Chamomile has long been a key ingredient in soothing skin care regimens. But there’s little conclusive evidence supporting its use.
For centuries, people have used chamomile as a natural treatment for skin dryness, irritation, and wound healing. While people may still anecdotally support the use of chamomile and its extracts for these means, there’s no conclusive scientific backing for its use.
Here are a few of chamomile’s potential benefits for the skin, along with suggestions on how to incorporate it into your skin care routine.
Studies on chamomile are limited, and many are conducted on animals.
Chamomile may provide benefits for:
- wound healing
- inflammation
- eczema
- hyperpigmentation
- acne
Wound healing
Essential oils extracted from chamomile reportedly have antimicrobial properties to protect against certain types of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
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But more research is necessary to assess the effectiveness and safety of chamomile for these uses.
Inflammation
Chamomile is often used to help relieve skin inflammation from sunburn and rashes. But there has been little research into chamomile for inflammation.
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However, the exact pathway of this effect is unclear, and further research is necessary.
Acne
The same anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties that make chamomile an effective treatment for dermatitis discoloration and inflammation may also help with acne.
Soothing sensitive skin
Many cosmetic preparations claim that chamomile’s anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe sensitive skin. While a
Hyperpigmentation in radiation treatment
Hyperpigmentation is when areas of skin are darker than the surrounding skin due to the overproduction of the hormone melanin. Melanin is a pigment that gives skin its color. Hyperpigmentation is a common symptom of radiation dermatitis, or radiation burn, which can occur during radiation treatment for cancer.
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There’s no high quality evidence to support the use of chamomile for cosmetic pigmentation treatments.
Cultural context
The history of oppression of people with darker skin across the globe has resulted in psychological and physical abuse due to skin color.
It’s also resulted in a devaluing of those with darker skin, leading to the perspective that dark skin is something that needs to be “corrected.”
While the practice is popular in many countries, skin lightening and whitening is a complex and controversial topic.
The
- German chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
- Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
German chamomile is more commonly used as an ingredient in topical ointments and lotions.
The following are three ways you can add chamomile to your skin care routine:
- chamomile extract
- chamomile oil
- chamomile tea
It’s advisable to use a skin care product that has chamomile extract or chamomile oil, which contains the powerful antioxidant compound chamazulene.
You can find chamomile in many types of skin care products, including facial sprays, oils, serums, lotions, and peels.
Most people can safely use chamomile on their skin. But it’s important to practice caution when trying any new skin care product due to the risk of an allergic reaction.
As a result, it’s advisable to conduct a patch test before using any new optical product. You can test a small amount of the product on your forearm for a week and monitor for reactions.
Chamomile is also
For centuries, people have used chamomile as a treatment for dry, irritated, sensitive skin. But there’s little high quality scientific backing for its use in these cases.
There’s little research into the specific benefits of chamomile for the skin. However, studies suggest the flower contains several chemical compounds that have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
It’s best to speak with a doctor before using new herbal remedies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate these remedies in the same way as regular medications.