You may already be familiar with essential oils that are often used for skincare. Some of them such as olive oil, coconut oil, argan oil, and so on. However, what about tamanu oil? Even though it sounds foreign, it turns out that this oil is no less healthy than the oils that have been mentioned earlier, you know. Curious what are the benefits of tamanu oil? Check out the reviews in this article.
What is tamanu oil?
Tamanu oil is extracted from the seeds of an evergreen tree called Calophyllum inophyllum. This oil is often used by people in Southeast Asia because of its extraordinary benefits for the skin such as acne, psoriasis, and scars.
So far, research on the health benefits of tamanu oil is still very limited. However, in a limited number of studies researchers have found that tamanu oil contains calophyllolide, a substance known to have anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, this oil also contains delta-tocotrienol compounds (a type of vitamin E) as well as a number of antioxidants that are beneficial for the skin.
Get to know the benefits of tamanu oil
Quoted from various sources, here are some of the benefits of tamanu oil for your skin problems.
1. Treating acne and its scars
Tamanu oil is great for treating and healing acne. The reason is, that tamanu oil has antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that will help speed up the treatment of acne scars or keloids.
2. Treat burns
The high antioxidant content in tamanu oil is known to soothe your burned skin, lighten darkened skin, and aid in the speedy healing of wounds. You can apply tamanu oil on the darkened or burned areas of the skin several times a day for maximum benefit.
In addition, some people also use this fir tree oil to relieve irritation and itching caused by insect bites. However, research on this matter is not strong enough.
3. Moisturizing skin
The high fatty acid content in tamanu oil makes this oil has properties to moisturize your skin. Tamanu oil is a natural moisturizer that can be easily absorbed by the skin, making your skin more supple and less prone to dryness. Some proponents also claim that this oil can help regenerate damaged skin cells.
4. Remove stretch marks
One of the causes of stretch marks is the skin that stretches after losing or gaining weight. Well, tamanu oil is believed to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and existing research shows that regular use of tamanu oil is known to be effective at preventing and reducing stretch marks on the skin.
Things to watch out for when using tamanu oil
Although tamanu oil is generally considered safe when used topically (external use), it can also trigger allergic reactions in some people, like any other oil. If you experience itching, redness, irritation, or other side effects after using tamanu oil, stop using it immediately.
People who have allergies to certain fruit seeds should avoid this oil. As explained above, tamanu oil is the result of extracts from the seeds of the pine tree, or Calophyllum inophyllum.
Despite all the benefits that tamanu oil has to offer, it’s important to know that proper wound care can help reduce scars and prevent infection. That is why, if you have a wound that is large, deep, or infected, it should be treated immediately by a health worker.