Panthenol, is derived directly from Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic Acid.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

It promotes lipid synthesis and enables skin barrier function. It has favourable and lasting effects on barrier function and repair as well as on skin hydration without adversely affecting bacterial viability in the skin microflora (1). Has favorable and lasting effects on barrier function and repair as well as skin hydration without negatively affecting bacterial viability in the skin microflora (1).

It also regenerates the skin, helps its growth, contributes to the body's energy supply, and possesses a positive effect on the epithelium in general (2).

The presence of panthenol in a semi-solid oil/water and water/oil formulation significantly improves skin barrier repair and stratum corneum hydration (3).

In cosmetic use it is an emollient, humectant, moisturizer and compared to Vitamin B5, Panthenol it has some advantages including the greater solubility in liquids.

INCI functions:

Antistatic agent. Static electricity build-up has a direct influence on products and causes electrostatic adsorption. The antistatic ingredient reduces static build-up and surface resistivity on the surface of the skin and hair.

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

For more information:

Panthenol studies

• Molecular Formula: C₉H₁₉NO₄
• Molecular Weight: 205.254 g/mol
• CAS: 16485-10-2     81-13-0
• EC Number: 240-540-6
• PubChem Substance ID 57652627
• MDL number: MFCD00065006
• Beilstein Registry Number: 1724947

Synonyms:

• DL-Panthenol
• (R)-(+)-2,4-Dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethylbutyramide
• (R)-2,4-Dihydroxy-3,3-dimethylbutyric 3-hydroxypropylamide, D-Pantothenyl alcohol
• Dexpanthenol
• Provitamin B
• DL-Pantothenol
• 2,4-Dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethylbutanamide
• DL-Pantothenyl alcohol
• Penthenol
• Panthenolum
• Varitan
• Pantothenylol
• d-Pantothenol
• Butanamide, 2,4-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethyl-
• Intrapan
• Dexpantenol
• Dexpanthenolum
• (+-)-2,4-Dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethylbutyramide
• 2,4-Dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethylbutyramide
• Butanamide, 2,4-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethyl-, (+-)-
• Butyramide, 2,4-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethyl-, DL-
• Butanamide, 2,4-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethyl-, (+)- (9CI)
• Panthenol, (+)-
• Pantothenol, D-
• N-Pantoyl-3-propanolamine
• SR-05000001760
• 2,4-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethyl-butanamide
• (R)-2,4-Dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxy-propyl)-3,3-dimethylbutanamide
• Dexpanthenol [USAN:INN:BAN]
• NSC302962
• D(+)-alpha,gamma-Dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-beta,beta-dimethylbutyramide
• d,l- panthenol
• Fancol DL
• alpha,gamma-Dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-beta,beta-dimethylbutyramide, D-(+)-
• 2,3-dimethylbutyramide
• (R)-(+)-2,4-Dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethylbutyramide
• Jsp003309
• Butanamide, 2,4-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethyl-, (theta)-
• CHEMBL1371937

References_________________________________________________________________

(1) Stettler H, Kurka P, Lunau N, Manger C, Böhling A, Bielfeldt S, Wilhelm KP, Dähnhardt-Pfeiffer S, Dähnhardt D, Brill FH, Lenz H. A new topical panthenol-containing emollient: Results from two randomized controlled studies assessing its skin moisturization and barrier restoration potential, and the effect on skin microflora. J Dermatolog Treat. 2017 Mar;28(2):173-180. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2016.1214235.

(2) Ebner F, Heller A, Rippke F, Tausch I. Topical use of dexpanthenol in skin disorders. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2002;3(6):427-33. doi: 10.2165/00128071-200203060-00005.

(3) Pavlačková J, Egner P, Sedláček T, Mokrejš P, Sedlaříková J, Polášková J. In vivo efficacy and properties of semisolid formulations containing panthenol. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 Feb;18(1):346-354. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12527.