From Anirva, the maker of Dermal Radiance. This article is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Pantothenic acid is vitamin B5. Its close relative, panthenol, is used in skin creams. Here we look at what pantothenic acid does in the body and how that relates to skin. We also cover the amount in Dermal Radiance, food sources and safety.
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- Pantothenic acid is vitamin B5. The body uses it to make coenzyme A, which cells need to make and break down fatty acids [1].
- Skin cells depend on it in lab studies. Without pantothenic acid, skin cells multiplied more slowly [5].
- Its relative panthenol is well studied in creams. In a controlled study, a panthenol cream improved skin hydration in seven days [6].
- Regulators accept its role in energy. In Europe, labels may say that pantothenic acid contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism [3].
- Dermal Radiance contains 50 mg of pantothenic acid. That is 1,000% of the Daily Value [4].
What is pantothenic acid?
Pantothenic acid, also called vitamin B5, is a water-soluble vitamin. Its main job is to help the body make coenzyme A. Cells need coenzyme A to make fatty acids, to break them down, and for many other reactions [1].
Adults need 5 mg a day. A typical mixed diet in the United States provides about 6 mg [1].
How might pantothenic acid work in skin?
Fats and energy for cells
Every cell needs fatty acids and a steady supply of energy. Coenzyme A takes part in both [1][2].
What lab studies show
In a lab study, researchers removed pantothenic acid from the liquid that skin cells grow in. The outer skin cells, called keratinocytes, multiplied more slowly. Fibroblasts, the cells that make collagen, made less of a growth signal and less of an early form of collagen [5].
Panthenol in creams
Panthenol, also called dexpanthenol, is a close relative of pantothenic acid. The body can convert it to pantothenic acid [2]. In a randomized, double-blind study, a dexpanthenol cream was used for seven days. Skin hydration improved and water loss through the skin went down, compared with the same cream without dexpanthenol [6].
What does the research show?
The research on pantothenic acid by mouth and skin is still growing. The table shows the kind of evidence behind each point.
| Type of evidence | Source | What it found |
|---|---|---|
| Lab (cells) | Kobayashi 2011 [5] | Without pantothenic acid, skin cells multiplied more slowly, and fibroblasts made less of an early form of collagen |
| Cream (people) | Gehring and Gloor 2000 [6] | Seven days of dexpanthenol cream improved skin hydration and lowered water loss, compared with the cream alone |
| Regulator | European regulators [3] | Pantothenic acid contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism |
How much pantothenic acid is in Dermal Radiance?
| Source | Pantothenic acid a day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dermal Radiance (2 capsules) | 50 mg | 1,000% of the Daily Value, from the label [4] |
| Adult daily need | 5 mg | [1] |
| A typical mixed diet, US | About 6 mg | [1] |
| A typical multivitamin | About 10 mg | [1] |
Dermal Radiance provides 50 mg of pantothenic acid. Supplements on the market range from about 10 mg to 1,000 mg [1].
Food sources of pantothenic acid
Almost all plant and animal foods contain some pantothenic acid [1]:
- Beef liver, 3 ounces: 8.3 mg
- Shiitake mushrooms, half a cup: 2.6 mg
- Sunflower seeds, a quarter cup: 2.4 mg
- Chicken breast, 3 ounces: 1.3 mg
- Avocado, half: 1.0 mg
What the research does not show yet
- We found no human trial of pantothenic acid by mouth that measured skin in healthy adults.
- The cream study tested dexpanthenol on the skin. It does not show what a capsule does.
- A lack of pantothenic acid is rare, so most people already meet their need from food [1].
- We found no study of pantothenic acid combined with the other Dermal Radiance ingredients.
Safety and interactions
Pantothenic acid has a good safety record. No upper limit has been set, because there are no reports of harm in humans at high intakes. Very large amounts, such as 10,000 mg a day, can cause mild diarrhea [1].
Pantothenic acid is not known to interact with medicines in a way that matters in practice [1].
- Pantothenic acid and panthenol are related, but a capsule and a cream are different ways to use them.
- Take it with a meal, as the label directs [4].
- If you take prescription medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start a new supplement.
Pantothenic acid is one part of Dermal Radiance
Dermal Radiance is a daily two-capsule supplement with 20 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts. They were chosen to support healthy collagen, skin firmness and elasticity, and radiance. Pantothenic acid is one of them.
Dermal Radiance has not been clinically tested as a finished product. For this reason, we cannot say how its ingredients work together.
If you take Dermal Radiance, you are not relying on pantothenic acid alone. It is one of 20 ingredients in each serving. Every ingredient and amount is listed on the label [4].
A daily skin supplement with 20 ingredients
Pantothenic acid is one of 20 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts in Dermal Radiance, each listed with its amount on the label. Two capsules a day with a meal.
See the full ingredient listIf you are deciding
Pantothenic acid is a basic nutrient that cells use to handle fats and energy [1]. Lab studies link it to the normal growth of skin cells [5]. If you would like to try Dermal Radiance, the directions are two capsules a day with a meal [4].
The short version
Pantothenic acid is vitamin B5. The body uses it to make coenzyme A, which cells need to make and break down fatty acids. In lab studies, skin cells grew more slowly without it. Dermal Radiance provides 50 mg of pantothenic acid.
Frequently asked questions
What does pantothenic acid do for skin?
Pantothenic acid helps cells make and break down fatty acids [1]. In a lab study, skin cells multiplied more slowly without it [5].
Is pantothenic acid the same as vitamin B5?
Yes. Pantothenic acid is the chemical name for vitamin B5 [1].
What is the difference between pantothenic acid and panthenol?
Panthenol is a close relative of pantothenic acid that is common in creams. The body can convert it to pantothenic acid [2].
How much pantothenic acid is in Dermal Radiance?
Each serving has 50 mg, which is 1,000% of the Daily Value [4].
What foods are high in pantothenic acid?
Beef liver, shiitake mushrooms, sunflower seeds, chicken and avocado are good sources [1].
Is pantothenic acid safe to take every day?
Pantothenic acid has a good safety record, and no upper limit has been set for it [1].
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Pantothenic Acid: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Updated May 1, 2026. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/PantothenicAcid-HealthProfessional/ (accessed October 5, 2026).
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. Micronutrient Information Center: Pantothenic Acid. Updated April 2023. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/pantothenic-acid (accessed October 5, 2026).
- European Commission. Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/432 (accessed October 5, 2026).
- Anirva. Dermal Radiance Supplement Facts label and product page. https://anirva.com/pages/anti-aging-skin-supplement-dermal-radiance (accessed October 5, 2026).
- Kobayashi D, Kusama M, Onda M, Nakahata N. The effect of pantothenic acid deficiency on keratinocyte proliferation and the synthesis of keratinocyte growth factor and collagen in fibroblasts. J Pharmacol Sci. 2011;115(2):230-234. doi:10.1254/jphs.10224SC. PMID: 21258175.
- Gehring W, Gloor M. Effect of topically applied dexpanthenol on epidermal barrier function and stratum corneum hydration. Results of a human in vivo study. Arzneimittelforschung. 2000;50(7):659-663. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1300268. PMID: 10965426.
