Eczema, a persistent skin condition has been a source of discomfort and distress for centuries.
But could the solution to an ancient problem lie in the depths of the earth’s most ancient natural healer – Dirt?
Not just any dirt, the dirtiest of dirt. So dirty its purity is profound, that’s right: Activated Charcoal.
Eczema, is marked by itchy, inflamed patches which typically occur in the joints.
Yet, it can still spread across the body, including the face and scalp, which can be harder to resolve as they need a targeted treatment using special shampoos.
This article explores academic studies on the history, science, experiments, and advantages of activated charcoal and natural seed butters (like shea and cocoa), offering hope for alternative eczema treatment and relief.
*This information comes from published research (references below), but always consult your dermatologist first if you're on prescriptions or medications.*
Under The Skin: Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis (AD), is a long-lasting skin issue that impacts up to 20% of individuals. 'Dermatitis' refers to "skin inflammation," a term frequently applied to eczema.
This condition is marked by low skin hydration (SH) and weakened skin barrier (noted by increased trans epidermal water loss, TEWL), which external irritants can worsen.
This results in a damaged skin barrier, affecting hydration and integrity. It greatly impacts quality of life with symptoms like itching and burning. These show as red, inflamed patches of flaky, painful skin.
The foundation of eczema treatment involves lowering inflammation and creating a routine to repair the skin barrier.
Though topical medications exist, there is an increasing shift towards natural solutions and methods to keep moisture in, steering clear of conventional drugs.
Natural options like activated charcoal and seed butter moisturizers are becoming popular alternatives.
They take a softer approach, aiming to rebuild the skin's barrier and keep it moist.
This offers fresh hope for those looking for relief from eczema's ongoing issues.
The Charcoal Legacy: Timeline From Ancient Times to Modern Healing
3750 B.C: Charcoal has been a key tool used by the Egyptians who utilized it for odor neutralization, treating constipation, bloating, diarrhea, and even for their mummification process (talk about moisture retention).
400 B.C: Ancient Greeks and Romans used charcoal for oral hygiene, and by 400 B.C., the Indus region used charcoal powder to purify water.
1700 AD: Despite its long history, the first scientific acknowledgment of activated charcoal's adsorbent qualities came when scientist Lowitz discovered its effectiveness in removing color from substances around this time.
1830 AD: Fast forward to 1830, a French pharmacist named Tourey consumed a lethal dose of Strychnine, a potent pesticide, with a significant amount of charcoal and remarkably suffered no ill effects.
1834 AD: This event was followed in 1834 by an American physician named Hort, who successfully treated a patient poisoned with Mercury dichloride using powdered charcoal.
The Science behind Activated Charcoal Soaps & Shampoos
But what is activated charcoal, and how does it differ from ordinary charcoal?
Activated charcoal is a form of carbon, or traditionally known as 'carbo' that's been treated to increase its absorbency.
The activation process exposes carbon-rich materials like wood, peat, coconut shells, or bamboo to very high temperatures without oxygen.
This process creates a network of tiny pores and channels in the charcoal, drastically increases its surface area.
It's this unique structure that enables activated charcoal to attach to toxins and impurities.
Skin experts note its success in treating poisonings through gastric lavage by binding toxins, suggesting it may have a similar effect in cleansing the skin by grabbing onto dead skin cells, sebum, bacteria, and pollutants.
When rinsed, this leaves the skin clean and healthy.
Furthermore, its antibacterial and antifungal qualities make it useful in treating conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Moreover, its ability to efficiently eliminate dandruff and dirt from the scalp makes it a beneficial component in shampoos and conditioners
**Note: If you are using any other prescribed topical lotions, consider using them after activated charcoal soap or at different times. This ensures the charcoal doesn't absorb these beneficial lotions, allowing you to enjoy the advantages of both treatments.**
Gentle Cleansing: Activated Charcoal Soaps – A Direct Eczema Treatment
Activated charcoal's deep cleansing properties make it ideal as a natural eczema treatment.
