Eczema is a term for a group of medical conditions that cause the inflammation and irritation of the skin. It manifests itself through redness and itchy skin which may or may not be painful. The redness and itchy, flaky skin affect your physical appearance, thus making you depressed or socially isolated.
While medication can temporarily provide relief, do try natural remedies like using castor oil for Eczema and avoid the side-effects of pharmaceuticals. Castor oil for Eczema is one of the effective options for relief. It possesses cleansing, moisturizing, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that support it in treating eczema.
Castor oil is extracted from castor beans. It is widely used in the preparation of massage oils, soaps, cosmetics etc. Castor oil is known to have amazing medicinal and traditional uses. It has various properties that help cure a wide range of disorders.
Moreover, oil is natural and does not have any added chemicals. Castor oil is readily available in markets making it easy to use at home. You can use castor oil for curing eczema without much effort or expense.
Why Use Castor Oil?
Castor oil reduces inflammation, hydrates and moisturizes the skin, and relieves pain. You can also use it for the treatment of skin infections like Eczema. Castor oil possesses a unique chemical composition that makes it ideal for the treatment of symptoms of Eczema(1). It has antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory effects which, when used properly, can cure eczema.
- Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid that has anti-inflammatory properties and can efficiently give relief from pain.
- Undecylenic acid present in the castor oil thwarts infectious bacteria and fungi.
- Castor oil possesses an incredible healing ability.
- The fatty acids packed in castor oil locks moisture over the skin and reduce itching.
- Castor oil reduces scars and lightens the appearance of eczema flare-ups.
- It is rich in omega-3 fatty acid that stimulates healthy tissue growth and hydrates the itchy skin.
- Castor oil has an excellent astringent ability that helps remove dirt from skin pores.
Castor oil has a viscous consistency. The stickiness of the oil adds to its properties of healing and soothing the symptoms of eczema. The viscous texture of castor oil helps it to stay put and deeply penetrate skin tissue. Castor oil penetrates the layers of the skin and nourishes it with fatty acids. Castor oil efficiently treats dry, leathery skin patches that develop due to eczema.
[ Read: Natural Treatment of Eczema]
How to Use It?
You can apply castor oil on eczema affected areas in many ways. Some of those are mentioned below:
- Mix Castor oil with sweet orange essential oil. The mixture can then be applied gently on the affected areas and left for drying.
- Castor oil can also be directly applied to the skin for reducing inflammation caused by eczema. Using it is very simple. Just wash the affected areas properly, dry it and gently apply castor oil. Do not massage. Keep the castor oil applied for some time and then wipe it with a soft cloth. Castor oil has a persisting foul smell. Using rosewater or any moisturizer can eliminate that smell.
- Castor oil can be mixed with coconut oil, and the mixture can be applied to the affected areas after they are perfectly washed and dried.
- Castor oil can be mixed with many other oils like jojoba, olive, grapeseed, almond, sunflower, and tea tree to make mixtures that act efficiently on the symptoms of eczema.
[Read: Amazing Essential Oils for Eczema]
Castor oil is widely available in the market. However, you should only buy from trusted brands as adulterated castor oil(2) can have an adverse effect on your health. It is always advisable to consult a health care professional before applying castor oil for eczema.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Store castor oil in recommended storage temperatures as it can affect its chemical composition, which can be harmful.
- Make sure to keep castor oil away from children. Castor oil is not a plaything. Children may consume or overdose themselves with the oil which can be harmful.
- Always perform a patch test on your skin before applying the castor oil on the affected area. If your skin is allergic to castor oil, using it may irritate the skin thus increasing troubles.
- Always seek the opinion of a trusted health care expert before using castor oil for eczema. Consulting a health care expert helps in recognizing the exact condition of eczema that has affected the individual. The health care professional can then recommend a required dosage of castor oil for the disorder.
[Read: Herbs for Eczema]
Precautions
- Apply the castor oil very gently using a soft material. Rubbing it on the affected areas of the skin may irritate the skin.
- Mix the castor oil in the recommended ratios for proper dilution. A change in the amount of dilution can cause castor oil to react differently.
- Never use castor oil in an excess amount as its bad after-effects are not known.
- Never consume castor oil unless prescribed by the health care expert.
- Pregnant women and lactating mothers must consult a health care professional before using castor oils. Castor oil is known to induce labor in pregnant women. So, using castor oil during pregnancy can affect the mother and the unborn child too.
Eczema is a problem that affects your physical appearance and resultantly have an impact on your social well-being. The chemical compositions of medicines can provide short-term relief, but they come with some side-effects. A natural remedy at your disposal is castor oil for eczema. When used correctly, this wonder oil can cure the infection and improve the health of your skin.
[Read: Neem Oil for Eczema]
