In the quest for economical manufacturing, cheap materials are often utilized in skin care products, and these can be harmful. More than 84% of chemically based moisturizers contain immune system toxins, and nearly 36% contain recognized carcinogens. More than 60% of compounds utilized on the skin are easily absorbed into the body — including these contaminants!
And beyond the worst offenders, many synthetic moisturizers contain chemical fragrances, which can be both toxins and irritants. Meanwhile, various other synthetic substances, even if not overtly toxic, can cause irritation. And any irritant can trigger eczema episodes.
Shea butter assimilates quickly through all skin tissues and maintains profound moisturization long after many other moisturizers lose their effectiveness. Good hydration encourages skin health, whereas dehydrated skin engenders problems and promotes inflammation.
Interruption of the epidermal barrier plays an important role in the progression of eczema. Inadequate skin barrier function contributes not just to water loss, but to skin porousness and susceptibility to irritants. This results in soreness, itching, and various other signs of inflammation. Skin affected by eczema is also skin with poor barrier function.
Skin with barrier dysfunction has a decreased quantity of total lipids. The stearic acid, linoleic acid and catechins (anti-oxidants) in shea butter engender skin barrier regeneration and health. In addition, while locking water into the skin, shea butter itself becomes a defensive, natural blockade against contaminants and destructive oils.
Of equal importance to its exceptional and long lasting hydrating qualities are shea butter's anti-inflammatory qualities. A study published in the Journal of Oleo Sciences in 2010 identifies eight anti-inflammatory compounds (all triterpenes) discovered in shea butter. In addition to being natural anti-inflammatories, one of these compounds showed anti-tumor activity, and all eight showed anti-viral activity. The publication concluded: "… shea fat (shea butter) constitutes a significant source of anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor promoting compounds."
Since atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory condition, it's not surprising that many people have experienced excellent results treating their condition with raw shea butter.
If you haven't seen Part One of this short article, you can search for the first installment (look for an article of the same title, followed by "#1"). However, first, please watch the video below to enhance your understanding of why shea butter is so useful in treating eczema.
Tags: Eczema, Eczema Treatment, Raw Shea Butter, Shea Butter, Unrefined Shea Butter
