Borage Seed Oil is 1 of the star ingredients in our Natural Goodness Skin Oil for skin issues.
Borage seed oil doesn't just sit on the surface of the skin; it provides the essential "building blocks" (GLA) that skin may be struggling to produce on its own, thus helping to lock in moisture and soothe the fires of inflammation from within.
Let's go over a brief summary of what this beautiful plant shares with us medicinally; and how those medicinal properties assist the skin into coming back into balance.
Borago officinalis (borage) is a plant with blue, star-shaped flowers found in Europe, North Africa, and North America.
The seeds are harvested and the oil is typically extracted using cold-pressing to maintain its nutritional integrity.
Known to be highly effective for inflammatory skin conditions because it contains one of the highest natural concentrations of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid; contains roughly 18 - 26% GLA.
Has long been valued for its high gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) content to treat eczema and dermatitis.
Borage seed oil has been used for medicinal purposes for over 1,500 years, originally appearing in ancient and medieval European, Greek, and Roman practices for respiratory, skin, and inflammatory conditions.
Today, it is recognized for treating atopic dermatitis (eczema) and improving skin barrier function - particularly in studies from the 1990s and early 2000s, which demonstrated effectiveness for topical application to treat eczema in children.
For conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and ichthyosis, where the skin's natural barrier is compromised, borage oil acts by both suppressing inflammation at a cellular level and physically rebuilding the skin's protective lipid layer.
The effectiveness of borage oil in treating these ailments is driven by several biological pathways:
PGE1 Synthesis - Anti-Inflammatory
When applied or ingested, the body converts GLA into dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), which then acts as a precursor to prostaglandin E1 (PGE1).
PGE1 is a potent anti-inflammatory molecule that dampens the hyperactive immune response responsible for the redness, swelling, and intense itching associated with psoriasis and eczema.
Restoration of the Lipid Barrier:
It is said that those with inflammatory skin conditions have a deficiency in the Delta-6-Desaturase (D6D) enzyme, which normally converts dietary fats into the skin-protecting GLA.
Borage oil bypasses this "broken" step by providing GLA directly to the skin.
These fatty acids integrate into the skin's lipid matrix, sealing micro-fissures in the stratum corneum, the outermost layer.
Reduction of Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)
By reinforcing the "mortar" between skin cells with essential lipids, borage oil improves the skin's ability to retain water.
This is particularly vital for ichthyosis and chronic eczema, where the skin becomes "angry" and severely dry because moisture constantly escapes.
Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Effects:
Borage oil contains tocopherols (Vitamin E), which neutralize free radicals that cause oxidative stress and premature aging.
In psoriasis, GLA-derived metabolites may help regulate the excessive skin cell turnover (hyper-proliferation) that leads to thick, scaly plaques.
Primary Benefit of Borage Oil
Psoriasis: reduces inflammation and redness; helps manage the rapid buildup of scaly plaques by softening the skin.
Eczema: supplies missing GLA to repair the damaged barrier, significantly reducing itching (pruritus) and the risk of secondary infections.
Ichthyosis: provides deep, sustained hydration for chronically dry, "fish-scale" skin that traditional water-based moisturizers cannot fix.
* While the seed oil is safe, the leaves contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), making it important to use certified PA-free products.
* As with all herbal preparations, whether used topically or internally, check for side effects and drug interactions before using.