Pro-vitamin B5 is the alcohol form of vitamin B5. It occurs organically and can also be produced from both plant and animal sources. It’s used as an additive in various cosmetic products around the world.
Topical pro-vitamin B5 has a strong moisturizing efficacy, it activates the proliferation of fibroblasts to promote wound healing process. When lotions, creams, ointments, and formulations containing provitamin B5 are applied to and absorbed by the skin, this provitamin is transformed into vitamin B5.

Vitamin B5, also known as Panthoneic Acid.

Pro-Vitamin B5 absorbs water from the air or the base layer of the skin and directs these molecules toward the stratum corneum to help the skin retain moisture.

SKIN BENEFITS

Unlike other common moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, panthenol has the added advantage of acting as both a humectant and an emollient.
Humectants attract to and bind water to the skin, while emollients seal in the cracks in the skin, keeping that water locked in.

•  Improves moisture retention in the skin: Panthenol penetrates the lower skin layers and imbues water into the cells, retaining moisture deep within the tissue.
• Prevents trans-epidermal water loss: Along with retaining moisture in the skin, it also helps stimulate cells that boost skin barrier function. A strong, healthy, intact barrier locks in moisture and keeps it from escaping.
• Helps with wound healing: Those same cells that boost skin barrier function are also important for wound healing, which is why panthenol is often used to for minor skin injuries. Fun fact: tattoo artists often recommend that their clients use a moisturizing cream with panthenol after getting a tattoo.
• Delivers anti-inflammatory benefits: Panthenol has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect on UV-induced redness, which is why it’s often found in ointments used for sunburns. Similarly, it can also help reduce itchiness for people dealing with dermatitis.

HAIR CARE

Pro-vitamin B5 helps strengthen hair, retain moisture, and improves the texture of damaged hair. It also protects the hair from styling or environmental damage by locking in moisture. Therefore, it is often the main ingredient in many hair masks and conditioners.

NAIL CARE

Pro-vitamin B5 can be found in the shine and strengthening nail treatments, or in hand creams and cuticle oils to moisturize and prevent nails from breaking.

Pro-vitamin B5 (Panthenol) is safe to use in cosmetics with the concentrates specified in its safety assessment.

https://online.personalcarecouncil.org/ctfa-static/online/lists/cir-pdfs/FR737.pdf

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21982351/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7407203/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12113650