It draws out impurities and toxins from the skin, reducing inflammation and irritation linked to eczema.
Eczema flare-ups often occur or worsen due to irritants and pollutants on the skin.
When used, activated charcoal attaches to these harmful particles, effectively removing them and lessening the chance of an inflammatory reaction.
This leads to a noticeable reduction in redness, itching, and overall discomfort associated with eczema.
Furthermore, activated charcoal plays a vital role in keeping the skin's microbiome balanced.
The microbiome, full of helpful bacteria and microorganisms, is essential for healthy skin.
In eczema, the microbiome might get imbalanced, making the skin more sensitive and vulnerable to external irritants.
Activated charcoal helps by cleansing the skin while preserving its natural oils and pH balance.
This supports the microbiome's health, encouraging the skin's natural barrier to heal and strengthen itself.
Additionally, in some eczema cases, oily skin is a contributing factor.
The absorbing qualities of activated charcoal means it can soak up excess oils and sebum without overly drying the skin or scalp.
Using activated charcoal in shampoos, soaps, or moisturizers means it can be directly applied where needed, even on the scalp, where eczema treatment is often tough.
This method is gentle yet effective for cleansing, calming, and safeguarding skin prone to eczema, proving essential in managing this persistent condition.
Remember, the scalp is skin too, and while it has different moisture properties than your body, it still benefits from the same care principles as skin.
Retaining Moisture Using Seed Butters: Shea and Cacao Butter's Role in Eczema Care
Seed butters, especially Shea and Cacao Butter, are well-known for their moisturizing capabilities.
Rich in fatty acids and natural vitamins, they offer profound hydration crucial for eczema affected skin.
Moreover, besides their hydrating power, these botanical fatty butters also contain anti-inflammatory properties.
They aid in rebuilding the skin's protective barrier, minimizing TEWL (trans epidermal water loss), and calm inflammation.
In a study done by Abdel-Motaleb, 2017 researchers found that a specially formulated anti-inflammatory moisturizer significantly helped with mild-to-moderate eczema.
Showing massive improvements in symptoms like skin irritation, redness, dryness, and itching.
Plus, it boosted skin moisture, proven by corneometry tests.
This success was due to the moisturizer's unique combination of ingredients, such as occlusive agents, humectants, anti-inflammatory botanical oils and skin-repairing elements.
These results suggest this moisturizer could be a crucial part of eczema care, working well alone or with other treatments.
It highlights that effective eczema treatment goes beyond simple moisturization.
The moisturizer's ability to reduce inflammation and repair the skin barrier was essential for better skin health.
Despite not having a control group, the study's detailed comparison to initial conditions confirms the moisturizer's effectiveness in eczema management.
Balanced pH: The Advantage of Natural Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
While activated charcoal and moisturizers might not "cure" eczema permanently, they can however care for your skin and scalp and alleviate your symptoms.
If you have sensitive skin, using generic soap and exposure to daily environmental factors could worsen your eczema.
This is why using specialized hygiene products becomes key, especially when it comes to shampoo and conditioner bars.
They are a solid form of natural shampoo & conditioner formulated with a balanced pH level, vital for skin and scalp health.
These bars are gentler than regular shampoos and are in tune with your skin's natural pH.
This allows you to use them on both hair and body, minimizing irritation and inflammation risks.
Their mild cleansing, combined with natural ingredients' anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, makes them ideal for those with eczema.
Some shampoo bar formulas are designed as all-in-one solutions, allowing you to cleanse and moisturize at the same time, ensuring each wash treats your skin and scalp.
With these balanced formulas, you can use one bar for hair and body without worry.
Research indicates that shampoos with activated charcoal and anti-inflammatory moisturizers like cocoa butter and olive oil, along with natural esters and antioxidants like vitamin E, greatly improve skin health.
