effective skin-cleaning routine. All you would do is apply the oil before washing or wiping everything off.
10. It Can Maintain Overall Skin Health
The combination of its benefits suggests that using castor oil regularly can lead to healthier skin overall. Including the oil in your routine also means you’ll practice preventive care instead of only using it when something is wrong.
How To Use It
In most cases, you can use castor oil directly on the skin. Some people place the oil on a cotton ball to apply it to specific areas. If you don’t want to use undiluted castor oil, dermatologists suggest combining it with other ingredients such as olive oil, almond oil, and coconut oil. It’s common to let the oil stay on the skin so it can be absorbed, but you also have the option of removing it after an hour or two. Doing this can be helpful for those who are having a flare-up from skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
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Potential Side Effects
While castor oil is generally considered to be safe when used on the skin, it has been known to cause an allergic reaction in some people. If you’ve never used castor oil or products that contain it on your skin, it’s a good idea to apply a small amount to an area of your body that you can assess for an allergic reaction over a 24-hour period. Given how thick castor oil is, it can also make acne worse for those who already have oily skin. In this case, it’s best to use only small amounts of the oil and wash it off thoroughly.
There’s still a lot that researchers don’t know about how castor oil helps the skin. However, many dermatologists recommend it for maintaining healthy skin and soothing the inflammation caused by skin conditions. If you’d like to see the benefits of using this oil, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about any specific concerns you might have.