Aquaphor for Acne: Does It Help or Clog Pores?

By Nicki Wilson in Lifestyle & Skincare · Published June 26, 2026 · Updated October 9, 2026

An open, unlabeled white tub of thick white ointment with a swirl on top, its lid and a small spatula on a speckled stone bathroom shelf

Quick answer: Nothing we found shows that Aquaphor® treats acne, and its Drug Facts label doesn’t list acne among its uses. Whether it clogs pores isn’t settled for Aquaphor itself. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says to avoid putting petroleum jelly on your face if you are acne-prone, as it may cause breakouts in some people. A 2024 dermatology review calls the idea of petrolatum as a cause of acne a misconception. The label’s uses include temporarily protecting minor cuts and chapped lips, and you can ask your prescriber how those fit your acne treatment.

This page doesn’t recommend Aquaphor or any other brand, and it shows no patient photos. The medical facts come from the product’s label on DailyMed, the AAD, MedlinePlus and PubMed. The process notes come from running iPledge logistics for people on isotretinoin every month.

What is Aquaphor, and what uses does its label list?

Aquaphor Healing Ointment is an over-the-counter skin protectant whose active ingredient is petrolatum at 41%, according to its label. The label lists mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol, panthenol, glycerin and bisabolol as its other ingredients. That’s different from plain petroleum jelly, since the Vaseline Healing Jelly label lists white petrolatum at 100% as its active ingredient.

The Aquaphor label says it temporarily protects minor cuts, scrapes and burns, and temporarily protects and helps relieve chapped or cracked skin and lips. It also helps protect from the drying effects of wind and cold weather, according to the label. It also lists diaper rash, and it doesn’t list acne. Its warnings say not to get it into your eyes, and not to use it on deep or puncture wounds, animal bites or serious burns. It says to stop use and ask a doctor if the condition worsens. The same applies if symptoms last more than 7 days, or clear up and come back within a few days.

Ointments like this are usually described as occlusive, meaning they hold water in the skin. A 1992 study in human volunteers tested that idea with petroleum jelly after the skin barrier was disrupted with acetone. Petroleum jelly sped up the barrier’s recovery rather than slowing it. The authors found it worked its way into the outer skin layer instead of forming a sealed film.

Does Aquaphor help acne or make pimples go away?

None of the sources we checked shows that Aquaphor clears acne, and its label doesn’t list acne as a use. For pimples, the AAD says to treat your acne with acne medication rather than pop or squeeze them. It says to use an acne product for 6 to 8 weeks to see some improvement, and that complete clearing generally takes 3 to 4 months.

Moisturizer still has a job in acne care, and that’s where the confusion starts. The AAD says benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, adapalene, tazarotene, tretinoin and isotretinoin tend to dry and irritate the skin. It says using a moisturizer every day can help your skin tolerate these medications. The AAD also says that when your skin becomes dry, your body makes more oil, and the extra oil can clog your pores.

So a product can help an acne routine without treating acne. For acne-prone skin, the AAD says to look for a moisturizer labeled oil-free, non-comedogenic or won’t clog pores, which it says is unlikely to cause acne. In the studies it describes, most patients saw less acne between 4 and 8 weeks after starting an acne-friendly moisturizer. Every patient in those studies was also following a plan with acne medication, cleanser and moisturizer.

Does Aquaphor clog pores, and is it comedogenic?

None of the sources we checked tests Aquaphor itself for clogged pores, and dermatology sources disagree about petrolatum, its main ingredient. On its petroleum jelly page, the AAD says to avoid putting petroleum jelly on your face if you’re acne-prone, as this may cause breakouts in some people. A 2024 review in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology details the data on petrolatum’s comedogenicity. It describes the idea of petrolatum as a cause of acne as a misconception.

A small white squeeze tube with its cap off beside a curving ribbon and a small smear of glossy off-white ointment on white ceramic tiles

The older research shows why both views exist. A 1985 case report in Archives of Dermatology carries the title “Acne secondary to white petrolatum use”. A 2007 rabbit-ear study tested a list of cosmetic ingredients that included petrolatum. It deemed the first nine on that list positive for comedones, and petrolatum wasn’t among them. A 1982 review had already warned that the rabbit-ear test has many problems and lacks correlation with experience in humans.

Aquaphor’s label also lists lanolin alcohol. A 2023 review in Cutis says lanolin was named the American Contact Dermatitis Society Allergen of the Year that year. The review says lanolin is thought to be a rare sensitizer in people with healthy skin. It adds that people with chronic inflammatory skin conditions are at higher risk of allergic contact dermatitis to it. The review covers lanolin rather than lanolin alcohol, and it doesn’t test Aquaphor.

