In-Depth Spotlight of the Ingredient Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5):

It is one of the B-complex vitamins, which regulate multiple physiological processes inside your body and are considered the building blocks of your overall health. Provitamin B5 (or panthenol) is the alcohol form of vitamin B5 when applied topically to the skin, it converts into a pantothenic acid which absorbs deeply into the skin’s layers. Panthothenic acid or vitamin B5 is listed in skin care products under the names d-panthenol (Provitamin B5), dexpanthenol, and dl-panthenol. It is water soluble and often used as an emulsifier in creams and moisturizers giving them their smooth texture so they spread evenly when applied to your skin.

Panthenol is an amazing humectant that attracts moisture and helps the skin absorb and retain it. This ability strengthens the skin’s outer layers (the stratum corneum) and protective barrier.

Benefits of Panthenol:

It keeps your skin hydrated:

vitamin B5 prevents water loss from your skin and helps in retaining moisture. This, in turn, prevents dry skin, flakiness, and itchiness and maintains the softness and elasticity of your skin. It also helps to maintain the skin barrier function.  This property of vitamin B5 is beneficial in healing atopic dermatitis.

Prevents skin redness and inflammation:

Dexpanthenol has an anti-inflammatory effect on your skin. When applied topically, it protects your skin from erythema or redness caused by UV exposure. A study found that dexpanthenol minimized skin roughness and inflammation caused by SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)

It’s a wound healer

Applying pantothenic acid can heal wounds and make scars less visible. This is because pantothenic acid boosts the development of structural proteins (such as collagen) that your skin needs to regenerate. Tissue remodeling has an increased need for pantothenic acid because of the increased turnover of cells for wound repair.  It has been suggested that the reported beneficial effect of dexpanthenol on wound healing is the result of increased fibroblast proliferation and accelerated both processes are important for the cure of deep and superficial wounds

An Effective Antioxidant

Provitamin B5 or d-panthenol boosts the production of glutathione in your skin. This component binds the free radicals and peroxides, which, in turn, reduces the formation of melanin and minimizes the appearance of dark spots on your face

Has Anti-Aging Effects

Pantothenic acid or Provitamin B5 helps in the production of fibroblasts in the middle layer of your skin (the layer where wrinkles form) and boosts collagen, glycan, and elastin production, which makes your skin appear youthful

References:

Topical use of dxpanthenol in skin disorders

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12113650

Effect of topically applied dexpanthenol on epidermal barrier function and stratnum corneum hydration. Results of a hyman in vivo study.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10965426

Dexpanthenol enhances skin barrier repair and reduces inflammation after sodium lauryl sulphate-induced irritation.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19753737

Topical use of dexpanthenol

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09546634.2017.1325310

Comparison of Anti-Aging effects between Vitamin B3 and Provitamin B5

http://sphinxsai.com/2016/ph_vol9_no7/1/(99-104)V9N7PT.pdf

Panthenol for skin hydration, healing, revitalization and more

http://www.smartskincare.com/treatments/topical/panthenol.html