In this article:
Argan oil, extracted from the fruit kernels of the Moroccan argan tree, is often called “liquid gold” and rightly so, due to its wide range of uses. It not only finds application in day-to-day cooking but has also been used for a long time as a medicinal agent.
Nowadays, the highly beneficial argan oil is a common ingredient of different hair and skin products. This article talks about the various skin and hair benefits of argan oil, which make it a great addition to your skin and hair care routine.
Caution: Make sure to conduct a patch test before applying argan oil to your skin, hair, or scalp to check for allergies or sensitivity. Moreover, buy cosmetic argan oil and avoid using the cooking oil on your skin.
Argan Oil for Skin
Argan oil is highly beneficial to the skin, helping treat different dermatological problems and improving skin health in general. While most of these uses lack conclusive studies, anecdotal evidence and preliminary studies demonstrate the following potential benefits of argan oil.
1. Helps reduce hyperpigmentation
Melanocyte cells present in the skin release a pigment known as melanin, which is responsible for skin color. The more melanin, the darker the skin.
All your skin cells produce a similar amount of melanin, but excessive sun exposure may stimulate an overproduction of melanin in certain areas. This results in darkening of the skin and formation of skin patches. Similarly, certain skin disorders and natural aging can also lead to the formation of spots on the skin.
How argan oil works
Argan oil can help lighten and fade dark spots or patches on your skin. The skin-lightening properties of argan oil are contributed by its free fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocopherols, which protect your skin from the harmful UV rays. (1)
While there is no scientific evidence to the efficacy of argan oil for the treatment of hyperpigmentation, it is backed by traditional use and anecdotal evidence.
2. Reduces the signs of premature aging
Your skin can develop fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, discoloration, and sagging as a result of natural aging. You cannot avoid natural aging, but you can take measures to delay it.
Moreover, it is common to face premature skin aging due to factors that speed up the aging process by increasing the concentration of damaging free radicals in the body. Some of these risk factors include smoking and sun exposure. A high activity of free radicals can also lead to cancer.
How argan oil works
Argan oil contains antioxidants such as carotenoids and tocopherol that help curb the activity of free radicals, thus preventing tissue damage. (1) Argan oil has also been shown to prevent skin wrinkling. (2)
In addition, animal studies have demonstrated that argan oil may possess anticancerous activities as well. (3) However, further human trials are needed to establish the efficacy and usage of argan oil for preventing and delaying skin aging.
3. Moisturizes the skin
Your skin requires proper hydration to stay healthy and maintain its pH balance. If your skin lacks moisture, it can turn dry, parched, rough, and highly susceptible to microbial infections.
How argan oil helps
Argan oil acts as an excellent skin moisturizer, improving the skin’s elasticity, (2) hydration, skin barrier function, and water-holding capacity. (4) These properties of argan oil are attributed to its vitamin E, squalene, and monounsaturated fatty acid content.
4. Lowers skin inflammation
Skin inflammation often occurs at the site of wounds and as an immune response against infection with bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens. It is often accompanied by skin redness, pain, itching, rashes, and localized rise in body temperature.
Skin inflammation is a common symptom of skin disorders such as acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis.
How argan oil works
The rich polyphenols (5) of argan oil imparts it with anti-inflammatory properties (6) that can help control skin inflammation.
Argan oil also contains high amounts of vitamin E, which is found to decrease inflammation associated with skin problems such as dermatitis. (7) The unsaturated fatty acids and squalene in argan oil also contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties.
5. Promotes skin repair and wound healing
Injuries and wounds can damage the protein content of elastin, collagen, and fibrillin fibers along with the superficial skin layers.
How argan oil helps
Argan oil has skin repair and wound healing properties. A study demonstrated that argan oil can help fill wounds more efficiently than 1% silver sulfadiazine. It can also boost collagen production.
Also, argan oil helps stimulate TGF-beta, a molecule that lowers inflammation. (8) However, further human-based trials are warranted to establish these effects.
6. Helps control oil production
The skin contains sebaceous glands that produce oil or sebum that moisturizes and protects the skin. However, some people may experience increased sebum production, making their skin oily.
The excessive oil not only attracts dirt but also can clog the skin pores and can increase the risk of skin infections such as acne.
How argan oil helps
Argan oil can act on the sebaceous glands to help control the production of sebum, (9) although evidence supporting the oil-controlling property of argan oil is limited.
You can try using antisebum ointments that contain sesame seed extracts, saw palmetto, and argan oil to manage your oily skin.
Note: Make sure to cleanse your skin to remove the surface layer of oil on your skin before using argan oil for oil control.
