Healing a Persistent Skin Rash using Jojoba Oil

This month at Pasture Living, we are doing a series on how to take care of our skin naturally. The skin is the body’s largest organ and it absorbs everything we put on it directly into the body’s bloodstream; bypassing the organs that would filter out harmful ingredients. This is why it is so important to know what we put on our skin.

My little one has this stubborn skin rash on her right elbow that was pink, itchy, and flaky. I've tried many natural creams and oils including coconut oil and salves that are made from a variety of natural herbs, but it hasn't shown any improvement and it's been there for more than five months now. I used to experience similar itchy and flaky skin from eczema but it completely healed after a few months of consuming fermented cod liver oil (FCLO). She has also been consuming FCLO long before this skin rash appeared. It only affects that area on her right elbow and it doesn't bother her as much unless she remembers about it, touches it, and only then she starts to scratch it. The skin tone around that area has become lighter than the rest of her body (de-pigmentation).

I came across jojoba oil when I was researching ways to nourish our skin naturally. I have been using it to moisturize my face, as needed, so I thought why not I try this oil on her rash. A week after I consistently apply this oil on her elbow, her rash was slightly better. The dry skin started to peel off and it's not as flaky as before. It's also not as pink as it used to (although it still has a long way to go) and the affected skin is starting to smooth out and blend in with the rest of the body.

I don't have a close up picture of when the rash was at its worst,
but this one was a few days after I started applying jojoba oil.

What is So Good About Jojoba Oil?

Jojoba oil is an oil that most resembles the natural oils in human skin and hair. Its similarity in structure makes the oil safe to use for most people (non-allergenic) and it is a relatively stable oil, so it can be stored for a long time without going rancid. Jojoba oil unclogs pores and is easily absorbed without leaving a greasy residue. It is rich in vitamin E, which is well known for promoting healthy skin and has antioxidant properties that protects us from the damaging effects of free radicals, a factor that is believed to contribute to chronic diseases like cancer. Additionally, jojoba oil has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties which prevents bacteria from thriving. Simply put, jojoba oil is an excellent natural moisturizer for the skin.

Other Uses for Jojoba Oil

Hair and Scalp: Jojoba oil balances the sebum production in the scalp, regulates the flow of sebum in clogged pores, and helps to clear blocked hair follicles, thus promoting healthy hair and stimulating new hair growth. It is also an effective treatment for cradle cap as jojoba oil is hypoallergenic. It dissolves the dry, patchy crusts caused by cradle cap and loosens dried flakes, making them easier to remove. It also deeply moisturizes the scalp at the same time which protects it from further irritation.

Ance Treatment: Acne grows when hair follicles become blocked with oil and dead skin cells. Jojoba oil's resemblance to our sebum "tricks" our skin into thinking it is already producing enough oil, thus it stops producing more and leaves our skin less oily. It gets absorbed deep down the pores and unclogs any pores in the process and its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties kill the bacteria that causes acne.

Makeup Remover: Jojoba oil's natural properties make it a gentle yet effective makeup remover. It doesn't clog pores, is not an irritant and is hypoallergenic. It removes makeup easily, moisturizes, and nourish the skin since most cosmetics contains chemicals that may dry out the skin.

Now I know why jojoba oil helped in healing Elin's skin rash on her elbow. I am always delighted to find a new product that is multi-purpose, inexpensive, and natural. If you are curious, this is the jojoba oil that I use at home.

Do you have any experiences with jojoba oil?

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