Panthenol

Also known as D-Panthenol, Dexpanthenol, Provitamin B5, (R)-2,4-Dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,3-dimethylbutanamide, Pantothenyl alcohol

Panthenol (D-panthenol; dexpanthenol; provitamin B5; CAS 81-13-0; C9H19NO4) is the stable alcohol analog of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). In the skin and body, panthenol is enzymatically converted to pantothenic acid, which is a precursor of coenzyme A — a critical cofactor in lipid metabolism and stratum corneum barrier lipid biosynthesis. In cosmetic formulations it functions as a humectant, skin conditioning agent, hair conditioning agent, and solvent, with documented soothing and wound-healing-support properties at typical use concentrations (0.5-5%). The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel originally assessed panthenol and pantothenic acid in 1987 (J Am Coll Toxicol 6(1):139-62), reaffirmed the safety conclusion in December 2004 (republished Int J Toxicol 25(Suppl 2), 2006), and issued an amended re-review in December 2017 that expanded the scope to include 5 additional pantothenic acid derivatives (Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether Acetate, Panthenyl Triacetate, and others). The 2017 re-review was subsequently published as Scott, Fiume, Bergfeld et al., Int J Toxicol 2022, PMID 36177798. All three assessments concluded that Panthenol and the related pantothenic acid derivatives are safe as used in cosmetics. The 2017/2022 re-review was initiated because of the high frequency of use of Panthenyl Ethyl Ether (382 reported cosmetic product uses in the US VCRP database) and found no additional safety concerns beyond the 1987 original. The QRT row carries no conditions or concentration limits.