7. Helps manage stretch marks
It is common for people, especially women, to develop stretch marks as their body grows due to puberty, sudden weight gain, bodybuilding, and pregnancy. The body growth causes the skin layers to stretch and pull, therefore restructuring the inner layers.
As a result, you can see pinkish-red marks on the skin that later develop into white striae.
How argan oil helps
Argan oil can help treat and prevent stretch marks when applied topically. The carotenes, acylglycerols, tocopherols, and xanthophylls in argan oil aid in fading stretch marks by restoring the skin’s water-fat layer, preventing tissue damage, and neutralizing free radicals. (10)
However, further research is warranted to establish the anti-stretch marks property of argan oil. Nevertheless, argan oil, generally being safe for all skin types, can be safely tried.
8. Treats cracked heels
Your feet bear the weight of your body throughout the day and are subject to wear and tear caused by uncomfortable shoes. As a result, it is common for your feet to turn dry, so much so that the skin hardens and cracks.
Cracked heels are also associated with pain and inflammation. If not treated timely, cracked heels can increase the risk of infection.
How argan oil helps
Argan oil can help in deep moisturization of your skin, thus hydrating and softening your heels. It helps reduce inflammation and the pain that accompanies cracked heels. The use of argan oil can also prevent infections associated with cracked heels.
To use argan oil for the treatment of cracked heels, soak your feet in soapy water for 15 minutes and then exfoliate the skin using a pumice stone before applying argan oil to the affected areas. Cover your feet with socks overnight.
Caution: Avoid exfoliating your feet with a pumice stone or other exfoliating instruments if you are a diabetic.
How to use argan oil for skin benefits
Argan oil can be used either topically or orally for its skin care benefits:
- When using orally, simply add the oil to your daily diet such as using it for cooking.
- Massage argan oil directly to your skin after a shower or prepare oil blends for use.
- Buy skin care products such as moisturizers, serums, and lotions that contain argan oil as their active ingredient.
- Make an argan oil mask by mixing 3 tbsp of yogurt, 1 tbsp of honey, and a few drops of argan oil. Apply the mixture to your face and wash it off after 10 minutes.
- Add clove essential oil to argan oil to boost its antioxidant activity. (11) Argan oil increases the absorption of allantoin into the skin, which relieves itchiness, dryness, and scales. (12)
Argan Oil for Hair
Aside from its wide range of skin benefits, argan oil can help improve the health of your hair as well.
1. Reduces hair loss
It is common to experience hair loss as you age. However, you can also experience hair loss in your youth due to different factors that interfere with your hair growth cycle and damage your hair follicles.
How argan oil helps
Argan oil has been long used for its hair-strengthening and hair-growth-boosting properties. While there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, the use of argan oil for preventing hair fall enjoys ample anecdotal evidence.
Moreover, a study suggested that the oral intake of tocotrienols can lower oxidative stress and increase hair volume. (13) Since argan oil is rich in tocotrienols, it may exhibit similar effects when added to your diet. Make sure to consult your doctor before taking argan oil supplements.
2. Repairs damaged hair
To keep up with modern-day trends, many people subject their hair to salon treatments such as heat styling, dyeing, bleaching, and perming. These heat- and chemical-based procedures can weaken the hair strands and follicles.
As a result, the hair may become brittle and damaged with time. In the long term, these treatments can alter the hair structure and properties as well.
How argan oil helps
The rich fatty acid composition of argan oil protects your hair from heat damage by forming a protective layer around the hair shaft. (14) The use of argan oil also prevents common hair problems such as brittleness and split ends. (15)
This beneficial oil can also protect your natural hair color or improve dye retention, thus lowering the frequency of color treatments.
How to use argan oil for hair
Argan oil can be used for hair treatment in a number of ways:
- Use lotions, conditioners, shampoos, and hair growth serums that contain argan oil.
- Directly apply a few drops of argan oil to damp hair at bedtime and massage it in for 10 minutes, leaving the oil on overnight. Shampoo your hair the next morning.
- You can also mix pure argan oil with coconut oil, olive oil, or castor oil and a few drops of essential oil. Simply warm the oil blend and massage it onto your scalp and hair.
- Use argan oil can as a heat protectant before styling your hair. Apply a few drops of oil onto your damp hair and style them as usual.
Final Word
Moroccan argan oil is known for its skin and hair care uses and thus has found its way into different cosmetic products. Argan oil can moisturize your skin, lower skin inflammation, and even treat skin disorders. It can also strengthen and moisturize your hair and boost hair growth.
You can use argan oil topically or add it into your diet to reap the benefits that come from its rich composition of beneficial compounds.
- Was this article helpful?
- YES, THANKS!NOT REALLY