Until a source settles it for Aquaphor itself, keep it off your face if you’re acne-prone, as the AAD advises for petroleum jelly. On your face, the AAD’s acne pages point to a moisturizer labeled oil-free or non-comedogenic, which it says is unlikely to cause acne. If you want to try it on a dry patch anyway, ask your prescriber first. The AAD warns that switching to a new acne treatment every week or so can irritate your skin and cause breakouts, so make one change at a time.

Is slugging with Aquaphor a good idea if you have acne?

Slugging isn’t part of the AAD advice we found for acne-prone faces, and a 2022 study flagged its risks. That study in Clinics in Dermatology defines slugging as slathering a petrolatum-based ointment on the skin as the last step of an evening routine. The authors wrote that, due to its occlusive nature, slugging has a potential risk for harm.

The same study screened the top 50 TikTok videos on slugging and judged 18 of the videos to be educational. Health care providers made more of the educational videos, while influencers made more of the patient-experience videos. Slugging on your face would put a petrolatum ointment where the AAD’s petroleum jelly page tells acne-prone people to avoid petroleum jelly.

If you’re on isotretinoin and dryness is what pushes you toward slugging, the AAD’s isotretinoin page offers a different route. It suggests a rich, creamy moisturizer or emollient after bathing and as needed, and products labeled hypoallergenic or non-comedogenic.

Can you use Aquaphor while on Accutane?

The AAD’s advice for people taking isotretinoin puts petroleum jelly on the lips and just inside the nostrils, and an oil-free moisturizer on the face. The AAD says dry skin, chapped lips, dry and irritated eyes, and even nosebleeds are common while taking isotretinoin. It also says the dryness will clear once you stop.

A capped squeeze tube on a folded white cloth, an uncapped lip balm stick and a white pump bottle on a grey linen tray, with a lamp glowing behind

For lips, the AAD suggests lip balm with SPF 30 or higher outdoors, and petroleum jelly throughout the day and before bed indoors. For dryness inside your nose, it suggests a moisturizing nasal spray or a very small amount of petroleum jelly just inside the nostril. It says not to snort or inhale the jelly. It also suggests petroleum jelly in a squeeze tube, so you’re less likely to put germs from the container into your nose.

The AAD names petroleum jelly, not Aquaphor, and Aquaphor has ingredients beyond petrolatum. Ask your prescriber whether it’s a fine swap in your case. The Aquaphor label says not to get it into your eyes, and for dry eyes the AAD suggests saline eye drops or artificial tears.

For your face, neck, shoulders and back, the AAD suggests an oil-free moisturizer while your skin is still damp after cleansing, and whenever it feels dry. Our article on a skincare routine while on Accutane walks through the AAD’s 4-step plan. Our sibling article covers how to choose a moisturizer for dry skin on Accutane.

From running iPledge logistics, we know months 2 and 3 are when the dryness routine needs its supplies. Ordering lip care after your lips crack means a bad week, so buy it before the dryness starts. The AAD says a doctor can only prescribe isotretinoin for 30 days at a time, and you check in with your dermatologist to get each refill. It says to mention any change in how you feel, even if it seems unrelated to taking isotretinoin.

Can you use Aquaphor with tretinoin?

MedlinePlus says your doctor may tell you to use a skin moisturizer to help with dryness from tretinoin. Neither MedlinePlus nor the AAD names Aquaphor or an ointment for this. The AAD’s advice for acne-prone skin is a moisturizer labeled oil-free or non-comedogenic.

Timing matters when you judge any new product. MedlinePlus says your acne will probably get worse during the first 7 to 10 days of tretinoin, with red, scaling skin and more acne sores. It says the sores should improve in 2 to 3 weeks of regular use, and sometimes more than 6 weeks. If you add an ointment during that stretch, it’s hard to tell which product caused a flare. Our tretinoin before and after article covers that timeline in more detail.

Can you put Aquaphor on a popped pimple?

The AAD’s first advice is not to pop pimples at all, and Aquaphor’s label covers minor cuts and scrapes rather than acne. The AAD says popping or squeezing is likely to push some of what’s inside, such as pus, dead skin cells or bacteria, deeper into your skin. It says this increases inflammation and can lead to more noticeable acne, and sometimes scarring and pain.

For minor wounds such as cuts, scrapes and scratches, the AAD’s wound care advice is to wash the area gently and use petroleum jelly to keep it moist. It says this prevents a scab, which takes longer to heal, and helps keep a scar from getting too large, deep or itchy. These AAD pages don’t address an opened pimple. The Aquaphor label says not to use it on deep or puncture wounds. If an injury is deep, very painful or infected, the AAD says to seek immediate medical care.

What should acne-prone skin use instead?

