Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDoes Neem Ease Eczema?Possible Side EffectsWhat to Look ForApplication
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Does Neem Ease Eczema?
Possible Side Effects
What to Look For
Application
Neem oil is used for eczema to ease symptoms such as redness, itchiness, and irritation. It is a rich source of antioxidants used in alternative medicine practices likeAyurveda, a holistic form of medicine focused on balancing the mind, body, and spirit.
Neem oil, extracted from the fruits and seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), has been used for thousands of years to treat and prevent skin diseases.
While it may benefit people with eczema, you need to be cautious when using neem oil and understand that there’s little research on its effectiveness.
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Does Neem Oil Help With Eczema?
Evidence of neem oil being used for skin disorders dates back to ancient times. While it was mainly a treatment forpsoriasis, it seems to also help with acne,mycosis, warts, and, yes, eczema.
The power of neem lies in the presence of more than 300 diverse compounds and properties that allow it to act as an:
Where is Neem Oil From?Neem oil is produced from the fruit of the neem tree. Neem trees, which belong to theMeliaceae, or mahogany family, are found in tropical regions such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. They grow to 20 to 23 meters with a width of 4 to 5 feet, Neem trees produce small, green stone fruits that turn yellow when ripe.
Where is Neem Oil From?
Neem oil is produced from the fruit of the neem tree. Neem trees, which belong to theMeliaceae, or mahogany family, are found in tropical regions such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. They grow to 20 to 23 meters with a width of 4 to 5 feet, Neem trees produce small, green stone fruits that turn yellow when ripe.
As a rich antioxidant, neem oil plays a role in the destruction of harmful free radicals. Free radicals, also called reactive oxygen species, underlie the development of many inflammatory diseases and conditions.Destroying or stabilizing free radicals can help decrease oxidative stress throughout the body, which plays a role in several inflammatory conditions, including eczema.
Thus, neem oil can decreaseinflammationand easesymptoms of eczemasuch as:
The threat of toxicity seems very low, though, since it would take more than a quart of neem oil to produce a toxic effect on a human.
Used topically, neem oil may cause some mild side effects, including:
You should purchase organic, cold-pressed neem oil. Organic means that the neem trees were grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, while cold-pressed refers to neem oil that was processed directly from the seed. This means it was minimally processed.
Neem oil should be a cloudy yellow color and have a garlic-like odor. Make sure to store neem oil in a cool, dark place to prevent the oil from losing its potency.
Preparing and Applying Neem Oil
When you first begin using neem oil on your skin, it is best totestthe substance on a small patch of skin on your arm. If no redness or swelling develops after 24 hours, you should be able to tolerate topical application of neem oil.
Never consume neem oil since it can be very toxic if ingested.
Summary
There is a long tradition of using neem oil to treat eczema and other skin disorders. More research is needed to prove that it is effective, but it has been shown to have antioxidant and antibacterial properties that may benefit people with eczema. Neem oil should be diluted when applied topically and should never be swallowed.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gopinath H, Karthikeyan K.Neem in Dermatology: Shedding Light on the Traditional Panacea.Indian J Dermatol. 2021;66(6):706. doi:10.4103/ijd.ijd_562_21
Singh V, Roy M, Garg N, Kumar A, Arora S, Malik DS.An Insight into the Dermatological Applications of Neem: A Review on Traditional and Modern Aspect.Recent Adv Antiinfect Drug Discov. 2021;16(2):94-121. doi:10.2174/2772434416666210604105251
Alzohairy MA.Therapeutics role of azadirachta indica (neem) and their active constituents in diseases prevention and treatment.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.2016;2016:e7382506. doi:10.1155/2016/7382506
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Neem.
Chishti MA, Mohi-Ud-Din E, Zakki SA, et al.Antibacterial and toxicity evaluation of eastern medicine formulation eczegone for the management of eczema.Dose Response. 2020;18(3):1559325820956798. doi:10.1177/1559325820956798
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Cold Pressed Neem Oil.
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