Lightly dab the neem oil onto the area using a cotton swab or cotton ball, and allow it to soak in for up to 20 minutes. The American doctor in Baghdad prescribed steroid cream, which didn't work at all, and I didn't feel comfortable using it. However, I got some Neem Cream sent out and it was an almost overnight miracle: the swellings went down, the discomfort disappeared and from that day on I used Neem cream as a preventive rather than a cure and I've never had another occurrence of the problem. I have been a fan of Neem ever since and a pot always travels with me. Not only will this promote plumper, brighter skin, but it can help protect against free radicals: collagen-destroying molecules which contribute to uneven skin tone, texture, and fine lines and wrinkles. Barua, C. C., et al. (2010). Evaluation of the wound healing activity of methanolic extract of Azadirachta indica and Tinospora cordifolia (guduchi) in rats.

The carrier oil can also subdue the odor of neem oil, or you can add a few drops of other oils like lavender to improve the smell. Once the oils are blended, use the combination as you would a moisturizer on the face and body. Although one animal study showed no evidence of toxicity at levels as high as 2.27 grams of neem per pound (5 grams per kg) of body weight, these results may not translate to the same effect in humans ( 2, 8).Keep in mind that while Ayurvedic medicine — an Indian traditional healing system — uses neem to treat psoriasis and eczema, very few scientific studies support these claims ( 20). Acne It can make a good complementary product for blemish-prone skin and keeps the face and body in good stead to help protect against further breakouts. People should use organic, cold-pressed neem oil. The oil should have a cloudy, yellow-brown color and a strong odor. It’s rated as a 1-2 on the comedogenic scale (which runs from 0-5), which means it’s officially non-comedogenic and has a low likelihood of clogging pores. Historically, neem has been used to treat acne, reduce blemishes, and improve skin elasticity ( 21).

Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. The oil is yellow or brown and smells of garlic or sulfur. If ingested, it has a strong bitter taste.

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Neem seed extracts are comprised of various fatty acids and about 2% bitters, which are considered toxic. Levels of these bitters differ between products and may be influenced by extraction and storage methods ( 29). Avoid oral intake Some drugs, including cancer medication, painkillers, and antipsychotics, may contribute to oxidative stress, leading to tissue damage in your liver and kidneys ( 16). It also contains natural antihistamines - the same substances used to relieve symptoms of allergies.

First, however, it is important to note that most of the studies involved cell lines or animals. Those that did involve humans only included small numbers of participants. This makes it difficult to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of neem in the general population. Anti-aging effects Mishra A, Dave N. Neem oil poisoning: case report of an adult with toxic encephalopathy. Indian J Crit Care Med. 2013;17(5):321–322. doi:10.4103/0972-5229.120330VijayanV, et al. (2013). Formulation and characterization of solid lipid nanoparticlesloaded Neem oil for topical treatment of acne. DOI: Interestingly, one study on rats found that neem leaf extract reduced liver damage induced by high-dose acetaminophen ( 17). Production of these compounds decreases as people age. This eventually leads to dry, deflated-looking, thin skin and the formation of wrinkles. Promoting wound healing A main component of vitamin F, the linoleic acid in neem oil is an excellent moisturiser and can assist your skin in healthy ageing.