Neem Oil: A Natural Acne Cure?

December

Neem Oil: A Natural Acne Cure?

Meredith muses: Can you give me the scientist’s perspective on Neem? It’s a plant that has been called the “corner pharmacy” in India for ages. I’ve found a lot of information about it from Ayurvedic and naturopathic stores, and I’m not seeing a ton of hard science behind the claims. I’m looking specifically for info regarding its healing properties for acne and eczema.

The Left Brain’s not sure about Neem:
Like you, I’m always VERY skeptical of naturopathic remedies unless there is clinical data to back up their claims. Sometimes, these remedies do contain active, effective ingredients. Other times they do not. Interestingly, the effectiveness of Neem, or Azadirachta indica, as it is technically known, is pretty well documented.

Neem, the wonder drug

A search of Pubmed reveals over 400 different studies on Neem oil most of which deal with its antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects. The data indicates that Neem does live up to its reputation as a wonder drug, at least in many respects.

There are studies showing that it gets rid of camel ticks, it’s a spermicide, stops hamsters from getting cheek cancer, it’s good for sheeps’ digestive systems, kills head lice, helps against some types of diabetes, repels mosquitoes, and stops mange. It’s also effective against plaque and cavities, can interrupt the breeding cycle of the diamondback moth, and guards against some forms of gastic cancer. To name a few.

Not for acne?

However, in all these studies (and I reviewed all 448 of them!) I couldn’t find a single reference to any testing on acne or eczema. Now, that doesn’t mean necessarily mean that Neem DOESN’T work. It is a plausible theory since it does have antibacterial properties. But there maybe other effects to consider. For example, it could kill the bacteria that cause acne (P. acnes) but it could also contribute to acne by clogging pores. Without some kind of test data it’s all speculation and hearsay.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Unless someone out there can direct me to further studies showing Neem works on acne, this Beauty Brain remains skeptical. But if you want to buy some Neem oil and give it a try there’s probably little risk. But then again, why not use some acne medications that are proven to work?

What do YOU think? Do you trust the over the counter acne medications or do you prefer natural remedies? Leave a comment and tell us what you think about neem or any other natural cures you’ve tried.

40 Responses to “Neem Oil: A Natural Acne Cure?”

Meresankh Says:

I also stumbled across information on neem oil when I was looking for other essential oils to add to my henna mix. While neem is not good for darkening henna, it has done wonders for my skin. I found a line of soaps and lotions formulated with neem from a company called Organix South, and they do a great job of keeping my acne from rearing its ugly head(s). Straight neem oil is a bit heavy and really stinky for all-over use, but it is good to have around for the occasional zit, scratch, or bug bite.
Lisa Says:

I really wished that there was some solid evidence backing up Neem oil because I do prefer natural remedies to medications. However, I’d rather not waste money on something thats not scientifically proven to work.
Ginger Says:

I am a cosmetic chemist and have access to raw materials. I have recently get a sample of Neem with tons of documentations stating how miraculous this material is-all most like a cure all for all skin problems. I applied this oil to my skin directly for 3 days in a row now and feel my complexion is so clear (I had some acne scar), so radiant. I am now truly convinced about the power of neem and will use neem to formulate in skin care products.
Meade Says:

An Ayurvedic practioner recommended that I apply a neem oil daily to my face to improve my complexion. The oil consists of sesame seed and canola oils and neem extract. I have historically had pretty bad melasma, plus rosacea and acne. I think my complexion has definitely improved significantly over the past year. My acne has absolutely improved. I still get some every once in a while, but I go for long periods without any. My melasma has also evened out a good bit. I know part of this effect can be attributed to lots of sunscreen and staying out of the sun, but I was doing that for a couple of years prior to using neem oil. I don’t know that it has had much impact on my rosacea; that was never very bad. Overall, too, I think my skin is smoother and “fresher” looking. Of note, I don’t get facials or do anything else to smooth and improve my face. Finally, as I am a clinical researcher, I was a total sceptic at first! I only said, “Yes,” because the practioner was my sister-in-law at the time. I will definitely keep using this product, however.
thebeautybrains Says:

Ginger: We’re cosmetic chemists too and we get samples from raw material suppliers ALL the time. The kind of data they provide are usually sales materials, not clinical studies. The quality of this information is not the same, so we’re still skeptical until we see properly designed studies. Thanks for the comment!
Georgina Says:

Hi Meade – would you mind telling me what the name of the neem product is that you used to help clear up your acne?

