shea butter for eczema

[peacefrog]

I seem to have a touch of eczema in a couple of spots on either side of my nose. My wife read about using shea butter to treat eczema. I immediately wondered if any of my fellow wetshavers might have some suggestions of products along these lines. Anyone?

[TraderJoe]

I seem to have a touch of eczema in a couple of spots on either side of my nose. My wife read about using shea butter to treat eczema. I immediately wondered if any of my fellow wetshavers might have some suggestions of products along these lines. Anyone?

I have heard it is excellent for eczema. I don't have it, but My skin tends to get very dry in the winter, and I have and use the Epicurean Shea Butter (unscented-African). This is pure shea butter with no additives, so you have to melt it from semi-sold to oil in your hand when using. Whole Foods does carry this....in my area at least.

http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/images/catalog/skus/e3-1001.gif

I mix my own ASB using this mixed with some various EFA's (i.e. Grapeseed Oil)


http://www.sheabutterstore.com/


Some reading materials:

Shea Butter Uses
Shea Butter is a natural healing product. It is used by most of the cosmetics laboratories in Europe and the United States. It is revered as an extremely effective skin moisturizer because of its high content of non-saponifiable fats including keratin, allantoin and vitamin E. Shea Butter is used for aging skin, eczema and other skin complaints; to relax the muscles and to treat sprains, wounds, and colds. Traditional uses of Shea Butter include: treatments for dry skin, blemishes, skin discoloration, scars and wrinkles, a relaxer for stiff muscles, as an aid for pain from swelling and arthritis, and even as a sun screen.

Shea Butter is great for the skin because of its high content of non-saponifiable fatty acids (comprised mostly of stearic and oleic acids.) These fatty acids are indispensable for moisturizing and retaining the elasticity of the skin. By making up for lipid deficiencies in the epidermal cells, Shea Butter provides the skin with all the essential elements it needs for its good balance. Shea butter contains up to 11% of un-saponifiables, making it a superior super-fatting material for soap making. Smooth on face, hands, and body, the gentle qualities of Shea Butter are used by the cosmetics and soap industries in such products as shampoos, creams, balsam for the hair, soaps and other cleansing products for the skin.


Shea Butter is used in shampoos and lotions because of its outstanding rapport with the body. It is superior to both cocoa butter and jojoba butter in the treatment of damaged hair. It is an outstanding skin-soothing agent for makers of soap, particularly when blended with lather-generating coconut oil. It is also great for stand alones uses. Clinical observations suggest Shea Butter increases local capillary circulation, which in turn increase tissue re-oxygenation and improves the elimination of metabolic waste products.

[MullersLaneFarm]

Be aware that folks with latex allergies often will have an allergic reaction to shea butter.

Pure Neem Oil or Neem Powder is an alternative, although it has a very rank smell!

[TraderJoe]

Be aware that folks with latex allergies often will have an allergic reaction to shea butter.

Pure Neem Oil or Neem Powder is an alternative, although it has a very rank smell!

Excellent point - I have heard that as well.

Question - I have read some rather odd things about neem oil...is there any health concern in using that?

[peacefrog]

I have heard it is excellent for eczema. I don't have it, but My skin tends to get very dry in the winter, and I have and use the Epicurean Shea Butter (unscented-African). This is pure shea butter with no additives, so you have to melt it from semi-sold to oil in your hand when using. Whole Foods does carry this....in my area at least.

My wife went to While Foods yesterday and couldn't find that one, but she did find another pure shea butter. It seems to help.

[MullersLaneFarm]

Not that I have heard (neem oil)

You do want to get 100% neem oil and not the stuff they sell in the garden or livestock supply!

This is what my supplier has to say about it:

Our neem oil is wildcrafted, unrefined, and certified lead free. Neem oil is used widely in India and Africa as an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, antiseptic, and anti-parasitic agent in toiletries, soap, toothpaste and skin/hair care products. It is used to treat skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, ringworm, scabies, syphilitic sores, and chicken pox. Neem oil can be used to get rid of lice and control dandruff. In toothpaste in helps relieve swollen and bleeding gums and kills the bacteria that cause gingivitis. Neem powder can be used in a foot bath powder to kill fungus and bacteria. Mixed with clay, it makes a great facial for those with acne or other skin problems. Add neem oil to liquid soap base for an anti-bacterial hand soap. Use it in bug repellent lotion bars to keep the bugs away. Use it in pet soaps to kill and repel fleas and to treat hot spots. Neem oil can be emulsified with liquid soap and then sprayed on plants to keep insects from devouring the leaves.

[TraderJoe]

Not that I have heard (neem oil)

You do want to get 100% neem oil and not the stuff they sell in the garden or livestock supply!

This is what my supplier has to say about it:

Thank you very much Cyndi,....how "stable" would you say neem oil is, in terms of shelf life/souring

[Mama Bear]

I seem to have a touch of eczema in a couple of spots on either side of my nose. My wife read about using shea butter to treat eczema. I immediately wondered if any of my fellow wetshavers might have some suggestions of products along these lines. Anyone?

Are you using homemade soaps or commercial ones? If you are using commercial soaps and made the switch to the homemade soaps, this could help quite a bit.. there are many ingredients in the commercial soaps, synthetic detergents such as SLS, that can aggravate and even cause eczema.

[peacefrog]

Are you using homemade soaps or commercial ones?

I'm using Coast. I bought about a year's supply a while back. I've got about two bars left, then I think I'll switch to something else...maybe HBS's shea butter bath soaps or that cut-your-own goat's milk soap at Whole Foods.

[Mama Bear]

I'm using Coast. I bought about a year's supply a while back. I've got about two bars left, then I think I'll switch to something else...maybe HBS's shea butter bath soaps or that cut-your-own goat's milk soap at Whole Foods.

ah, I would strongly suggest you give the cut your own a shot.. go and grab some tonight if you can..... :chores026

[MullersLaneFarm]

I believe the shelf life of neem to be about 1 year. I keep mine refrigerated but it never lasts a year!

I'm down to 2 bars of my Neem/Castille - need to make another 10# sometime real soon

[qaswer]

Be aware that folks with latex allergies often will have an allergic reaction to shea butter.

Pure Neem Oil or Neem Powder is an alternative, although it has a very rank smell!

I have read about this allergy already and i think someone should use it with extra care but if someone hasn't any allergies then it is good for eczema but it is not a proper treatment .

[bearbeard]

I have the same issue not by my nose but other areas. The doctor gave me some kind of cream to put on it, which helps. but I find that the natural organic products do a better job. Last stuff I used was from Eminence organics called Fire Thorn treatment. really hydrating stuff.

Also on Mama Bear's website, one of the things listed under Lavender EO is that it helps with exzema.


not responsible for eny spelingk arrers.

[bearbeard]

I have read about this allergy already and i think someone should use it with extra care but if someone hasn't any allergies then it is good for eczema but it is not a proper treatment .

Asthma, excema(sp), and allergies all seem to go together...the big three.

When I take my allergy medicine, which is only in the summer around here my excema is not near as bad. Of course it could be complicated by drier skin in the wintertime.