helpful to see a dermatologist.
Due to the occlusive effect, Vaseline can be a trigger for acne breakouts when you have oily or acne-prone skin.
What is blemish-prone skin and acne? Acne is most common on the face, neck, shoulders, chest and back. Blemish-prone skin is skin that has a propensity to develop comedones and pimples. It is often oily and appears shiny. This is because the sebaceous glands produce more sebum than in other skin types.
Excessive and improper usage of petroleum jelly can result in certain side effects such as clogged pores, pneumonia, allergies, and infections. You need to avoid using petroleum jelly if you have acne-prone, oily, or combination skin.
Icing a pimple may help reduce pain, redness, and swelling due to inflammatory acne. However, ice may provide little or no benefit for noninflammatory pimples. People who decide to try icing a pimple should always wrap ice cubes and frozen gel packs in a clean cloth or plastic bag.
Petroleum jelly is made from a blend of natural waxes and mineral oils. People often refer in general to petroleum jelly as “Vaseline®”, but the real Vaseline® petroleum jelly is different. The real Vaseline® petroleum jelly is triple purified to remove impurities.
Applying Vaseline® Jelly under eyes is a tried-and-tested way to lock in moisture, keeping skin in the eye area soft and elastic, and rejuvenating skin that looks dry and tired.
As mentioned before, it can actually cause breakouts because it is greasy and could be trapping acne-causing agents on the skin. If a breakout occurs after trying Vaseline on the face, wash it off and stop using it for this reason.
Slugging means slathering your face with petroleum jelly as the last step of your evening skin-care routine. (
A non-greasy Vaseline® body lotion, it absorbs into your skin in 15 seconds for immediate moisturization and provides long-lasting moisture, making it an ideal daily lotion for men. Clinically tested to provide 90% more skin moisture vs. untreated skin.
One tip for taking care of scars is to use a topical ointment. Cocoa butter cream and Vaseline are most often used to help reduce the appearance of scars. Applying the ointment daily will help heal scars but will not make them invisible.
Isotretinoin: This is a potent medicine that attacks all four causes of acne—bacteria, clogged pores, excess oil, and inflammation (redness and swelling). About 85% of patients see permanent clearing after one course of isotretinoin.
Many teens find that their acne improves as they get older and that it almost disappears by the time they reach their twenties. Others have acne well into their adult years. The good news is that acne can be treated — and breakouts can sometimes be prevented. Prevention involves taking good care of the skin.
Skincare – applying the wrong skincare (e.g. if oily skin type and applying heavy moisturiser containing comedogenic ingredients such as oils) can lead to worsening of your acne. Stress, lack of sleep, smoking, diet can all influence acne too.