What Is Medicated Vaseline?

Medicated Vaseline contained phenol, an early antiseptic, and was also known as Carbolated Vaseline. The production of Medicated Vaseline was discontinued by the Pond’s company in the 1970s.

Medicated petroleum jelly containing phenol was used to relieve the pain and itching associated with common skin irritations, including burns, scrapes and insect bites. However, the compound phenol is toxic and can irritate the skin. J.R. Watkins Inc. sells a similar product called Petro-carbo salve or Black Drawing salve, as of 2014. The Watkins company’s medicated salve contains 1.5 percent phenol, and the company recommends that the product is not used over large areas of the body.