Shea Butter for Eczema - Best Body Butter for Eczema

Wondering if shea butter is good for eczema or not? Keep reading!

Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions that leave the skin dry, reddened, and scaly. A lot of people go through this skin condition that can last for a lifetime. There’s no proper cure for eczema, but it can be controlled in multiple ways.

It’s important to go to a dermatologist before you start the treatment. You can control the symptoms with the right treatment, but people also opt for a few natural remedies to cure eczema. Dermatologists prescribe certain over-the-counter and prescription medicines to help you control eczema, but it’s often not enough.

Shea butter is extracted from the kernels of the shea tree and if excessively used in skincare products. Shea butter has shown great benefits for both skin and hair.

Such plant-based moisturizers are known to be effective against eczema. Since the common cause of eczema is dry skin and shea butter aggressively addresses this issue, it can be of great help to relieve the symptoms of this condition.

How to Treat Eczema with Shea Butter?

Shea butter is the best  body butter for eczema that can be used to relieve the symptoms. For instance, you can apply shea butter on overall skin or affected areas after getting a shower. Simply pat dry your skin and apply this moisturizer for excellent results.

It’s known to be effective against eczema as it heals the skin from within. It retains the skin’s natural moisture and protects it from environmental damage as well.

Best Butter for Eczema Treatment 

Shea butter is one of the best kinds of butter  that you can get for your eczema-prone skin. It comes with plenty of benefits that not only heals the skin but also hydrates it.

Unrefined shea butter comes with multiple properties. Here’s a list of them:

1. Anti-inflammatory properties: Shea butter is rich in lupeol cinnamate and cinnamic acid that has skin healing potential. Not only is it effective against eczema, but these properties further help in dealing with skin acne. If you’re facing continuous flakiness or dry skin, then the anti-inflammatory properties of shea butter can protect your skin from it.
2. Retains and locks skin moisture: One of the biggest benefits of using shea butter is that it locks the skin moisture. Unrefined shea butter comes with cetyl esters that help in keeping the skin hydrated. Skin is prone to losing its moisture from the skin’s barrier, which often leads to skin dryness. Shea butter can save the skin from losing its moisture and keep it nourished from within.
3. Shea butter soothes skin: Eczema can destroy your skin’s texture and can make you lose its moisture. In such a case, your skin can look pale, dry, and scaly. Using the shea butter on your skin regularly can soothe your skin in no time. It leaves the skin moisturized and helps in clearing up the scars as well. It automatically leads to nourished skin with controlled symptoms of eczema.

Potential Risks of Using Shea Butter for Eczema

Shea butter is consumed orally or is applied to the skin. For shea butter taken by mouth, it’s likely safe if it’s consumed in amounts that are found in food as well. However, there’s not enough information on its large consumption through the mouth.

On the other hand, the shea butter applied to the skin is possibly safer than oral consumption. It’s known that shea butter can be applied to the skin for up to 4 weeks, but there’s not enough evidence to support its use for more than 4 weeks.

Unrefined shea butter is natural and acts as a good moisturizer. However, it comes in thick consistency that can possibly clog pores. Also, it’s convenient to use during the night only as it has a severe nutty or earthy smell that might be uncomfortable for a lot of people. Furthermore, unrefined shea butter can take a lot of time to absorb and can make the skin breakout as well. It’s recommended to use raw shea butter for eczema.

Unlike it, the refined shea butter is smooth and light in texture. However, the refined shea butter is processed that rips about 95% of the natural vitamins from it. Furthermore, processed shea butter comes with chemicals and fragrances that only exacerbate the eczema situation. Refined shea butter has the potential to flare up eczema or other skin allergies as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does shea butter help with eczema?

Shea butter acts like an emollient. It is rich in vitamins A, C, and E along with other fatty acids that hydrate the skin from within. Apart from it, it moisturizes the skin and helps in locking the moisture in the skin’s barrier. It also comes with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that control certain skin situations including eczema. It also has substances in it that help in controlling skin swelling caused by eczema. It’s one of the best body butter that can be used on the skin; however, it’s recommended to use refined shea butter for eczema.

Which butter is best for eczema?

Shea butter is best for eczema as it comes with hydrating properties. It helps in recovering the dry skin and calms eczema symptoms. Shea butter does not clog your pores, which is why it can be used on the skin without any significant concern. Shea butter nicely blends on the skin and helps in retaining the skin’s lost moisture.

Can shea butter make skin worse?

Shea butter is rich in vitamins and fatty acids that help in skin smoothening and aids in nourishing the skin. Shea butter also comes with anti-aging properties that lower the chance of premature aging. Apart from it, it also has an SPF of 3 to 4 in it, so it gives protection against UV rays as well. Although it’s good for the skin, using unrefined shea butter on the skin can clog pores due to its thickness.

How do you make shea butter cream for eczema?

Simply melt the shea butter and apply it to the skin. A lot of people add other oils to it along with a few other moisturizing ingredients. Make sure to cool it down before applying it to the skin.