Emu Oil for Acne: Does It Really Work?

Emu or other, when people hear “oil for acne” they get alarmed. It does sound a little counter-intuitive, right? But, If you stay with me, I will give you all the information you need to know why in some cases oils, like emu, can be really beneficial and help you get rid of acne.

What Is Emu Oil?

The emu is a large, flightless bird, native to Australia. Fun fact - it’s the second largest living bird, by height right after the ostrich. I’m sure you can think of it - the weird-looking, big bird, long legs? If it still doesn’t ring any bells, go google it. Well, the oil comes from the fat tissue of the emu, as the body of an emu contains 3 gallons of oil. The aboriginals began the tradition of extracting it, but soon the skincare industry took over and made it into a popular acne treatment. Its fat consists of several unsaturated fatty acids. To break it down completely, it’s made of oleic acid (42 percent); palmitic acid (21 percent); linoleic acids (21 percent) and a lot of antioxidants. All these components help fight inflammation, dry skin and the bacteria that can develop in pores, and they can aid wound healing and more, that is, according to anecdotal, rather than scientific evidence.

The biggest benefit of the emu oil, though, comes from its small particles and their ability to absorb into the skin. It’s believed that pure emu oil has the unique ability to penetrate easily into all epidermal layers of the skin. Due to this, the skin gets a plentiful amount of omega-3 & omega-6 fatty acids, which helps to keep it moisturized, without leaving the skin oily.

How Does Emu Oil Work For Acne?

Emu oil is a non-comedogenic product - which means it won’t clog your pores. In addition to this, it’s hypoallergenic and safe to use on all skin types. Fulfilling these two preconditions, we can argue that at least, emu oil won’t make your skin condition worse. But, I’m guessing you are wondering, how does it really help us get rid of acne?

Emu oil has anti-inflammatory properties, which helps in reducing redness and swelling. Because it contains Vitamin A, which is an antioxidant, it can promote healing in damaged skin.

Another way in which emu oil can fight off new acne outbreaks is by dissolving the sebum when penetrating into the skin tissue. This allows for deep skin cleansing, reducing the appearance of new blemishes.

As I already mentioned, it penetrates deep into the skin, unclogs the pores, and moistures the skin without making it oily, which additionally helps control our skin’s oil production. If the skin is less oily, that means it will be less prone to acne outbreaks.

Finally, one study showed that topical application of emu oil on burn wounds in mice can aid the healing process after inflammation, suggesting it might work on wrinkles and acne scars.

Emu Oil Application: How To Use It

The first advice, before you start with the application, is to clean your hands with antibacterial soap. Make sure you don’t make your condition worse by using dirty application brushes or having contaminated fingers. Next, pour a few drops of the oil onto the hands or a cotton pad and apply directly on the affected area. Another possibility is to gently massage the oil on the entire face as a whole. Don’t rub it in, but rather use soft, circular movements. Leave it on the skin until it absorbs fully, then you can finish off with your favorite moisturizer.

Benefits of Emu Oil on Acne

• An effective moisturizer - emu oil will do a wonderful job in keeping your skin hydrated and preventing water loss.
• Prevents inflammation - this is the most popular benefit, mentioned over and over. Although research is thin, testimonials are piling up. We are not talking only about superficial inflammation on the skin tissue, but rather a variety of inflammation processes in the body. A review from the journal Nutrition, promotes emu oil as an effective remedy against ear inflammation, inflammatory bowel syndrome, and arthritis.
• Skin elasticity - it helps in maintaining skin elasticity which helps to reduce acne scars, wrinkles, and lines.
• Natural Sunscreen protection - for many years Native Australians have used emu oil as natural protection against sunlight exposure. Its SPF is not nearly high enough to work as a standalone sunscreen though.
• Prevents skin aging.
• Stimulates the growth of new, healthy skin cells.
• Wound healing properties.
• Increases the absorption of drugs and other nutrients - For example, one research paper concluded that when curcumin is mixed with emu oil, its bioavailability increases 5 times, making the results of this combo five times more effective. This can work with other ingredients that are known to reduce acne, as well as over-the-counter acne treatments.

Additional Benefits of Emu Oil

• According to some anecdotal evidence, emu oil can help with weight loss and cholesterol control. This is possibly due to the high amount of fatty acids in the oil, and there is a lot of research supporting this idea. A typical dosage is a teaspoon or two twice daily is.
• Emu oil has been used to treat various health problems for centuries. It’s believed that the oil it’s can help treat chronic back pain, diabetes, gum disease, headaches, osteoarthritis, and even rheumatoid arthritis.
• Improves the overall health of hair. It can give your hair more volume, it adds shine, decreases split ends and it can be effective against dandruff.
• Repels bugs - If you apply emu oil on your skin before heading outdoors, you might repel insects. This is partly due to the substance called terpenes found in the oil.
• Reduces breast sensitivity - really good news for new mothers. It’s not uncommon to feel pain when newborns latch onto the breast. A lot of the times, women’s breasts feel sore, cracked and dry after breastfeeding. Massage the nipple with a cotton pad with a few drops of emu oil on it. However, a word of caution: Wipe your nipple and breast with a warm cloth before feeding your baby, in order to remove any residual oil. Emu oil has not been proven safe for infants and children to ingest. Remember this, it’s really important!
• Improves gut health - The consumption of emu oil was found to reduce the severity of colon inflammation.

Potential Side-Effects & Precautions

• People suffering from Peyronie’s disease might experience a mild localized rash from emu oil.
• The product's composition sometimes might interact negatively with one’s skin because not all emu oils are created equal.
• Check for the smell when you first purchase your emu oil products. It shouldn’t have a smell. But, if it does return it, and ask for a new one. Keep the emu oil in the fridge.
• It’s not advisable to use the product on open wounds.
• In rare cases, skin irritation can occur after applying the oil directly to the skin. The smarter thing to do it a patch test on a less sensitive area, like the back of your hand, and wait to see how your skin reacts to it. This way you’ll know you’re safe when you actually apply it on your face.
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk to their doctor before using emu oil.
• Some users have noticed stomach irritation and discomfort after consuming the oil.

Final Judgement

Now that you know what emu oil is, and how it works, you can have it in the back of your head, as one of the possible solutions for your acne problem. Will it be worth it? Honestly, a lot of people swear by it, although research is thin. Almost all of the studies we presented in the text were done on animals and can be problematic when we try to pass those results on to people. The good news is, there aren’t many side-effects, so it seems like a pretty safe product - if you are in for some experimentation. The bottom line is: feel free to try it on, but go easy on the expectations. Don’t forget - you’ll have to take some risks in order to get the skin you want, but do it informed. We’ll always be here to share our knowledge with you.