The little red itchy patch of skin which we ignore sometimes may be a chronic skin condition.
Characterized by the itchy rash or blister, that is weepy and oozy, and later converted into dry thick skin patches with scales is called as Eczema.
It is a very common disease caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors (like exposure to certain irritants and allergens exposure to water, temperature changes, and stress).
It is not infectious and is very common in babies and children. The problem can disappear as the person grows but can remain as dry and sensitive .
It can be either externally generated because of the direct contact with the allergic substance or internally generated because of the immune reaction.
Many medications, surgery procedures, dietary supplements, herbs, homoeopathy therapies and physical therapies are available for the treatment of eczema.
But one of the most effective methods is the use of Argan oil for the treatment of eczema.
Argan oil is the oil extracted from nuts of argan plant which is mostly found in Morocco. It is used in food and cosmetics. It is a rich source of Vitamin E, unsaturated fatty acids, squalene and sterols.
The chemical composition of Argan oil makes it very useful in skin related problems, especially because of the high content of Vitamin E, which modulates the intercellular defence mechanism .
Treatment of eczema includes the prevention of itching, inflammation and overall improvement of the skin condition.
Argan oil can be used for treating Eczema because it is effective in reducing crashes and itchiness and moisturizes the skin for protection against the disease.
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Benefits of Argan Oil in Eczema
The rich composition of the Argan oil has proven to be very useful for the treatment of eczema. The presence of the rich Vitamin E content, essential fatty acids including linoleic acid, oleic acid, omega-3 and omega-6, sterols and polyphenols helps in curing the various signs of eczema.
1. It hydrates the skin
The use of argan oil has been shown to moisturize the skin and hydrate it, to perform its barrier function in a better way to protect the skin from the external environment.
The daily consumption and application of argan oil have shown to significantly decrease the water loss and increase the water content of the skin as compared to olive oil .
The argan oil has the hydrating property which improves the water-holding capacity of the skin and helps in the prevention and disruption of the eczema condition.
What does it mean? The Argan oil has a hydrating property which moisturizes the skin and provides an effective skin barrier and protects it from eczema condition.
2. It is a rich source of vitamin E
Vitamin E is used to repair and heal the damaged tissue and slows down the process of ageing.
The free radicals in the body are the primary cause of many skin diseases including eczema.
Vitamin E in the argan oil has anti-oxidant and anti-stress activity, which allows the body to fight against the harmful effects of the free radicals.
The anti-inflammatory property of Vitamin E in argan oil is also useful to reduce the inflammation.
What does it mean? The Vitamin E in the argan oil has proved to have an anti-oxidant effect which helps in curing eczema.
3. It is a rich source of omega fatty acids that help in moisturizing the skin
Argan oil has a number of essential fatty acids including linoleic acid, oleic acid, omega-3 and omega-6 .
These fatty acids moisturise the skin and protect the integrity of the cells. It is used to hydrate the skin which is an important step in curing eczema.
What does it mean? Omega-6 and Omega-3 found in the argan oil cures the skin from the diseased condition and helps to treat eczema.
4. It contains natural anti-inflammatory agents
The argan oil has shown to contain sterols . The plant sterols have an anti-inflammatory activity and can be used to reduce the inflammation on the skin surface caused due to eczema.
The sterols due to its lipid nature can also be useful to lock the moisture in the skin.
What does it mean? The sterols in the argan oil are useful to reduce the inflammation and to protect the moisture content of the skin.
Dosage
Argan oil should be used just after a shower, before going out in the sun or can be allowed to stay on the affected area over-night, to treat eczema. Few drops of the oil must be applied over the eczema patch.
The oil acts as a natural barrier and prevents the drying of the affected area. The oil can be applied 1-3 times throughout the day according to the needs of the patient, to reduce inflammation and redness.
Conduct a patch test prior. Ensure that you get organic pure argan oil that can be used for dermatologic purposes. You can opt for argan oil-based creams.
Please consult a health practitioner before using argan oil.
Precautions
Majorly no side effects have been observed in the case of argan oil application.
Although care should be taken while purchasing the oil, it must be pure as impure argan oil may lead to allergic reactions, when applied on the skin.
The oil should be first applied on a patch of skin to check any kind of allergic reaction and then applied to the affected area as allergic reactions can occur in rare cases.
The oil must be stored in dark coloured bottle or metal containers, as the oil can react with the light and degrade the oil.
It should be easily absorbed on the skin, and should not cause any irritation or burning sensation.
Conclusion
The rich composition of Argan oil has proven to be very useful for the treatment of eczema.
The presence of the rich Vitamin E content, essential fatty acids including linoleic acid, oleic acid, omega-3 and omega-6, sterols and polyphenols helps in curing the various signs of eczema.
It protects the skin by mainly reducing the inflammation and providing the hydrating effect on the skin surface.