Plant-based Oils Support Skin Health

The skin, our body’s largest organ, faces constant challenges from potentially harmful external stimuli such as microbes, UV rays, allergens, and irritants. In response, it activates an inflammatory process involving keratinocytes (skin cells) and innate immune cells (like leukocytes, mast cells, and dendritic cells), which produce various signaling molecules (cytokines, chemokines) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).

These substances help fight infections and facilitate tissue repair. Still, prolonged or excessive inflammation can damage healthy tissue and disrupt skin balance, leading to chronic inflammatory conditions such as atopic dermatitis (AD) or psoriasis.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially linoleic and arachidonic acids, are critical in maintaining healthy skin and regulating inflammation. Linoleic acid deficiency in diets can result in a skin condition resembling AD. In contrast, arachidonic acid can be metabolized into substances that help maintain skin homeostasis or, if overproduced, promote inflammation and even skin cancer development.

The potential benefits of plant oil topical application are diverse. 

Physiological responses result from the interaction between the bioactive compounds and the pathophysiological context of the skin.

Consequently, topical supplementation with plant oils rich in PUFAs and their anti-inflammatory metabolites may be useful as a standalone treatment or alongside standard therapies for inflammatory skin disorders and precancerous lesions.

 The effects of topically applied plant oils on skin pathology.

When there is no concrete evidence for the specific effect of topical treatment of some plant oils, it is indicated with “?”.

Optimal Takeaways

• Composition Influences Efficacy: The effects of plant oils on the skin depend on their specific components (triglycerides, phospholipids, free fatty acids, phenolic compounds, and antioxidants), which vary based on extraction methods.
• Key Benefits in Skin Care: When applied topically, plant oils can
  1. Support skin barrier balance
  2. Provide antioxidant protection
  3. Offer anti-inflammatory benefits
  4. Exhibit antimicrobial action (including boosting natural antimicrobial peptides)
  5. Aid in wound healing
  6. Possess anti-cancer properties
• Future Research: Additional studies could improve our understanding of these oils and lead to new dermatological treatments and skin care products.

Reference

Lin, Tzu-Kai et al. “Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 19,1 70. 27 Dec. 2017, doi:10.3390/ijms19010070 This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).