Aquaphor Healing Ointment
Everything behind the verdicts on this product: the rule that fired for each concern, the three answers and the documents they rest on, every study on the row with the date it was opened, and the versions of the tables that produced them. Nothing here is edited by hand; it is generated from the same records the verdicts are.
The scaleRecommendedGoodSupportingEarly evidenceNot for thisAvoidhow it works
Engine 5.2.0 · rules 0.5.1 · evidence table ev-2026.10-r231 · computed October 13, 2026 · how we decide · the evidence table · the anchors
for Dryness
Petrolatum is an approved or monograph active for dryness; this ointment carries it at 41%.
A first-line active — approved, monograph-listed or named in current guidelines — at an effective strength, with no trigger for the concern.
- Rule
- R2 → Strong choice. A first-line active (approved, monograph-listed or named in a current guideline); declared at a working strength, or a labelled active.
q1 = first-line · q2 = adequate
Why this rule exists: A regulator- or guideline-recognised first-line active, declared at an effective strength, in a form the claim supports.
Rule R2 decided 905 verdicts across the catalog; “Strong choice” is the verdict on 1,475 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Petrolatum 41%
- 1 · Standing
- First-line — a regulator recognises it for this use; its mechanism is established (a reference standard, not a trial result)
Document: § 347.50 Labeling of skin protectant drug products (indications for § 347.10 actives, incl. petrolatum) (U.S. Food and Drug Administration — 21 CFR Part 347 Subpart B, Code of Federal Regulations via GovInfo), opened July 27, 2026 - 2 · Form
- Adequate — declared at 41%
Studied range: 1–100%, from the trials on the row; needs leave-on contact; judge it after about 1 weeks - 3 · Tolerability
- Gentle
- Evidence dots
- Limited evidence
Row checked against its sources on July 27, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.10-r231). - What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
- Published anchor
- This pair is one of the anchors the engine is tested against: expected Strong choice — passes on this build.
Petrolatum 41%: monograph skin protectant, the benchmark occlusive.
The studies and documents on the row
- International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook — declared function — Personal Care Products Council
- United States Pharmacopeia / National Formulary — excipient monograph — USP-NF
- Harry's Cosmeticology / Baran & Maibach Textbook of Cosmetic Dermatology — humectant, emollient and occlusive classification — standard reference text
← Back to the verdict All dryness products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
for Eczema
Petrolatum is an approved or monograph active for eczema; this ointment carries it at 41%.
A first-line active — approved, monograph-listed or named in current guidelines — at an effective strength, with no trigger for the concern.
- Rule
- R2 → Strong choice. A first-line active (approved, monograph-listed or named in a current guideline); declared at a working strength, or a labelled active.
q1 = first-line · q2 = adequate
Why this rule exists: A regulator- or guideline-recognised first-line active, declared at an effective strength, in a form the claim supports.
Rule R2 decided 905 verdicts across the catalog; “Strong choice” is the verdict on 1,475 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Petrolatum 41%
- 1 · Standing
- First-line — a regulator recognises it for this use; its mechanism is established (a reference standard, not a trial result); trials support it
Document: 21 CFR § 347.50 - Labeling of skin protectant drug products. (US Code of Federal Regulations (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School)), opened July 27, 2026 - 2 · Form
- Adequate — declared at 41%
Studied range: up to 100%, from the OTC monograph or label; needs leave-on contact; judge it after about 1 weeks - 3 · Tolerability
- Gentle
- Evidence dots
- Moderate evidence
Row checked against its sources on July 27, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.10-r231). - What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
- Published anchor
- This pair is one of the anchors the engine is tested against: expected Strong choice or Good choice — passes on this build.
41% petrolatum: the reference occlusive emollient.
The studies and documents on the row
- Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis in adults with topical therapies — Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2023), opened July 17, 2026
- Emollients and moisturizers for eczema: abridged Cochrane systematic review including GRADE assessments — British Journal of Dermatology (2017), opened July 17, 2026
- Emollients and moisturisers for eczema — Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2017), opened July 17, 2026
- Petroleum jelly: A comprehensive review of its history, uses, and safety — Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2024), opened July 17, 2026
← Back to the verdict All eczema products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
for Compromised Skin Barrier
Petrolatum is a reference standard by mechanism for compromised skin barrier; this ointment carries it at 41%.
A trial-supported active, or a reference standard by mechanism, at a working level; or a first-line active below its studied range.
- Rule
- R5 → Good choice. A supported active (trial-backed, or a reference standard by mechanism); declared at a working strength, or a labelled active or at a plausible but undeclared level.
q1 = supported · q2 = adequate | plausible
Why this rule exists: Trial-supported or guideline-supported active, adequately or plausibly dosed.
