Tallow for Eczema: Why It’s Effective
Have you heard of tallow? If you’re suffering from itchy, red or scaly eczema, then you’ll want to check out this natural ingredient that has provided relief to many eczema sufferers. This week, we discuss the benefits of tallow for eczema, as well as provide recommendations on the best tallow balm, tallow cream and tallow soap to try!
What is Tallow?
If you never heard of tallow, then you’re definitely in for a treat. Tallow is a hard fatty substance that is rendered from pure animal fat. Unlike other forms of fat, it can be stored for long periods of time without the need for refrigeration (although it should be kept in an airtight container to prevent oxidation).
It’s generally rendered from cattle fat and the texture resembles a hybrid of coconut oil and butter, which means its super moisturizing and rich.
Tallow has been used for a variety of treatments, soap recipes and much more for hundreds of years now. In fact, there’s evidence that the Babylonians, Mesopotamians and Egyptians all used animal fat, along with oils and salts to create soap [1]. To this day, it is still a widely used ingredient in traditional treatments, specifically for those catered to the Paleo diet. Read about our experience with AutoImmune Paleo and Eczema.
Because the fat rendered from animals can contain the most toxins, when choosing any animal derived products like emu or tallow for eczema, it’s best to make sure the animals are grass fed or pastured vs grain fed (which will not yield as many nutrients and minerals) and are not fed anything with genetically modified ingredients or other questionable ingredients.
Why Tallow for Eczema?
There are a number of benefits in using tallow for eczema. In fact, unlike other plant based products, tallow has many fat-soluble vitamins which can help alleviate redness, inflammation, irritation, cracked and scaly skin.
If you suffer from both itchy or scaly eczema, then tallow is a wonderful product to re-hydrate the skin. Because it is so rich and fatty, it can restore the skin barrier that is damaged in eczema patients. Tallow has also shown to work wonders for weeping eczema.
Different Types of Tallow Products
Tallow can be rendered into many different forms, depending on which areas of the body need to be treated. The most common forms are either tallow balm, tallow soap or tallow cream. One of the reasons we like tallow for eczema so much is that very little needs to be added to tallow to create a great, effective product – so that means most tallow products use less ingredients which means less chance of an allergic reaction. In fact, tallow products can be some of the best for the most sensitive of skin because of their limited, but very natural ingredients.
As stated above, always make sure your tallow products are derived from grass fed or pastured cows instead of grain and GMO fed.
Tallow Balm
The purpose of tallow balm is to treat, repair and nourish skin. This Grass Fed Tallow Balm is sourced from grass fed and finished cows. This balm is great for very allergic skin because the unscented version contains only TWO ingredients: Grass Fed Tallow and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, leaving very little room for an allergic reaction, especially because a tallow allergy is extremely rare.
Not only is this tallow balm extremely nourishing and moisturizing, but it can be used on even the most sensitive skin (like weeping eczema). The balm comes either unscented or with a Tea Tree & Lavender version with added essential oils. Lavender and Tea Tree Oil are both naturally antibiotic and antiseptic, which helps promote healing and prevent scarring, so it’s a great option too.
Tallow Soap
If you’re looking for a bar soap, then we suggest checking out this Grass Fed Tallow Soap. Use it in the shower for washing the entire body and as safe, gentle soap for those who suffer from hand eczema. While other soaps might strip skin of moisture, this fatty bar of soap is extremely nourishing.
This tallow soap also makes a great fatty lather for clean shaving for women and men!
Tallow Cream
Lastly, if you’re looking to keep skin moisturized (which is important for all types of eczema) and are used to a more typical , a tallow cream can be a great alternative to more plant based products. This tallow cream is also made with grass-fed cow tallow along coconut oil and some moisturizing and healing essential oils and can be used on the entire body to moisturize face, body, feet, hands and much more.
Not only is this tallow cream perfect for sensitive skin and many types of eczema, but can also be used on chapped, calloused, cracked, sun-damaged skin as well as wrinkles.
For more information on tallow and another ancient ingredient – pine tar, check out our blog post: Why You Should Try Tallow & Pine Tar for Eczema.
Have you tried tallow soap, balm or cream? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Bio: Laura is a contributor and content developer for It’s An Itchy Little World. She is in no way a medical professional. Her comments, suggestions, and reflections are not intended to replace any medical advice. Always seek the help of a medical professional before undertaking any diet or lifestyle changes. Please see It’s An Itchy Little World’s disclaimer for information about affiliate links and more.
