Evening Primrose Oil in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis.
Atopic eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a hereditary condition that typically appears in early childhood. The term "atopic" in general refers to inherited allergy-related conditions. Children whose parents both have allergies are twice as likely to develop allergies themselves. The prevalence of atopic allergies such as asthma and eczema has risen steadily since the 1960's, possibly, as some scientists believe, due to worsening environmental pollution. Children with atopic eczema have a higher than normal risk of developing asthma and hay fever. Atopic eczema is usually caused by inhaled or ingested allergens, such as foods, pollen, dust, or animal dander. Eczema generally consists of patches of red, dry, flaky skin that is extremely itchy. The affected areas may appear moist, inflamed, and oozing.
The potential benefits of evening primrose oil (EPO) lie in its supply of omega-6 fatty acids-one of two essential fatty acids the body does not produce on its own. This essential nutrient, in conjunction with omega-3 fatty acid, plays a variety of important roles in the body. Both are needed for building cell membranes and providing the building blocks for hormones. Evening primrose oil is an excellent source of GLA which shows promise in relieving skin inflammation. Supplementation with essential fatty acids such as EPO has been reported to prevent zinc deficiency, thereby potentially improving immunity.
A recent study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EPO for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Patients diagnosed with atopic dermatitis at a hospital in Kolkata, India were randomly assigned to two groups. The first group received 500 mg of EPO and the other group received a placebo containing sunflower oil. The patients were treated for five months and were assessed on four major parameters: extent, intensity, itching and dryness. The results revealed that after five months, 96 percent of patients treated with EPO, but only 32 percent of patients in the placebo group showed a significant improvement. No adverse effects were reported throughout the course of the study. It appears that EPO is an effective and safe treatment option for atopic dermatitis, but further large scale studies are needed to confirm these results.1
1 Senapati S, Banerjee S, Gangopadhyay DN. Evening primrose oil is effective in atopic dermatitis: A randomized placebo-controlled trial. IJDVL. Dec2008;74(5):447-452.