The Claim: Evening Primrose Oil Soothes Eczema

NY Times ^ | April 29, 2013 | Anahad O'Connor

[neverdem]

THE FACTS:

It may not exactly be a household name, but evening primrose, a bright yellow plant native to North America, has a large following in the alternative medicine world.

The seeds of the plant contain essential fatty acids, which are used to make an oil that has a variety of uses as a dietary supplement and folk remedy. Its most popular use may be for eczema, the skin condition that affects as many as one in five people. Widely marketed and easy to find, primrose oil contains gamma linoleic acid, which is thought to help reduce skin inflammation without the side effects of other treatments.

But a large new study suggests that people using evening primrose oil for eczema may want to save their money instead...

--snip--

Evening primrose and borage oils are widely used remedies for eczema, but according to research, they provide no benefits.

[neverdem]

Ping

[South40]

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/eveningprimrose

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.

[Army Air Corps]

What about the heartbreak of psoriasis?

[Revolting cat!]

What about dandruff?

[Army Air Corps]

Ah, something from Picasso’s Dry Flaky Skin period.

[KittenClaws]

What about the heartbreak of psoriasis?

---

Are you making fun of an old 1970’s commercial or people with psoriasis?

This condition though not life threatening, can be very ugly, embarrassing., and uncomfortable to those who suffer with it.

Often genetic, it is hard to control, and takes constant attention from a medical professional and a control regime that must become a lifestyle.

My husband has this condition. I'm glad that his friends are of the caliber who do not believe making fun of people is....amusing.

[Army Air Corps]

I am making fun of the old commercial.

[KittenClaws]

That commercial was not very far off point.

[Army Air Corps]

Possibly. For me, it is just an annoyance.

[Army Air Corps]

Saw similar photos during a visit with a dermatologist when I was a kid.

[Vendome]

Cortisone 10.

Cheaper than Dr. Scripts and works excellent.

[Bon mots]

[T-Bird45]

My granddaughter has had issues with baby eczema since birth (she’s now 16 mos.) and her parents have found tea tree oil to be an effective topical treatment. Their doctor is also looking at diet but they haven’t settled on a possible cause.

[Army Air Corps]

How long does it last (i.e. how often do you have to apply it)?

[Army Air Corps]

I have heard of some people using it as a topical treatment fro Psoriasis. How well has it worked for your granddaughter?

[T-Bird45]

They apply tea tree oil after every bath and twice a day. It certainly appears better to me.

[Army Air Corps]

Does it actually eliminate the redness and cause the skin to have a normal appearance?