Skin Health Skin Care & Cleansing Products What Is Lanolin? A Natural Moisturizer Sourced From Wool By Anastasia Climan, RDN, CD-N Anastasia Climan, RDN, CD-N Anastasia, RDN, CD-N, is a writer and award-winning healthy lifestyle coach who specializes in transforming complex medical concepts into accessible health content. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 11, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Leah Ansell, MD Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD LinkedIn Leah Ansell, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What It Is How It Works Uses Structure and Composition Benefits Risks Legality Frequently Asked Questions Lanolin is a waxy substance naturally produced as a protective barrier for sheep's wool. It's become a popular ingredient in moisturizers, hair care products, and soaps and is widely promoted as a natural skin care remedy for people who are breastfeeding. Learn about the potential risks, safety, efficacy of lanolin and lanolin-based products. SDI Productions / E+ / Getty Images What It Is The sebaceous glands of sheep secrete lanolin, which keeps their wool soft, moisturized, and guarded against the outside elements. Lanolin has similar properties to the sebum that's secreted by our skin. To extract lanolin for commercial use, raw wool is either treated with a soap solution or kneaded in hot water. A centrifuge then isolates the lanolin. Further processing includes bleaching, deodorizing, and drying. Lanolin is a waxy substance that's refined from sheep's wool. In the United States, there are over 50 unique types of sheep. There are new breeds introduced all the time from a pool of over 1,000 different species available worldwide. Certain sheep are raised solely for their wool. Others are grown for their meat or dairy, while many types serve multiple purposes. The wool of different breeds varies by length and texture. There are fine wool sheep, long wool sheep, medium wool sheep, hair sheep, and specialty types. Fine wool sheep produce the most lanolin. Although the fleece of fine wool sheep is generally shorter, it has high market value because it's not as itchy. For instance, Merino wool is a popular product from fine wool breeds. Its high lanolin content keeps the texture of Merino wool soft and fluffy. The industrial processing of raw lanolin transforms it into a product called Lansinoh. Lansinoh is virtually free of pesticides, detergents, and natural alcohols. As opposed to raw lanolin, Lansinoh has less allergic potential, making it more appealing for widespread use. How Lanolin Works Lanolin is known as an occlusive moisturizer. This means lanolin works by reducing water loss from the skin, similar to petroleum. While petroleum can block in 98% of the water from our skin, lanolin prevents evaporation by 20% to 30%. Lanolin is effective but not as heavy as petroleum. After purification, it's mixed with other types of moisturizers, along with fragrances and dyes, etc. for commercial use. Uses Doctors often recommend lanolin to people who are breastfeeding to ease nipple pain. La Leche League International also endorses this use. Study results are mixed. Some researchers report that the benefits of lanolin extend beyond other standard treatments (such as using expressed breast milk). Others indicate that lanolin has minimal impact on soreness after breastfeeding. Nonetheless, people given lanolin by their doctors report greater satisfaction with their overall postpartum care. Several infant care products also contain lanolin, like baby oil and diaper rash cream. Beyond its relevance on the maternity ward, a variety of over-the-counter products use lanolin as well, such as: Eye creams Hemorrhoid medication Lip balm Lotion for dry skin Makeup and makeup removers Medicated shampoos Mustache wax Shaving cream Structure and Composition Lanolin differs slightly from human sebum because it does not contain any triglycerides. On a molecular level, lanolin alcohols and acids make up the majority of lanolin. These compounds combine to form various structures known as esters, diesters, and high-molecular-weight hydroxyesters. When an alcohol and an acid bond together, esters are produced. This reaction is a condensation reaction, meaning water is lost during the process. "Wool fat" is a term often used to describe lanolin. However, a more accurate descriptor is "wool wax." Waxes and fats are similar but not quite the same. Both will leave a grease spot on when placed on paper and are dissolvable by the same solvents. The physical properties of waxes, like lanolin, are ideal for lubricating, polishing, and waterproofing. Similar to beeswax, lanolin is malleable but also hardens at room temperature. That's why "firm" mustache creams frequently contain lanolin. Benefits Although not all research results agree, some studies have demonstrated lanolin's benefits