Evening primrose oil for eczema

First of all, I want to write about evening primrose oil that is good for eczema. Treatment with oral evening primrose oil was found in research to give partia correction of an essential fatty acid abnormality associated with eczema (which is also known as atopic dermatitis).

There is mixed placebo-controlled evidence for evening primrose oil efficacy against eczema, but a meta-analysis of nine trials showed the best effects were against the symptom of itching, although the findings were sponsored by a manufacturer of evening primrose oil supplements.

Another review has suggested a limited role for supplementation in some patients with eczema - those who do not use high-potency steroids. Evening primrose oil's effect was reduced in people who used steroids, although again the author of the analysis was working for a commercial producer.

Eczema may be effectively treated with conventional medicines but complementary alternatives such as evening primrose oil and borage oil are tried by people who have inadequate improvement or fear side-effects.

A well-respected review of the evidence conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration concludes that evening primrose oil is no more effective than placebo at treating eczema, and can produce mild, temporary, mainly gastrointestinal side-effects. 

Another review of the evidence has found mixed results, with the positive results being modest for both oral and topical forms of evening primrose oil treatments.

by:nor ainaa karmilah