D - Herbal remedies for atopic dermatitis (eczema) Borage oil

Borage oil contains high quantities of essential unsaturated Omega-6 fatty acids, which are used in many commercial conditioners due to the ability they have to regulate hydration, but have also proven to be effective in the treatment of other illnesses, as atopic dermatitis.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) in borage play a crucial role in the physiology and structure of skin. The deficiency of EFA's can potentially cause atopic dermatitis in certain cases.

The study carried out by the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, carried out using Borage oil either on a topical or oral intake, in 12 study cases, showed to be effective in five of them. The use of borage oil for the treatment of topical dermatitis in all other cases showed a certain degree of efficacy, showing that the treatment of less severe cases of topical dermatitis with borage oil is possible and effective in either a bigger or smaller degree of efficacy.

Another study, this time from the Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama City, proved that the use of borage oil and their alfa linoleic acids was effective in all study cases. The study, carried out in 32 children, wearing undershirt coated with borage oil in 16 cases and with placebo in the other 16, showed to be effective in all those cases in which borage oil was used, reducing erithema and itch, and not effective in any of the other 16 placebo cases.

REFERENCES:

[1] Pubmed, Borage oil in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Foster RH, Hardy G, Alany RG.

[2] Pubmed, Clinical effects of undershirts coated with borage oil on children with atopic dermatitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Kanehara S, Ohtani T, Uede K, Furukawa F.

[3] Analysis of epidermal lipids in normal and atopic dogs, before and afteradministration of an oral omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid feed supplement. A pilot study.Popa I, Pin D, Remoué N, Osta B, Callejon S, Videmont E, Gatto H, Portoukalian J, Haftek M.Laboratory for Dermatological Research EA4169 "Normal and Pathological Functions of the Skin Barrier", Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France.

[4] Healing fats of the skin: the structural and immunologic roles of the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
McCusker MM, Grant-Kels JM.
Department of Dermatology University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, MC 6230, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.

[5] Borage oil in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Foster RH, Hardy G, Alany RG.
School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

[6] Evening primrose oil.
Bayles B, Usatine R.
Dept. of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.

[7] A review of the clinical efficacy of evening primrose.
Stonemetz D.
OB/GYN Associates of Western New York, West Seneca, NY 14224, USA.

[8] Linoleic acid metabolite levels and transepidermal water loss in children with atopic dermatitis.
Yen CH, Dai YS, Yang YH, Wang LC, Lee JH, Chiang BL.
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

[9] Is the origin of atopy linked to deficient conversion of omega-6-fatty acids to prostaglandin E1?
Melnik BC, Plewig G.
Department of Dermatology, University of Düsseldorf, F.R.G.