When you’re living with eczema, it’s more important than ever to check the labels on your skin care and make sure that you avoid ingredients that might be a trigger. One ingredient you might see and wonder about is Palm Oil, and whether Palm Oil is OK for eczema.
The short answer is yes, Palm Oil is safe for eczema-prone skin and can actually bring some powerful benefits in a moisturiser for eczema sufferers. However there are some concerns around some sources of Palm Oil which may make some think twice about using it.
At Green People, we are experts in sensitive skin and have created a range of eczema-friendly skin care products, some of which feature Palm Oil. We always use certified organic Palm Oil, which has been sustainably sourced from plantations that avoid deforestation and protect wildlife. Read on to find out more!
At a glance:
- Some ingredients can trigger eczema flare ups, and it’s important to know which to avoid
- Palm Oil can be used on eczema-prone skin and can have benefits
- It’s a natural oil that comes from the fruit of the palm tree and has been used for skin care for centuries
- Green People only uses Palm Oil from sustainable sources
- Our eczema-friendly favourite with Palm Oil: Green People Soothing Baby Salve
Let’s dig a little deeper into Palm Oil and what you need to know about it in your skin care.
What is Palm Oil?
Palm Oil is a natural plant oil extracted from the fruit of the oil palm tree. It’s been used for centuries in cooking, soap making and skin care because of its nourishing properties.
When it comes to skin care, Palm Oil is used for its smooth texture and the ability to deliver moisture deep into the skin without feeling greasy. It’s also naturally high in a group of powerful antioxidants which are around 50 times stronger than Vitamin E.
Is Palm Oil eczema-friendly?
Often people with eczema have a weakened skin barrier [1] that can leave it prone to dryness and irritation. Palm Oil helps to restore that barrier and keep moisture where it’s needed most.
Palm Oil is naturally rich in fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. A stronger skin barrier means less water loss, reduced dryness and more protection against common irritants that can trigger eczema flare ups.
Palm Oil also contains antioxidants - specifically, a unique type of Vitamin E called tocotrienols. These are more powerful than regular Vitamin E when it comes to fighting free radicals that cause oxidative stress to the skin.
By keeping it protected, Palm Oil can support calmer, healthier-looking skin.
Why we use sustainable Palm Oil
While Palm Oil is skin-friendly, how it’s produced matters. Large-scale, unsustainable farming has been linked to deforestation and habitat loss for orang-utans.
It isn’t Palm Oil itself that’s harmful, it’s unsustainable farming practices.
That’s why we use Palm Oil from certified organic sources in countries that do not have native orang-utans such as the Philippines and Ecuador.
It is a condition of organic certification that the raw materials come from trees that are grown on long-established plantations which are managed in a sustainable way to ensure that native fauna and flora are preserved.
It is also a condition of achieving organic certification that the growth and production of crops does not have an adverse effect on the environment either on a local or global scale, and agricultural schemes that involve deforestation are specifically excluded from all organic certification schemes.
Read more about the origin of the Palm Oil used in all Green People products.
Discover our naturally eczema-friendly skin care products
Our award-winning Organic Babies Soothing Baby Salve is clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin, and it’s made to support dry, delicate skin. Certified organic, it’s natural, ethyl alcohol-free and eczema friendly.
Made with Palm Oil and Shea Butter to nourish and moisturise the skin whilst adding skin barrier-boosting antioxidants, it also contains soothing Calendula to moisturise and calm inflammation, restorative Hemp to relieve discomfort and moisturise, along with lavender oil to reduce inflammation and deliver a calming effect.
Organic Babies Soothing Baby Salve 100ml
Protect, soothe, and calm with our best-selling organic baby salve
238 kr
If you’re experiencing eczema flare-ups related to your skin care, it could be time to go scent-free. Fragrance in skin care and cosmetics can be a trigger for people with eczema, and can cause sensitivity and skin reactions in general [2].
Our Scent Free skin care range was created with sensitive skin in mind. All of the products in this range are 100% fragrance-free, and made with natural, organic ingredients that support your skin.
It’s time to take care of your eczema-prone skin with organic products that protect your skin’s natural barrier. Shop our range of natural, eczema-friendly skin care and body care.
Would you like help choosing the right skin care for eczema-prone skin, or do you have any questions about our ingredients? Our friendly UK customer care team is happy to help and can be contacted on 01403 740350.
REVIEWED BY CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.
A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty.
A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
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