Decades ago, there were a few things you could be sure to find in most American homes--a jar of Noxzema (great zip zapper), Q-Tips, Ponds cold cream, Vicks VaporRub (a nasal decongestant and toothache salve--although I'm not quite sure it was supposed to be used that way). One popular hair item that quickly lost favor in black homes was Dippity Do. That was a Dippity Don't for most black women. It was like putting water on freshly pressed hair.

And of course there was a household staple that was the multi-tasking must-have before that word was even created--Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. It softened rough ashy knees, was used for diaper rash, as a lip balm and to keep foreheads, ears and necks from getting fried by the hot comb, among many other things. For years petroleum jelly has been a dry skin suffers' best friend--until in recent years reports of possible carcinogenic substances called PAHs were suspected in petroleum-based products.

I spoke to Warren Wallo, director of Scientific Affairs for Johnson & Johnson about it and he explained that the skin needs moisture to repair itself. The FDA recognizes petroleum jelly as a skin protectant that helps the skin retain moisture. He believes it's safe for use in cosmetics, but also believes it's an individual choice, one that consumers can make with the help of their physician and trusted reference sources. (In other words, you might need to do research). "There's no reason to use it if you're not comfortable," he says.

"If you're comfortable with a natural product, go for it." A good alternative is a product with glycerin, he adds. Glycerin attracts moisture to the skin.

When it comes to research, the Internet can leave consumers even more confused. There can be an article that seems well researched, with information from studies that prove petrolatum causes cancer--only to find that the article was written by someone from a company that has made a natural product to specifically compete with petroleum jelly products. Another article will have scientific facts about the purity of refined petrolatum, but then you'll eventually learn that a scientist from a pharmaceutical company whose products contain petrolatum actually wrote it. It pays to thoroughly check out the source.

You can read how petroleum jelly benefits the skin in Petroleum Jelly Beauty Myths & Benefits and I present both sides of the petroleum jelly safety issue in Is Petroleum Jelly Safe?

_{An old tub of Vaseline from the Chesebrough Manufacturing Company/Photo: Courtesy of Vaseline}