Borage Oil for Eczema

Eczema, referred to as dermatitis many a time, is a disorder of the skin in which the skin becomes dry, irritated, red and inflamed. Sometimes there might also be blisters with the skin becoming scaly and thickened. This skin problem is not contagious and affects both adults as well as children, though children are more prone to getting it. The exact cause behind this skin disorder is still not known, but there are a number of factors which can contribute to eczema, such as improper skin functioning, imbalance in the hormones, abnormal circulation of the blood and weakness in the immune system. There are certain triggers too such as particular kinds of food, cosmetics, stress that a person might be experiencing, dust, sweat, etc, which can aggravate the symptoms of eczema.

For eczema treatment, people rely on a number of home remedies such as application of certain oils like peppermint, coconut and neem oil on the affected skin, application of herbal creams, taking bath with oatmeal and application of natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera and almond on the skin. Borage oil for eczema is another home remedy being considered by some people to get rid of this skin problem. How effective is Borage oil in curing eczema? let's find out.

Borage Oil

Borage is a plant which acquires a height of around one and a half feet and has star-shaped flowers of blue on it. It is found in all the parts of the world and has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries. Borage oil, which is found in the seeds of the Borage plant, is the richest source of gamma- linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid. GLA is known to have many anti-inflammatory properties and hence, can cure skin disorders. Here are some of the other borage oil benefits.

• Borage oil prevents clotting of blood and regulates the circulation of blood in the body. It reduces hypertension and keeps the blood pressure under check.
• Borage oil lowers the cholesterol levels of the body and thus, prevents heart disease.
• Borage oil if included as a dietary supplement, minimizes skin dryness and prevents skin aging.
• Borage oil helps in alleviating symptoms of premenstrual syndrome as well as menopause in women, such as cramping, mood swings, hot flashes and breast tenderness.
• It is believed that borage oil prevents cancer by suppressing the tumor growth.

Borage Oil and Eczema

Borage oil as a cure for eczema, might be useful in some cases, while in others it might be totally ineffective. Scientific studies have shown that if people with certain skin conditions such as eczema, either apply borage oil directly to the skin or take it orally in capsule form, the various symptoms of eczema which they are experiencing such as skin inflammation, dryness, redness and itching, might get reduced. Another benefit of borage oil for eczema is that even if it does not benefit much, being all natural, it will rarely produce any side effects.

There has only been a limited amount of research done on the usefulness of borage oil for eczema. That is why a person planning to use it for eczema cure should always start from a very low dose and then wait for its benefits to show on his skin. Only when this happens, should the person think of increasing the dosage. There is no doubt that borage oil is very good for the skin, how much it alleviates the eczema symptoms depends from person to person. Otherwise, even simply applying borage oil everyday to the skin will keep it well hydrated, smooth and supple.