Rule R5 decided 9,843 verdicts across the catalog; “Good choice” is the verdict on 10,340 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Petrolatum 41%
- 1 · Standing
- Supported — its mechanism is established (a reference standard, not a trial result)
- 2 · Form
- Adequate — declared at 41%
Studied range: 1–100%, from the trials on the row; needs leave-on contact; judge it after about 1 weeks - 3 · Tolerability
- Gentle
- Evidence dots
- Limited evidence
Row checked against its sources on July 17, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.10-r231). - What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
The studies and documents on the row
- International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook — declared function — Personal Care Products Council
- United States Pharmacopeia / National Formulary — excipient monograph — USP-NF
- Harry's Cosmeticology / Baran & Maibach Textbook of Cosmetic Dermatology — humectant, emollient and occlusive classification — standard reference text
← Back to the verdict All compromised skin barrier products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
for Winter Skin
Nothing here targets winter skin directly; occlusive hydration is the recognised companion to treating it, and this ointment does that without known triggers.
Nothing here targets the concern directly, but the product’s job — barrier care, gentle cleansing, photoprotection — is the recognised companion to treating it. Rinse-off products carrying leave-on actives land here too.
- Rule
- R8 → Supporting role. An active with early or mechanistic evidence only or an active researched for the concern and found wanting or an active with no evidence row for the concern yet; the product’s category job is a recognised companion to treating the concern.
q1 = plausible | none | not-assessed · supportive = true
Why this rule exists: The category's job (barrier care, humectant hydration, gentle cleansing, photoprotection) is the documented supportive role for this concern. This is the honest verdict for a moisturizer on an acne page.
Rule R8 decided 3,793 verdicts across the catalog; “Supporting role” is the verdict on 7,796 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Petrolatum 41%
- 1 · Standing
- Not assessed
No evidence row exists for this active and concern; it is in the research queue. - 2 · Form
- Plausible — declared at 41%
- 3 · Tolerability
- Gentle
- Evidence dots
- Not from a trial row
- What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
← Back to the verdict All winter skin products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
for Sensitivity
No fragrance, drying alcohol, declarable allergens or sensitising preservatives in this ointment — the profile sensitive skin looks for.
For sensitivity only: no fragrance, drying alcohol, declarable allergens or sensitising preservatives in the formula.
- Rule
- F2 → Good choice. The formula carries no trigger and no caution for the concern.
q3 = gentle
Why this rule exists: Gentle = no weighted deduction fired and fit ≥ 90.
Rule F2 decided 1,955 verdicts across the catalog; “Good choice” is the verdict on 1,955 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Petrolatum 41%
- 1 · Standing
- Not assessed
No evidence row exists for this active and concern; it is in the research queue. - 2 · Form
- Plausible — declared at 41%
- 3 · Tolerability
- Gentle
- Evidence dots
- Not from a trial row
- What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
← Back to the verdict All sensitivity products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
for Post-Procedure
Petrolatum is a reference standard by mechanism for post procedure; this ointment carries it at 41%.
A trial-supported active, or a reference standard by mechanism, at a working level; or a first-line active below its studied range.
- Rule
- R5 → Good choice. A supported active (trial-backed, or a reference standard by mechanism); declared at a working strength, or a labelled active or at a plausible but undeclared level.
q1 = supported · q2 = adequate | plausible
Why this rule exists: Trial-supported or guideline-supported active, adequately or plausibly dosed.
Rule R5 decided 9,843 verdicts across the catalog; “Good choice” is the verdict on 10,340 of 45,446. The full register. - Carrying active
- Petrolatum 41%
- 1 · Standing
- Supported — its mechanism is established (a reference standard, not a trial result); trials support it
- 2 · Form
- Adequate — declared at 41%
- 3 · Tolerability
- Gentle
- Evidence dots
- Moderate evidence
Row checked against its sources on July 17, 2026 (evidence table ev-2026.10-r231). - What readers report
- No reviews read yet for this product. Shown beside the verdict; never blended into it.
- Verdict since
- September 5, 2026 (unchanged across rebuilds since then)
- Published anchor
- This pair is one of the anchors the engine is tested against: expected Strong choice or Good choice — passes on this build.
Petrolatum ointment is the standard post-procedure wound care; monograph skin protectant.
The studies and documents on the row
- Infection and allergy incidence in ambulatory surgery patients using white petrolatum vs bacitracin ointment. A randomized controlled trial — JAMA (1996), opened July 17, 2026
- Gentamicin ointment versus petrolatum for management of auricular wounds — Dermatologic Surgery (2005), opened July 17, 2026
← Back to the verdict All post-procedure products → Disclose a concentration or correct a fact →
as a moisturizer
Does what a moisturizer is for: seals moisture in, draws in water.
- Rule
- J2 → Does the job. The category-job reading is 65 or more.
Category job score over the measured features 65–85. - Measured from the label
- draws in water, softens and smooths, seals moisture in, supplies barrier lipids, right weight for the job
- Tolerability
- Gentle
A verdict is Dermington’s assessment of how well a product’s ingredients fit a concern — never a claim about what the product treats. Every rule is public and the same for every product; a brand cannot buy a reading. How we decide · what has changed · disclaimer.