Does Panthenol Clog Pores

Panthenol is used in many hair and skin care products but is it a good ingredient.  Does Panthenol clog pores?  Let’s find out.

What is panthenol?

You may have seen ‘panthenol’ in any number of products you’ve purchased but you may not know what it is.  If you’ve ever seen ‘panthenol’ or ‘Provitamin B5’, they are actually the same thing.  So, if you see the term ‘Provitamin B5’, you may automatically assume that it is a good ingredient.

What does Provitamin B5 do?

This ingredient helps to make things smooth and shiny.  It’s especially great for hair because we like our hair to look smooth – I mean, who wants frizzy hair?  No one!  And, when you have frizzy hair, most likely you want to smooth it out so it looks nicer.  The other benefit of Provitamin B5 / Panthenol is that it can strengthen hair.  The thing about provitamins is that it only converts to B5 when it attaches to other molecules.  Panthenol also helps retain moisture – and who doesn’t need that?  But, of all these benefits, is there something about panthenol that can cause some people issues?  That’s what we’ll look at next.

The Hidden Problem

So, here’s the problem…we see Provitamin B5 and we think it’s a good ingredient.  It may very well be – for those people who don’t have problematic skin.  If you suffer from acne and think that a provitamin B5 is OK, here’s where you may have been steered wrong and will help us answer the question:  ‘Does panthenol clog pores?’.

Does Panthenol Clog Pores?

Yes, some tests show that panthenol can clog pores with oil.  If clogged, acne can result.  Does this happen to everyone?  Obviously not because some people have no reaction and love the ingredient.  This is why you need to look at every ingredient in a product and determine for yourself.  It helps to know which ingredients cause problems.

I’ve spent years dealing with sensitive skin (and acne) but I didn’t know why.  Once I figured out that certain ingredients were causing my issues, I knew what to stop using.  It’s also what brought me to start making my own Nutt So Ruff scrub bars because I was tired of the harsh ingredients in exfoliators!  For more information on skin ingredients, check here.  So, choose for yourself.  Take a look at your products and see if any contain ‘panthenol’.  If they do, it could be part of your problem.

Products that contain Panthenol

So, when you’re asking yourself, ‘Does panthenol clog pores’ you already know you need to watch out for products that contain this ingredient.  One product that is notorious for using this ingredient in their products is Pantene.  They were the first to use it regularly in their marketing.  Some people really love their products but if you are using any of product from any manufacturer that contains panthenol, you may want to consider stopping it if you are getting breakouts on your face, neck, chest, or back – even your upper arms.  The panthenol could be depositing on your skin by your hair.  Watch those ingredients!  Read the labels!

You could also always do an elimination of certain products, one by one.  To do this, choose one product you suspect is causing problems for you.  Then, eliminate it from your beauty regimen for at least 4 weeks.  You need that amount of time so that your skin can normalize again.  If it clears up, you may have found your answer.

You can always try to add it back to see what happens – if you dare.  But, know that if you do this, your acne could come back.  I would err on the side of caution and completely remove it from my skin care regimen.

Alternatives

You can also make your own shampoo.  There’s a ton of different recipes you can find online.  That way, you don’t have to worry about the ingredients because you know exactly what is in your shampoo and no more wondering, ‘ does panthenol clog pores’!