Panthenol is the absorbable form of a common B vitamin, used mostly on the body's surface, not swallowed. On skin, eye or nasal linings stripped by detergents, lasers, surgery or dry air, it restores the barrier faster, holds more water, and speeds shallow wound closure. Effects elsewhere are weaker, mixed or absent. Panthenol is itself a delayed skin allergen. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Transepidermal water loss | Below 10–15 g/m²/h on forearm skin | Direct read-out of barrier integrity, the primary target |
| Stratum corneum hydration by corneometry | Above 40 arbitrary corneometer units | Quantifies the water-binding half of the mechanism |
| Patch test to dexpanthenol 5% in petrolatum | Negative at every reading | Detects the principal risk before large-area exposure |
| SCORAD or equivalent validated severity score | At least 50% reduction from own baseline by week 4 | Converts instrument readings into a clinical endpoint |
| Whole-blood pantothenate | 1.6–2.7 µmol/L | Systemic vitamin B5 status; relevant only for oral use |
| Urinary pantothenic acid excretion | 2–7 mg per 24 hours | Reflects recent intake better than blood level |
Cadence: Symptom and photograph check at 1 week and 4 weeks, instrument re-measurement at 4 weeks, then every 6–12 months while use continues, with immediate reassessment if dermatitis appears or worsens.