They enhance moisture retention and protect against nutrient loss from UV exposure.
The charcoal however, doesn't cancel the moisturizing effects of cocoa butter, olive oil, and natural esters.
It's the beauty of chemistry at work. The process starts by cleansing the scalp and hair, allowing the moisturizing ingredients to be more effective. This leads to a healthier scalp, hair, and skin.
Its the beauty of chemistry at work. The process starts by cleansing the scalp and hair, allowing the moisturizing ingredients to be more effective.
This leads to a healthier scalp, hair, and skin.
Conclusion: A New Hope in Eczema Treatment
Clinical research and firsthand testimonials confirm that activated charcoal and seed butter moisturizers effectively manage eczema.
Regular users report less itching and inflammation and better skin texture.
These natural solutions offer a safer, softer alternative to pharmaceutical treatments.
Despite these promising results, more comprehensive research is needed to find a full cure for eczema, with many aspects of the condition still a mystery.
The good news is activated charcoal shampoos and seed butter moisturizers bring new optimism to eczema care.
Their natural, gentle qualities deliver effective relief, steering clear of the harsh chemicals in traditional treatments.
As more people turn to these natural alternatives, the path to controlling eczema becomes less overwhelming and increasingly hopeful.
Additional Preventive Tips:
While eczema can't be prevented, self-care practices such as regular moisturizing and avoiding extreme temperatures and known irritants can help manage symptoms and reduce flare-up severity.
The precise origins of eczema remain unclear.
Eczema involves the immune system reacting to allergens, but it's different from typical allergic reactions.
It's caused by external allergens leading to skin inflammation and can appear quickly after contact or develop gradually with repeated exposure.
Moreover, when using these natural remedies or prescriptions, it's crucial to consider some environmental factors that may be beyond your control.
Here are some key factors to be aware of:
- Prevent dry skin by taking warm (not hot) showers rather than baths.
- Use a milder soap and body cleanser.
- Dry yourself carefully and apply moisturizer.
- Let moisturizers and conditioners settle for a while before washing off so they have enough time to absorb into your skin.
- When possible try and not wear clothes after applying moisturizing lotions as rough clothes can rub off the lotions you just applied.
- Avoid tight fitting or rough clothing.
- Avoid scratching.
if you can’t avoid some of these things (like staying naked after applying lotions), then reducing the inflammatory response is the next best solution.
Thanks for tuning in and hope you found this valuable, leave a comment below if there’s anything you’d like to add!
Stay Frosty
- Goober
P.S: Are you looking for a natural alternative shampoo and moisturizer to treat your eczema in 2024? Check out the BruteBar Here.
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References:
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1. Bhowmik, D., Chiranjib, B., & Sampathkumar, K. P. (2010). Recent trends in treatment and prevention of eczema. Journal of Global Pharma Technology, 2(5), 12-21. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Debjit-Bhowmik-3/publication/282188472_Recent_trends_in_treatment_and_prevention_of_eczema/links/5d5ac6bfa6fdcc55e8192fe7/Recent-trends-in-treatment-and-prevention-of-eczema.pdf2. Draelos, Z. D. (2015). A pilot study investigating the efficacy of botanical anti-inflammatory agents in an OTC eczema therapy. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 15, 117-119. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12199
3. Hon, K. L., Tsang, Y. C., Pong, N. H., Lee, V. W. Y., Luk, N. M., Chow, C. M., & Leung, T. F. (2015). Patient acceptability, efficacy, and skin biophysiology of a cream and cleanser containing lipid complex with shea butter extract versus ceramide product for eczema. Hong Kong Medical Journal, 21(5), 417-425. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/cbb4/49fe6527e5dd9d5977f18519bc517167e0e3.pdf
4. Sajjad, M., Sarwar, R., Ali, T., Khan, L., & Mahmood, S. U. (2021). Cosmetic uses of activated charcoal. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 8(9), 4572-4574. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20213569