The key difference between Aquaphor and Vaseline is that Aquaphor contains petroleum jelly along with other components such as mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol, panthenol, glycerine, and bisabolol, whereas Vaseline contains 100% petroleum jelly.
Aquaphor and Vaseline are petroleum-derived products that are suitable to be applied on the skin for different specific purposes, such as sealing off the moisture of the skin. These two products have different chemical compositions.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Aquaphor
3. What is Vaseline
4. Aquaphor vs Vaseline Jelly
5. Summary – Aquaphor vs Vaseline
What is Aquaphor?
Aquaphor is a medication used as a moisturizer to treat or prevent dry, rough, scaly, itchy skin and minor skin irritations. The generic name of this substance is mineral oil-hydrophil petrolat. It can treat skin irritations like diaper rash and skin burns from radiation therapy. If you are using this medication to treat a diaper rash, it is very important to clean the diaper area well before applying it and allow it to dry before applying the product. If you are using it for radiation skin burns, it is important to check with radiation personnel to check whether this product can be applied before radiation therapy.
There can be some side effects of this product, including burning, stinging, redness, or irritation. However, most people who use this product have not gotten any serious side effects. If an unusual condition on the skin appears, it is important to consult the doctor immediately; e.g., turning white, soft, soggy from too much wetness, etc.
What is Vaseline?
Vaseline is a trade name for a form of petroleum jelly, which is highly pure and has other components such as minerals and microcrystalline wax. This is a common household product. We use it as a skin protecting agent, lotion, and for cleansing the skin. This compound is smoother than normal petroleum jelly. In addition, it has a fragrance similar to baby powder.
This product is available as lotions, creams, or ointments. Moreover, we can use this product as a lubricant. Another importance is that Vaseline can heal minor cuts and burns.
Usually, petroleum jelly is made by distilling the waxy petroleum that forms on oil rings. White petroleum or petrolatum is the lighter and thinner oil-based petroleum jelly. In the manufacturing process, the crude material basically undergoes vacuum distillation. Then the residue material is filtered through bone char, giving petroleum jelly.
Originally, Vaseline was marketed as a burn ointment. It does not cure burns or other wounds, but it can seal a cleaned burn or injury off from contamination or further infection. Also, we can apply this product to dry and chapped skin to seal in moisture. There is a derivative named red veterinary petroleum which confers some protection against UV exposure, and it has been used as a sunscreen.
What is the Difference Between Aquaphor and Vaseline?
Aquaphor and Vaseline have different chemical compositions. The key difference between Aquaphor and Vaseline is that Aquaphor contains petroleum jelly along with other components such as mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol, panthenol, glycerine, and bisabolol, whereas Vaseline contains 100% petroleum jelly.
The following table summarizes the difference between Aquaphor and Vaseline.
Summary – Aquaphor vs Vaseline
Vaseline has become a common brand in the market due to its wide variety of uses. Aquaphor is a similar product but with slight differences in chemical composition, which makes it useful in different applications. The key difference between Aquaphor and Vaseline is that Aquaphor contains petroleum jelly along with other components such as mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol, panthenol, glycerine, and bisabolol, whereas Vaseline contains 100% petroleum jelly.
Reference:
1. “Aquaphor Topical: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing.” WebMD.
2. Helmenstine, Anne Marie. “What Is Petroleum Jelly? Chemical Composition.” ThoughtCo.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Vaseline in hand” (CC0) via Pxhere