What is Campho-Phenique made of?

October 7, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the product's Drug Facts label, the over-the-counter medication Campho-Phenique is primarily composed of two active ingredients, camphor and phenol. These two components work in tandem to provide the product's primary functions, which include pain relief, anti-itch effects, and antiseptic properties for minor cuts and scrapes.

Quick Summary

The active ingredients in Campho-Phenique are camphor (10.8%) and phenol (4.7%), providing anesthetic, anti-itch, and antiseptic effects. Inactive ingredients vary by formula (gel vs. liquid) and may include light mineral oil, glycerin, eucalyptus oil, and aloe.

Key Points

Core Components: Campho-Phenique's active ingredients are camphor (10.8%) and phenol (4.7%), combined for pain relief and antiseptic properties.
Anesthetic Effects: The phenol in the formula works as a topical anesthetic, temporarily numbing the nerve endings to alleviate pain and itching.
Antiseptic Action: Phenol also helps prevent minor infections by providing antiseptic protection to minor cuts, scrapes, and cold sores.
Soothing Additives: Inactive ingredients like aloe, glycerin, and eucalyptus oil are often included to provide soothing moisture and a distinct scent to the product.
External Use Only: It is critical to only use Campho-Phenique topically and never ingest it, as both camphor and phenol can be highly toxic if swallowed.
Pediatric Warning: Due to the risk of toxicity and seizures, especially in young children, camphor products should be used with caution and kept out of reach of children.
Targeted Application: Always apply Campho-Phenique in small amounts to the affected area and never use it over large areas of the body or cover it with a bandage.

Campho-Phenique's Active Ingredients

Campho-Phenique contains two main active ingredients, camphor and phenol, in a combination often referred to as "Camphorated Phenol". These are typically present at concentrations of 10.8% camphor and 4.7% phenol in the original formulas.

Camphor (10.8%)

Camphor is a solid substance with a strong smell, often made synthetically. When applied to the skin, it acts as a counterirritant, creating sensations that can distract from pain and itching. It is used in topical products for minor pain and itching relief but is toxic if swallowed or applied to broken skin.

Phenol (4.7%)

Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, is a chemical historically used as an antiseptic. It provides both antiseptic and anesthetic effects, helping to clean minor skin injuries and numb pain and itching. While used in various medicinal products, concentrated phenol is corrosive, so it is used in diluted, safe concentrations for external use in products like Campho-Phenique.

Campho-Phenique's Inactive Ingredients

Inactive ingredients in Campho-Phenique help with the product's texture, scent, and soothing qualities. These ingredients can differ slightly between the gel and liquid forms.

Inactive Ingredients in the Gel Formula:

Light Mineral Oil: A base ingredient.
Colloidal Silicon Dioxide: Used to create the gel texture.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract: Provides moisturizing and soothing benefits.
Glycerin: A humectant.
Eucalyptus Oil: Adds aroma and a soothing sensation.

Inactive Ingredients in the Liquid Formula:

Eucalyptus Oil: Adds aroma.
Light Mineral Oil: A base ingredient.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract: Provides moisturizing effects.

Common Uses and Safety Guidelines

Campho-Phenique is used for temporary relief of pain and itching from minor skin conditions.

Common Uses:

Cold sores
Insect bites
Minor cuts and scrapes
Minor burns and sunburn

Important Safety Precautions:

External Use Only: Ingestion is severely toxic and potentially fatal.
Children: Use with caution in children due to sensitivity to camphor toxicity.
Avoid Large Areas: Do not apply to large body areas to prevent systemic absorption.
Broken Skin: Avoid use on broken skin where absorption can be toxic.
No Bandaging: Do not bandage the area unless advised by a doctor.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes thoroughly with water if contact occurs and seek medical help.

Campho-Phenique vs. Neosporin

Campho-Phenique and Neosporin are both used for minor skin issues but have different functions.


Feature	Campho-Phenique	Neosporin
Primary Function	Relieves pain/itching and prevents infection.	Contains antibiotics to kill bacteria and prevent infection.
Active Ingredients	Camphor and Phenol.	Neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin.
Mechanism	Anesthetic, antiseptic, and counterirritant.	Anti-bacterial action.
Best For	Pain/itch from minor cuts, scrapes, burns, cold sores, insect bites.	Preventing infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
Allergy Risk	Possible allergic reaction to components.	Known risk of neomycin allergy.
Availability	Over-the-counter.	Over-the-counter.

Conclusion

In summary, Campho-Phenique is composed of the active ingredients camphor and phenol, which provide pain relief, anti-itch, and antiseptic benefits. These are combined with inactive ingredients like mineral oil, aloe, and glycerin, which vary slightly between liquid and gel formulations. It is an effective topical treatment for minor skin irritations and cold sores, but strict adherence to safety instructions is essential, including using it only externally and avoiding application to large or deep wounds. Its unique combination of anesthetic and antiseptic properties makes it suitable for specific first-aid needs. For more information on medicinal products, consult resources like the U.S. National Library of Medicine's DailyMed database.

Key Takeaways

Active Ingredients: Camphor (10.8%) and phenol (4.7%) are the active components, providing pain relief and antiseptic effects.
Pain & Itch Relief: Camphor acts as a counterirritant, helping to numb skin and reduce itching.
Antiseptic Properties: Phenol serves as an antiseptic and local anesthetic.
Varying Inactive Ingredients: Inactive ingredients, such as mineral oil, aloe, and eucalyptus oil, differ between liquid and gel versions.
Crucial Safety Warnings: External use only; ingestion is highly toxic, particularly for children.
Proper Application: Apply sparingly to the affected area; avoid large areas or bandaging.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of camphor and phenol is to provide a dual action of pain relief and antiseptic protection. Camphor helps to relieve pain and itch, while phenol acts as a topical anesthetic and fights infection.

Yes, while the active ingredients (camphor and phenol) remain the same, the inactive ingredients may differ slightly to achieve the appropriate consistency. For example, the gel formula typically contains colloidal silicon dioxide as a thickener, which may not be present in the liquid formula.

No, it is explicitly warned against using Campho-Phenique over large areas of the body. This increases the risk of systemic absorption of the active ingredients, which can be dangerous.

Ingesting Campho-Phenique is severely dangerous due to the toxicity of both camphor and phenol. It can lead to serious side effects such as seizures, confusion, liver and kidney damage, and can even be fatal.

Campho-Phenique is an anesthetic and antiseptic for pain, itching, and infection prevention, while Neosporin is an antibiotic containing bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B to kill bacteria and prevent infection. They address different aspects of wound care.

For children under 2 years of age, a doctor should be consulted. Older children and adolescents can use it, but the product should be applied sparingly, and it's critical to keep it out of their reach due to the high risk of severe toxicity if accidentally ingested.

According to product information, there are no known significant interactions between Campho-Phenique and other medicines when used topically as directed. However, it is always best to consult a healthcare provider about all medications you are using.