Is d panthenol vegan?

In this brief guide, we will answer the query, “Is d panthenol vegan?” and will discuss the uses of d panthenol.

Is d panthenol vegan?

Maybe, d panthenol is vegan. d panthenol also known as provitamin B. In addition to synthetics, it may originate from animals or plants. Emollients may be found in shampoos and supplements. The concentration of D-panthenol in rinse-off shampoos and conditioners is 1%, and in leave-on preparations, it is 0.5% (6).

The global mineral cosmetics market size was valued at USD 2.05 billion in 2021 and is expected to achieve USD 2.94 billion by 2026 (6).

What is panthenol, and how does it differ from vitamin B?

Vitamin B-5, or pantothenic acid, is a chemical compound that is the source of panthenol. Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenate, is a water‐soluble B‐complex vitamin. It is derived from the Greek word “Pantos” meaning “everywhere” and is well known as the “anti‐stress vitamin.” It is the precursor for the biosynthesis of the phosphopantetheine moiety of coenzyme A (CoA) and of the acyl carrier protein (1).

It may be made from both plant and animal sources and is naturally occurring. It’s utilized in a variety of cosmetic goods across the world as an ingredient.

So many popular foods contain pantothenic acid that you’re probably already taking it in. Because panthenol is often found in many cosmetics and personal care products. The B vitamins have been shown to have an intestinal bacterial source and a food source, suggesting that the normal intestinal microbiome may have always been their primary source. B5 is ubiquitous in food and is supplied by the normal intestinal bacteria. Foods rich in pantothenic acid include animal organs (liver and kidney), fish, shellfish, milk products, eggs, avocados, legumes, mushrooms, and sweet potatoes. As pantothenic acid is widely distributed in nature, its deficiency is extremely rare in humans. Its deficiency may cause a reduction in cortisol   production, increased arthritic pain, myalgia, fatigue, headache, depression, insomnia, and widespread “proinflammatory” effects on the immune system (1).

White powder or clear oil are the most common forms of Panthenol at room temperature. On ingredient lists, panthenol may be referred to by a different name, such as Butanamide alcohol analog of pantothenic acid provitamin B-5 dexpanthenol D-pantothenyl alcohol

Vitamin B-5 is formed when panthenol is taken into the body.

What’s the purpose of it?

Panthenol is often used as a moisturizer in topical cosmetics. As a calming, relaxing, and anti-irritant ingredient, it may also be found in a wide variety of cosmetics. It also aids in the formation of a barrier on your skin to protect it from irritation and water loss. D-Panthenol is found in various commercial skin creams, lipsticks, aftershave lotions and hair preparations for its anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties. It can be incorporated into standard cosmetic formulations with no adjustments other than maintaining the pH conditions for the optimum stability of the agent. Panthenol is present in approximately 284 cosmetic products in concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 5% (2).

Products for the skin

Skin and hair health is dependent on the intake of vitamin B-5. Adding panthenol, a derivative of panthenol, to skincare products like lotions and cleansers makes sense. Lipstick, foundation, and mascara are all examples of products containing it. Insect bite lotions, poison ivy creams, and even diaper rash creams include panthenol.

Clinical observations have reported that topically applied panthenol is an aid in superficial wound healing in burns, fissures, corneal lesions, and allergic dermatitis, and it is well tolerated, with minimal risks of skin irritancy. Indeed, it has been  shown that panthenol has protective effects against skin irritation. In one irritation model, pretreatment with dexpanthenol cream resulted in significantly less damage to the stratum corneum barrier when compared with no pretreatment. However, its exact mechanism of action is not yet fully understood (3).

Peptides having anti-inflammatory characteristics are listed by the National Center of Biotechnology Information as skin protectors. The hydration, elasticity, and smoothness of the skin may all be improved by using this product. It also has a calming effect:

·         Small wounds or sores like insect bites or shaving discomfort may cause red skin inflammation.

·         Wound healing and other skin irritations like eczema may be helped by panthenol.

Products for hair

Your hair’s condition may be improved by using panthenol in your hair care products.

·         Shine

·         Softness

·         Strength

Locking in moisture may also prevent your hair from style and environmental damage. According to research, panthenol may be able to decrease the progression of thinning hair and make it less noticeable. For the trial, it was used as a leave-in therapy with additional active components.

In a study, a combined hair therapeutic product containing panthenol, caffeine and niacinamide was determined to produce a significant increase in the diameter of individual, existing terminal scalp hair fibers of multiple types – virgin, bleached, fine and thick. The 2–5 lm increase in diameter yields an increase in the cross-sectional area of approximately 10%, which has potential for a considerable cumulative thickening effect when applied to the thousands of fibers on a head of hair. Beyond the diameter increase, the CNPDA-thickened fibers demonstrated the altered mechanical properties characteristic of thicker fibers: increased suppleness ⁄ pliability (decreased shear modulus) and better ability to withstand force without breaking (increased break stress) (4).

Toenail care items

Your nails and hair are both composed of keratin proteins. Panthenol strengthens fingers and toenails as a result. Nail treatments, hand lotions, and cuticle oils may include the ingredient. According to research, adding panthenol to the nail may help hydrate the nail and keep it from breaking.

Are there any side effects of panthenol?

Panthenol has been authorized for use in cosmetics by both the FDA and the European Commission on Cosmetic Ingredients. In general, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) considers panthenol to be “potentially safe.” “Likely safe” for children’s topical usage is also indicated.

As a food component or supplement, panthenol is now included in the FDA’s “Generally Recognized as Safe” database. Panthenol and pantothenic acid may be found in food and supplements, but putting them on your skin or hair can be quite a different experience.

As a dietary supplement, it is universally accepted as healthy, but for topical application on the skin, hair, and nails, it is only deemed “possibly safe.” That implies there is no strong proof that panthenol is harmful, and there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that it is beneficial for a wide range of skin issues. The FDA, on the other hand, believes that additional research is necessary since there isn’t enough data.

A panel of experts from the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was convened in 2017 to evaluate the safety of panthenol on the skin in light of current studies (5).

Cosmetic items containing panthenol have not been reported to irritate or adversely damage the skin, save in cases of allergic reactions. Topical panthenol has a very low occurrence of adverse effects. However, the most common adverse effects include contact dermatitis.

Skin irritation and sensitization studies of cosmetic products at concentrations up to 0.5% indicated these are mild irritants, but did not induce allergic sensitization. The Salmonella trphimurium assay to investigate the mutagenic potential of d-panthenol and calcium pantothenate gave no evidence of mutagenicity (2).

Despite this, the FDA hasn’t formally given panthenol a “safe” certification, so it’s vital to keep that in mind. Vitamin B-5 is already found in large quantities in our meals, thus the quantity of panthenol in cosmetics shouldn’t do any damage when absorbed into the human body, according to the CIR. This means that the use of topical panthenol does not pose a risk to the body’s overall health.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the query, “Is d panthenol vegan?” and discussed the uses of d panthenol.

References