In the quest for low cost manufacturing, inexpensive substances are typically utilized in skin care products, and these can be harmful. More than 84% of chemically based moisturizers include immune system toxins, and almost 36% include known carcinogens. More than 60% of compounds utilized on the skin are readily absorbed into the body — such as these toxins!
And beyond the most insidious offenders, many artificial emollients include chemical scents, which can be both toxins and irritants. Meanwhile, various other artificial substances, even if not overtly toxic, can trigger irritation. And any irritant can trigger eczema episodes.
Shea butter absorbs rapidly through all skin tissues and maintains profound moisturization long after many other emollients lose their effectiveness. Well hydrated skin tends to be healthy skin, whereas dehydrated skin engenders problems and induces inflammation.
Disruption of the epidermal barrier plays a central role in the development of eczema. Inadequate skin barrier function contributes not only to moisture loss, but to skin porousness and susceptibility to irritants. This leads to redness, itching, and various other indications of inflammation. Skin impacted by eczema is also skin with poor barrier function.
Skin with barrier dysfunction has a decreased level of total lipids. The stearic acid, linoleic acid and catechins (antioxidants) in shea butter induce skin barrier repair and wellness. Moreover, while locking moisture into the skin, shea butter itself generates a protective, natural blockade against contaminants and destructive oils.
Of equal importance to its exceptional and long lasting moisturizing qualities are shea butter's anti-inflammatory qualities. A study released in the Journal of Oleo Sciences in 2010 identifies eight anti-inflammatory substances (all triterpenes) found in shea butter. In addition to being natural anti-inflammatories, one of these compounds showed anti-tumor action, and all eight showed anti-viral action. The paper stated: "… shea fat (shea butter) constitutes a significant source of anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor promoting compounds."
Because chronic eczema is an inflammatory condition, it's not surprising that so many sufferers have experienced excellent results treating it with raw shea butter.
If you didn't catch Part One of this article, please search for it (look for an article of the same title, followed by "#1"). But first, please watch the video below to enhance your understanding of why shea butter is so helpful in dealing with eczema.
Tags: Eczema, Eczema Treatment, Raw Shea Butter, Shea Butter, Unrefined Shea Butter
