Plant oils have been used throughout history for a wide range of reasons.
Certain plant oils have therapeutic effects and can help improve the health of your skin. In fact, if you or your child has skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis, plant oils may help balance, soothe, and repair damaged skin when used topically.
With skin rashes like eczema, use oils rich in linoleic fatty acids (omega 6-rich fatty acids) like sunflower seed oil, jojoba oil, hemp oil, and rose hip oil. Oils rich in oleic acid, like olive oil, can be drying.
*Patch test for reactions before broadly using any topical product.
Olive oil: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound healing, anti-aging, protective against skin cancer
Sunflower seed oil: skin barrier repair, anti-inflammatory, protective against skin cancer
Grape seed oil: antibacterial, antioxidant, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, protective against skin cancer
Coconut oil: skin barrier repair, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound healing, anti-aging
Safflower oil: anti-inflammatory
Argan oil: skin barrier repair, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, protective against skin cancer
Soybean oil: skin barrier repair, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
Peanut oil: skin barrier repair, anti-aging, protective against skin cancer
Sesame oil: skin barrier repair, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, protective against skin cancer
Avocado oil: anti-inflammatory, wound healing
Borage oil: skin barrier repair, anti-inflammatory
Jojoba oil: skin barrier repair, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound healing, anti-aging
Oat oil: skin barrier repair, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
Pomegranate seed oil: antioxidant, anti-aging, protective against skin cancer
Almond oil: skin barrier repair, anti-aging
Bitter apricot oil: protective against skin cancer
Rosehip oil: skin barrier repair, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging
German chamomile oil: skin barrier repair, anti-inflammatory
Shea butter: skin barrier repair, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
What should you use on your skin? Everyone is different, and everyone is on their own health journey!
*Patch test for reactions before broadly using any topical product.
Reference:
Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. Published 2017 Dec 27. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070