In what circumstance would you use petroleum jelly (Vaseline) on a wound?

From the Guidelines

I would not recommend using petrol jelly (petroleum jelly) or Vaseline directly on open wounds, as it can seal in bacteria and increase infection risk, and instead recommend cleaning the wound thoroughly and using an occlusive dressing to promote wound healing, as suggested by the 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1.

Wound Care Recommendations

• Clean the wound thoroughly with mild soap and water or saline solution to remove debris and prevent infection
• Apply an antibiotic ointment if needed to reduce the risk of infection
• Cover the wound with an occlusive dressing to promote wound healing and prevent moisture loss
• Avoid using petrol jelly or Vaseline on deep wounds, puncture wounds, animal bites, or infected wounds, as it can increase infection risk

Important Considerations

• The use of petrol jelly or Vaseline on open wounds is not recommended, as it can create a barrier that prevents the skin from breathing and increases the risk of infection
• The 2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid recommend using an occlusive dressing to promote wound healing, rather than petrol jelly or Vaseline 1
• Other studies, such as the IWGDF guidelines on interventions to enhance healing of foot ulcers in people with diabetes, also recommend against using topical antiseptic or antimicrobial dressings, and instead suggest using dressings that absorb exudate and maintain a moist wound healing environment 1

From the Research

Wound Care with Petrolatum or Vaseline

• Petrolatum-based ointments, such as white petroleum jelly, are commonly used to keep wounds moist postoperatively 2.
• These ointments can promote wound healing, but may also cause wound redness and swelling 2.
• A study comparing two petrolatum-based ointments found that surgical wounds treated with Aquaphor Healing Ointment had a higher incidence of wound redness than those treated with plain white petrolatum 2.
• Another study found that a petrolatum-based ointment provided equivalent efficacy for wound healing as a combination antibiotic first-aid ointment, suggesting that antibiotics may not be necessary for wound healing 3.

Safety Precautions

• The use of petroleum-based products, such as Vaseline, should be avoided when handling patients under oxygen therapy due to the risk of fire or explosion 4.
• Instead, oil-in-water creams or water-based products can be used for skin moisturizing or lubrication when oxygen therapy is required 4.

General Wound Care Guidelines

• Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for certain surgical procedures to reduce the incidence of surgical wound infection 5.
• The timing and selection of antibiotic administration are critical to efficacy, and postoperative administration is generally not recommended 5.