for breastfeeding. A study based in Brazil placed 180 women in two test groups. One group used highly purified anhydrous (HPA) lanolin, while the second group was instructed to apply expressed breastmilk (another common remedy for nipple soreness). Over a seven-day treatment period, the lanolin group reported significant improvements in pain and physical trauma when compared to the expressed breastmilk group. As an occlusive moisturizer, it makes sense to include lanolin in the formulation of skin care products and creams. There is no hard evidence to suggest that lanolin is better than petroleum-based or synthetic waxes; however, many people like the fact that lanolin is a natural substance. Risks The ingestion of lanolin can cause lanolin poisoning. Symptoms are usually mild and may include: Diarrhea Skin rashes, redness, or swelling Vomiting If severe symptoms develop, don't hesitate to call 911. Be ready to provide critical information like the individual's age, height, weight, and the item responsible for the reaction. Call the National Poison Control Help Hotline (1-800-222-1222) if you suspect possible lanolin poisoning. Open 24 hours per day, seven days per week, this toll-free line will connect you with a poison control expert who can advise you on what to do next. Lanolin poisoning differs from a lanolin allergy. If you're allergic to wool, you should probably avoid lanolin products to be on the safe side. Lanolin allergies may cause the following symptoms: Rash or itching (on the area it was applied) Shortness of breath Swelling of the throat, lips, eyes, or mouth Avoid an adverse reaction by only using lanolin as intended. Keep lanolin away from young children who might accidentally swallow a dangerous quantity of it. If you've never tried skin creams with lanolin before, consider testing a small patch of skin first to determine whether you have a sensitivity to it. Even if you're not allergic, lanolin can be irritating for some people. Legality The FDA regulates lanolin under the category of: "Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use." Products advertising lanolin should contain between 12.5% to 50% lanolin as the active ingredient. International lanolin products may vary in their concentration and purity. A Word From Verywell While many people swear by the moisturizing benefits of lanolin, others experience negative reactions or find it ineffective. If you notice irritation from lanolin-based products, you're better off avoiding them and trying alternatives, like beeswax or petroleum products. Experimenting with different treatments will help you discover the best substances for your skin type. If you're unsure about whether lanolin is safe for you to try, ask a dermatologist or pharmacist. When using new products, it's always best to start with a small area of application to see how your body will react. Frequently Asked Questions Is lanolin oil toxic? No, but you shouldn't ingest it. Lanolin is similar to wax. Eating large amounts of lanolin can cause intestinal blockage. Can you be allergic to lanolin? Yes, you can be allergic to lanolin. Research suggests that fewer than 7% of people with contact dermatitis are allergic to lanolin.Symptoms of allergic reaction to lanolin include skin irritation, swelling of the eyes, lips, mouth, or throat, and shortness of breath. How is lanolin collected? Lanolin comes from sheep. However, sheep are not harmed in the process. Lanolin is produced by the sebum glands and excreted as a conditioner for wool. To harvest lanolin, a sheep is sheared, then the wool is washed and put through a centrifuge that separates out the waxy lanolin. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Encyclopædia Britannica. Lanolin chemical compound. Sheep 101 and 201. A beginner's guide to raising sheep. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) Lanolin. Purnamawati S, Indrastuti N, Danarti R, Saefudin T. The role of moisturizers in addressing various kinds of dermatitis: a review. Clin Med Res. 2017;15(3-4):75-87. doi:10.3121/cmr.2017.1363 Jackson KT, Dennis CL. Lanolin for the treatment of nipple pain in breastfeeding women: A randomized controlled trial. MaternChild Nutr. 2017;13(3). doi:10.1111/mcn.12357 MedlinePlus. Lanolin poisoning. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Wax. Mariani Neto C, De Albuquerque RS, De Souza SC, Giesta RO, Fernandes APS, Mondin B. Comparative study of the use of HPA Lanolin and breastmilk for treating pain associated with nipple trauma. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2018;40(11):664-672. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1675180 U.S. Food & Drug Administration. CFR - Code of federal regulations title 21. Knijp J, Bruynzeel DP, Rustemeyer T. Diagnosing lanolin contact allergy with lanolin alcohol and Amerchol L101. Contact Dermatitis. 2019;80(5):298-303. doi:10.1111/cod.13210