In the quest for low cost manufacturing, cheap ingredients are often used in the skin care industry, and these can be toxic. More than 84% of chemically based moisturizers contain immune system toxins, and close to 36% contain known carcinogens. More than 60% of compounds used on the skin are readily assimilated into the body — including these toxins!
And beyond the most damaging offenders, many artificial emollients contain chemical scents, which can be both toxins and irritants. Meanwhile, various other artificial ingredients, even if not overtly hazardous, can cause irritation. And any irritant can trigger eczema episodes.
Shea butter absorbs quickly through all skin tissues and maintains extreme hydration long after many other emollients become ineffective. Well hydrated skin tends to be healthy skin, whereas dehydrated skin attracts trouble and induces inflammation.
Disruption of the epidermal barrier plays an important part in the development of chronic eczema. Defective skin barrier function contributes not just to moisture loss, but to skin permeability and vulnerability to irritants. This results in soreness, itching, and various other indications of inflammation. Skin impacted by chronic eczema is also skin with inadequate barrier function.
Skin with barrier dysfunction has a reduced quantity of total lipids. The stearic acid, linoleic acid and catechins (anti-oxidants) in shea butter induce skin barrier repair and wellness. Moreover, while locking moisture into the skin, shea butter itself forms a defensive, natural barrier against pollutants and toxic oils.
Of equal significance to its exceptional and long lasting moisturizing qualities are shea butter's anti-inflammatory qualities. A study published in the Journal of Oleo Sciences in 2010 documents eight anti-inflammatory compounds (all triterpenes) found in shea butter. In addition to being natural anti-inflammatories, one of these compounds displayed anti-tumor activity, and all eight displayed anti-viral activity. The publication stated: "… shea fat (shea butter) constitutes a significant source of anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor promoting compounds."
Considering that chronic eczema is an inflammatory condition, it's not surprising that so many sufferers have experienced great success treating the condition with raw shea butter.
If you didn't catch Part One of this short article, please search for it (look for an article of the same name, followed by "#1"). But first, please watch the video below to increase your understanding of why shea butter is so beneficial in dealing with chronic eczema.
Tags: Eczema, Eczema Treatment, Raw Shea Butter, Shea Butter, Unrefined Shea Butter
