Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD Unless you’re really in the know, chances are that you’ve never heard of emu oil. Derived from the emu bird, emu oil is used in traditional medicine, and has many reported hair and skin benefits, including hair growth and increased collagen production. Emu oil is derived from the fat of the Emu, which is a flightless bird native to Australia. Emus are very large, reaching up to 6 feet tall, and one bird can produce up to 250 ounces of oil. Emu oil has been used in traditional medicine for many years, and Australian aborigines have used it to help with wound healing.
Key Components of Emu Oil:
- Oleic acid
- Linoleic acid
- Carotenoids
- Antioxidants (polyphenols, tocopherol, carotenoids, flavones)
The components of emu oil can help it fight inflammation, hydrate dry skin and prevent water loss from your skin.
Reported Hair and Skin Benefits
- Anti-inflammatory
- Wound healing
- Antioxidant effects
- Increases hair follicles in areas of injury
- Helps with irritation from dandruff
Emu Oil: Hair Benefits
1. Dandruff
Emu oil has been found to help relieve the itching, scaling and redness of dandruff, called seborrheic dermatitis. In one study, while emu oil was not as effective as steroid creams at decreasing scaling and itching, it was helpful, and showed no side effects to participants who used it. The authors concluded that emu oil was a useful alternative for those with dandruff and scalp irritation wishing to avoid the potential side effects of steroid creams.
2. Hair Growth
Some people use emu oil as a scalp massage to help hydrate the hair and scalp, reduce scalp inflammation and encourage hair growth. There isn’t much published evidence on emu oil and hair growth, though one study in mice did show an increase in the number of hair follicles at the margins of wounds when emu oil was applied, and that the hair follicles seemed to be more active and mature.
Emu Oil: Skin Benefits
1. Anti-aging
There are many reported benefits of using emu oil on your skin. In addition to moisturizing your skin and keeping it well hydrated, emu oil may also increase collagen production. Collagen is one of the proteins that makes your skin firm and wrinkle free.
2. Undereye Circles
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of emu oil may also help it fight dark spots and uneven skin color, which can occur with age and environmental damage to your skin. Emu oil may be effective in under eye cream treatments. In a study published in 2015, an undereye pad consisting of active ingredients Vitamin K, caffeine and emu oil, was found to improve dark circles and under eye wrinkle.
Conclusion
Emu oil has hair and skin benefits. If you’re looking for a more holistic approach to your skin and hair care, you may want to give emu oil some consideration. With anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and collagen boosting properties, it may improve both your skin and hair. Though emu oil is usually tolerated well by most people, you may want to do a test area on your skin first. And if you have a skin condition, you should talk to your doctor before using emu oil. Since emu oil can enhance penetration, don’t use emu oil on skin that has been exposed to poisonous substances like poison ivy, as it could slow down your healing.
When you get ready to buy emu oil, make sure that it is from a respectable source. It’s important that you look for products with emu oil that has been ethically farmed, and you may want to look at emu oil that is certified by the American Emu Association.