The AAD’s everyday advice for acne-prone skin centers on gentle washing and products labeled non-comedogenic. From its list of habits that can worsen acne, the swaps are:

Use makeup, sunscreen, skin and hair products labeled non-comedogenic or won’t clog pores.
Wash your face twice a day with a mild, non-comedogenic cleanser, and after you sweat.
If your skin feels dry, use a moisturizer made for acne-prone skin twice a day after washing.
During a workout, pat sweat away gently with a clean towel instead of rubbing.
Treat breakouts with acne medication instead of popping them.

The AAD adds that if you have deep or painful acne, seeing a dermatologist is necessary to help clear it. An ointment for your lips can sit alongside all of this, because none of the swaps above involve your lips.

Where does The Goal Is Clear fit?

The Goal Is Clear connects you with a board-certified dermatologist licensed in your state, who reviews your photos and history. You take a quiz of about two minutes, upload two photos and complete checkout. A board-certified dermatologist reviews your case within 24 hours, and a prescription is never guaranteed. The company doesn’t use nurse practitioners or physician assistants to diagnose acne or write prescriptions.

Once care starts, you can message your board-certified dermatologist through the dashboard with side-effect reports and photo updates, and a real person reads every message. Our Accutane FAQ notes that the Accutane® label doesn’t address shaving or makeup, and it says to ask your dermatologist in the dashboard, with a photo of the product. Every Accutane® patient gets an iPledge concierge who tracks monthly windows, pregnancy tests and refills.

In our experience running the process, iPledge doesn’t send a warning email when a window is missed, and nothing tells the patient. Our iPledge concierge tracks the windows, and every window-open and window-closing event triggers an alert, as our iPledge FAQ explains. Care is one flat price on the pricing page, and medication is billed separately by the pharmacy, as low as $0 for the prescription with insurance. You pay at checkout and get a full refund if your dermatologist doesn’t prescribe.

Common questions about Aquaphor for acne

Can Aquaphor help armpit pimples? Bumps in the armpit aren’t always acne, and none of the sources we checked tests Aquaphor on them. The AAD says hidradenitis suppurativa usually develops where skin touches skin, like in the armpits. It says the first sign is often a painful spot that looks like a deep pimple, acne cyst or boil. If you have a tender, deep lump there, the AAD says to see a dermatologist for a diagnosis.

Is Aquaphor for acne-prone skin non-comedogenic? None of the sources we checked tests Aquaphor itself for clogged pores. A 2024 JAAD review calls petrolatum as a cause of acne a misconception, while the AAD still says petroleum jelly on an acne-prone face may cause breakouts in some people. Ask your prescriber before you put it on your face.

Is Aquaphor better than Vaseline for acne-prone skin? Neither product’s label lists acne as a use, and none of the sources we checked compares them on acne. The Aquaphor label lists 41% petrolatum plus mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol, panthenol, glycerin and bisabolol. The Vaseline Healing Jelly label lists white petrolatum at 100%.

Can you use Aquaphor for acne that’s cystic? Its label doesn’t list acne, and none of the sources we checked tests Aquaphor on cystic acne. The AAD says that if you have deep or painful acne, seeing a dermatologist is necessary to help clear your acne.

Can you put Aquaphor on your lips while on Accutane? The AAD suggests petroleum jelly on your lips throughout the day and before bed when you’re indoors, and lip balm with SPF 30 or higher outdoors. It names petroleum jelly rather than Aquaphor, so ask your prescriber whether Aquaphor is a fine swap for you.

What’s the simplest way to think about Aquaphor and acne?

Treat Aquaphor as a skin protectant for uses such as chapped lips and minor cuts, rather than as an acne product. That matches what its label lists. Keep it off your face if you’re acne-prone, as the AAD advises for petroleum jelly. Use a moisturizer labeled oil-free or non-comedogenic there instead. If you’re on isotretinoin or tretinoin, ask your prescriber before adding it, and add one product at a time.

If you’d like a board-certified dermatologist to look at your acne, take the two-minute quiz and upload two photos. Our article on living well on acne treatment covers skincare, diet and daily habits, and the about page explains who runs the company.

This article is general information, not medical advice. A prescription is never guaranteed, and treatment decisions stay with the board-certified dermatologist who reviews your case. Aquaphor®, Vaseline® and Accutane® are registered trademarks of their respective owners, and this page isn’t affiliated with them. The Goal Is Clear is operated by BNG Health Services, LLC, which is not the prescribing physician; independent board-certified dermatologists prescribe.

Sources

General information from published sources, not medical advice. Your dermatologist makes every treatment decision after reviewing your case. The Goal Is Clear is operated by BNG Health Services, LLC, which is not the prescribing physician.

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