What is Petrolatum?
Petrolatum falls into the occlusive category — an occlusive that seals moisture into the skin. A pure occlusive rated 0-1 and considered non-comedogenic in practice. Fatty-acid free, so it is fungal-acne safe.
You may see it on labels as Petrolatum, Petroleum Jelly, Petroleum, White Petrolatum, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Petrolatum shows up
As an occlusive that seals moisture into the skin, Petrolatum typically appears in ointments, heavy night creams, and lip products. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 0/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Petrolatum bad for acne-prone skin?
Because it barely registers on the comedogenic scale, Petrolatum is generally a safe pick for breakout-prone skin and is often recommended as a gentler alternative to heavier ingredients.