Is lanolin comedogenic?

In Fulton’s rabbit-ear test, lanolin scored 0 to 1 out of 5 for comedogenicity, and 0 out of 5 for irritation. On Fulton’s own scale, 0–1 is not significant, 2–3 borderline, and 4–5 positive.

These grades come from rabbit ears: the ingredient applied daily, five days a week for two weeks, usually diluted to 10% in propylene glycol. The grade also shifts with the vehicle and the raw-material source, so one number isn’t the whole story.

SourceFulton JE Jr. Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used ingredients in skin care products. J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1989;40(6):321-333.

“Lanolin” covers a family of ingredients, and they graded very differently in the rabbit-ear tables:

• Lanolin: 0 to 1
• Acetylated lanolin: 0
• Lanolin alcohol: 0 to 2
• Acetylated lanolin alcohol: 4
• PEG-16 lanolin: 4
• Ethoxylated lanolin: 3, in the 1984 tables

So plain lanolin graded low, but two of its modified forms graded high.

SourcesFulton JE Jr. Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used ingredients in skin care products. J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1989;40(6):321-333.Fulton JE Jr, Pay SR, Fulton JE 3rd. Comedogenicity of current therapeutic products, cosmetics, and ingredients in the rabbit ear. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1984;10(1):96-105.

The American Contact Dermatitis Society named lanolin its 2023 Allergen of the Year. A review in Cutis explains why it’s debated: in North American patch-test data from 2001 to 2018, 3.3% of 43,691 patients reacted to lanolin, but in the general population the rate is far lower, about 0.4% in one European sample.

The authors call this the “lanolin paradox”: lanolin rarely sensitizes healthy skin, but people with damaged skin, such as eczema, leg ulcers or stasis dermatitis, are at higher risk. They also note that lanolin allergy is different from wool allergy, which “probably does not exist.”

SourceJohnson H, Norman T, Adler BL, Yu J. Lanolin: the 2023 American Contact Dermatitis Society Allergen of the Year. Cutis. 2023;112(2):78-81.

Lanolin comes from sheep’s wool, and the same review says it can hold up to twice its weight in water. The American Academy of Dermatology lists it among the ingredients that help soothe dry skin, and the FDA approves it, at 12.5 to 50%, as an active ingredient in over-the-counter skin protectants.

SourcesJohnson H, Norman T, Adler BL, Yu J. Lanolin: the 2023 American Contact Dermatitis Society Allergen of the Year. Cutis. 2023;112(2):78-81.American Academy of Dermatology: Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin (updated January 2026).FDA over-the-counter skin protectant rule, 21 CFR 347.10 (eCFR).

A human-skin model found the rabbit ear more sensitive than human skin: weak rabbit comedogens were judged probably safe, except perhaps for acne-prone people. When finished products were patch-tested on acne-prone backs, products containing comedogenic ingredients were not necessarily comedogenic.

Comedogenic risk also depends on concentration. Ingredients that clog pores when applied neat showed no effect at the under-15% levels typical of face products, and you cannot tell from an ingredient list whether a product will cause acne — only testing the finished product can.

SourcesMills OH Jr, Kligman AM. A human model for assessing comedogenic substances. Arch Dermatol. 1982;118(11):903-905 (abstract).Draelos ZD, DiNardo JC. A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54(3):507-512 (abstract).Kligman AM. Petrolatum is not comedogenic in rabbits or humans: a critical reappraisal of the rabbit ear assay and the concept of 'acne cosmetica'. J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1996;47(1):41-48.

The AAD tells acne-prone people to look for products labeled “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores.” But “non-comedogenic” has no FDA definition, so a brand can use the label without any standard test behind it. The honest takeaway: a single comedogenicity number — high or low — is a weak guide. If a product breaks you out, that is the real test.

SourcesAmerican Academy of Dermatology: Acne: Tips for managing.Starzyk T, Aust N, Schur N, Miller R. Comedogenicity in cosmeceuticals: a review of clinical relevance, regulatory gaps, and future directions. JAAD Reviews. 2025;6:78-83 (open access).U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Cosmetics Labeling Claims.