Ingredients

Panthenol

Written by Reviewed by the SYNC editorial team Published Last reviewed Editorial standards

Panthenol — the provitamin form of vitamin B5 that converts to pantothenic acid in the skin and acts as a humectant and soothing agent. It is valued for helping skin retain moisture, feel more comfortable, and support the skin barrier.

Key points

  • It draws and holds water in the skin, helping to improve hydration and softness.
  • It is widely recognized for its soothing, calming feel on irritated, dry, or sensitized skin.
  • Studies suggest it can support skin barrier function and help reduce transepidermal water loss.
  • It is gentle and commonly included in moisturizers, serums, after-sun products, and formulas for sensitive skin.

Frequently asked

Is panthenol the same as vitamin B5?

Panthenol is the provitamin of B5; once absorbed, skin converts it into pantothenic acid, the active form of vitamin B5.

Can panthenol help with irritated or dry skin?

Yes; it is often chosen for its soothing and hydrating qualities and is a common ingredient in products aimed at calming dry or sensitized skin.

Related topics

This is a foundational entry in the SYNC Skin Encyclopedia and is expanded over time. Educational information only — not medical advice.

Encyclopedia

Further reading

This entry was written and checked against the sources below. They are published by clinical and scientific bodies, they are listed most readable first, and each one opens in a new tab. They are background for the whole entry rather than footnotes to individual sentences.

  1. Pantothenic Acid NIH Office of Dietary Supplements Clinical guidance ods.od.nih.gov
  2. Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) Reference text ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. Dexpanthenol in Wound Healing after Medical and Cosmetic Interventions PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. Safety Assessment of Panthenol, Pantothenic Acid, and Derivatives as Used in Cosmetics PubMed Peer-reviewed (abstract) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment DermNet NZ Clinical guidance dermnetnz.org
  6. Contact dermatitis NHS Clinical guidance nhs.uk

SYNC does not publish medical advice. Nothing here replaces a consultation with a doctor or a pharmacist about your own skin.