As you may know, I’m a big fan of using natural products and natural oils when it comes to treating acne. And one of the latest, and most intriguing of which is emu oil. This oil has a long history of treating skin issues, it can deeply penetrate your skin which makes it a great moisturizer.
 

Background

This is a special oil that is made from the adipose tissue of the emu subspecies Dromaius novaehollandiae. This emu subspecies is a flightless species that is indigenous to parts of Australia. The oil itself varies in color and thickness, but is generally a slightly thick and light yellow liquid (assuming the bird has eaten a natural diet). The oil is around seventy percent unsaturated fatty acid and twenty percent linoleic acid. The other ten percent is various other saturated and unsaturated fatty acid constituents. The primary unsaturated fatty acid is oleic acid, which is an omega-9 fatty acid. There is unfortunately, no standardization of emu oil supplements and thus they vary widely in their potency.

It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and to help promote wound healing in rodents when applied topically. This product is typically marketed as a health supplement, though human trials have not yet been done. Aboriginal tribes have historically used it as a medicine for the treatment of ailments, coughs, pain, and fevers. Unsubstantiated claims of its benefits as an acne treatment include antibacterial properties (which have been said to kill the bacteria responsible for acne breakouts) and the promotion of skin “radiance”.

Treatment

Treatments using this product in order to help with acne are simple. Simply take the oil and apply it topically to your face. Leave it on for fifteen or twenty minutes and then remove it and dry off your face. One of the issues reported with usage is that it leaves the skin feeling too greasy after use. This is only a temporary feeling since your skin will quickly absorb the oil.

Some people recommend using it after chemical peels in order to help sooth the skin and to promote healing. Again, this is not something that has been done in official scientific studies, but it has been reported by many people.

There’s one large reason I like buying natural oils- there are so many different uses for them. As a great bonus, emu oil is also been known to be a great hair condition. You can just take a few drops and leave them in your hair. If you have damaged or dry hair then you can put in about 5 or 6 drops. You don’t have to wash the oil out of your hair- you can leave it in and let it absorb over time.

Where to Buy Emu Oil

Sometimes it’s not available for sale in stores, so the best place to buy is online. You will probably see plenty of brands for sale, but they are not all made the same. The one brand I recommend is from Natural New Zealand. This brand has terrific reviews and it’s 100% pure and undiluted.