References
1. Soap History: History of Soap and Soap Interesting Facts. http://www.soaphistory.net/
FROM: Eczema
I have only just started to use tallow balm and have definitely noticed a difference. My plaques are less leathery and the skin in-between them is less red. I have to reapply the balm several times because the first couple of applications just sink right in. Since I use it on my whole body, I thin it out a little with olive oil to make it go farther. I can’t use the lotion because I have a latex food allergy and coconut oil is a no-no for me.
One odd thing I’ve noticed is that the scars where my skin blistered and then healed turn dark purple with the balm and then they start to fade. Before, they would just be a dark pink, fading to lighter pink. Not sure what makes them turn purple but they heal so much faster than before, I’m not complaining!
Earlier today I took some beef tallow that I had and made my own tallow cream for just a few bucks. I used about 1/4 cup of tallow, put it in a glass bowl, softened it a bit in the microwave, and whipped it up with a mini whisk. I must say that it came out quite creamy. I didn’t add any essential oils, but the tallow smells ok alone. I’ve used it a few times (a tiny bit goes a long way), and my hands are soaking it up. I decided to comment about this so that readers would know that they don’t have to spend too much money to help their skin feel and look better.
[…] had known for a while about the amazing link between tallow and eczema so it only pushed me harder to find the best possible blend and ratios to make face cream for […]
Can I use tallow whipped with coconut oil on my dog’s itchy skin
yes absolutely! I am big tallow fan. I was researching about tallow for a client of mine when i came across this blog. Great work Laura Dolgy! I feed tallow directly in a soup to my pups….especially when they age, they need more fat in their diet.
Plus it won’t be toxic to the dog if they lick it off their fur.
As long as it has NO essential oils in it. Essential oils are TOXIC to pets. I’ve heard sad stories about pets dying after people diffused oils.
This is why I started making tallow and hemp body butter and other skincare creams!
Thank you so much for spreading awareness on the benefits of tallow especially as it relates to eczema!
Hi Laura! Regarding your comment about tallow balm (“great for very allergic skin because the unscented version contains only TWO ingredients: Grass Fed Tallow and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, leaving very little room for an allergic reaction.”) Tallow isn’t the problem. However, extra virgin olive oil is VERY high in salicylates, which is a common sensitivity for many. Being unscented is important for the same reason…almost all fragrances and essential oils contain salicylates. Jojoba oil would be a good substitute for anyone with salicylate sensitivity. Hope this can help someone.
Hi there , an allergiste told me using food sources product on skin eith eczema can cause to developpe allergies ? Any thoughts on this, i just purchased tallow and now i am hesitente to use on my baby girl
Yes, recently my dermatologist told me not to use anything plant based, ( not even tallow) but he wants me to use Petro based Vaseline! Vaseline causes tiny itchy blisters on my hands! But of course my dermatologist ignored that fact. My only option from my dermatologist is nothing. he wants me to use a strong steroid cream that has to be made at a compounding pharmacy because I’m allergic to all preservatives in products. Steroids have thinned my skin, they are not the answer.
I used to be able to use plant based oils , but now while im flaired , I’m reacting to them. Plain beef tallow-grass-fed and grass-finished is my only hope at this point. I believe that it is much different than plant based products. Try a small amount on her skin for 24-48 hrs and see if she reacts to it, if she doesn’t- give it positive “go” for your baby girl. Make sure the tallow is from truly pasture grass fed hormone -free , etc. animals. Use small amounts on moist skin. Beware of whipped tallow, most of them have a small amount of plant based oil to emulsify it.
Hi 🙂 i have been lookin into tallow for my 12 month old eczema, after asking an allergiste, she sais that using food based foods on eczema or irritantes skin could cause allergies further on, so i am hesitent to use.
Hi Sandra, I’m a huge advocate for tallow, and my 4-year old nephew has eczema. Tallow was the only thing that has helped soothe his skin — he calls it the “Magic Lotion”. If you’re worried about allergies, I’d recommend trying a plain tallow whip (like the one linked below). Also be sure to do patch testing first.
https://alaskatallowco.com/products/pure-plain-tallow-whip
Hey guys, I’ve just come across this tallow for skin. We raise beef and I recently had a customer ask for the tallow. I didn’t know why, well I’ve been talking and researching tallow balm. I have the worst ongoing eczema, cracked, dry, itchy, weeping, skin it’s horrible. I’ve used just plain tallow for 2 days and my skin has done a 180 this is amazing. I’m going to keep using for a week and see how it goes. But so far I won’t go back to harsh lotions that burn my skin not when there’s a natural option.