Many thanks
Georgina
LeAnne@hairsmystory.com Says:

I know that Neem oil is a powerful antifungal and antiseptic. I’ve been wanting to try it for my hair.
J Says:

I prefer tea tree oil over neem oil because I think tea tree oil smells less unpleasant.
Meade Says:

Georgina asked for the neem product I use. First, a list of ingredients from the bottle: organic sesame oil, organic sunflower oil, Azadirachta indica, Pterocarpus santalinus, Rubia cordifolia, Tikta churna. The product (called Neem Oil – Sidha Soma Supreme) is distributed by The Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, NM; website http://www.ayurveda.com). Also, since many have commented on a bad smell, this product simply has a very mild smell that’s not really good or bad, at least to my nose. I am typically sensitive to bad smells. Maybe Beauty Brains could comment on the various ingredients? Azadirachta indica is Neem, but I am not familiar with the rest.
christina Says:

animal testing is horable if you want to test your products do it on humans
because the effects are not even the same between animals and humans people
are just so stupid and self-centered
there are people who would test products!
Madeline Ellison Says:

Neem oil has done miraculous things for me as well. I find that adding neem oil directly to bath water and soaking in it improves my complexion and helps the skin disorder I’ve had for years. I’m not sure what its called, but its little zits all over my arms, knees, and thighs. They’re small, though sometimes become mature pimples. I’ve been self conscious to wear shorts for so long because my pores would look big and purple-ish from this disorder. Ever since I’ve been using neem oil in my bath its been getting much better! I also used neem oil on my fiance’ when he acquired poison ivy. It went away overnight! Incredible herbal cure that’s a Godsend.
MenLYconfident Says:

I ate BITREEN pill made out of neem and for just 3 days my acne problem ‘improve’ like a miracle. Does it need prove or scientific studies further more? They say neem will detox your blood and it is blood purification. Before this over the years i tried many(more than 35+-) skin clear product from cheap to expensive skin clear product such as face wash, moisturising gel, and skin essence. I wish i know neem better when im 15 years old, that is when my acne and pimples broke out of control.
Mohini Says:

I come from Pakistan and we had a Neem tree in our backyard. We would make a paste of neem leaves to apply to the skin for itch, eczema, measles chicken pox, or acne, it works. Also it can be used to drink ( warning: very bitter) for detox. I have never used the powder or products that sell over the counter but real neem I can swear by.
gardenmandy Says:

Neem oil works for all other kinds of pest control so why not acne too?!!
shei raga Says:

if you stop using neem, will your problem return worse than before, or at all?
Anon Says:

I heard about neem oil when I had a facial and the lady suggested that I use it. I bought some and it STINKS but time will tell if it’s working (only have been using it now for a couple of days)

There is a study here

Seems more like an anti-inflammatory than bacteria killer when it comes to p.acnes but it would help I would think.
stop it. Says:

The beauty brains you sound so sceptical of everything and I dont want to be mean but your acting as if everything needs scientific proof which it doesnt. Just like you said castor oil doesnt make eyelashes long eh yea they do I’ve been usingit for a week and my eyelashes are already more full/longer. I suggest highly that you stop acting so above everything .. you sound so I dunno omg we need evidence look sweets if it works it works and some of the shit you spew isnt even true .. like seriously scientifically benzoyl peroxide is amazing with acne yet its done zilch for me . scientifically neem oil hasnt proved shit yet its done wonders for me.. I think you cant state anything as facts and stop acting like you think you know everything GEEZ.
Do The Beauty Brains Know Everything? | The Beauty Brains Says:

[...] If you go back and read our post on Neem Oil you’ll see that we said it does provide some scientifically valid benefits. It’s just [...]
Hormonal Acne for Years Says:

TO: “Stop It”
You said it just right, scientifically proven is a load of CRAP! Just because it hasn’t been, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. Scientists have their head’s buried so far up the Drug company’s Ass that they wouldn’t know a natural remedy if it hit them in the face. I agree with you. I just started using Neem Oil yesterday for my on going Hormonal Acne problem. I am 32 years old and still deal with this daily. I get Cysts on my chin monthly and they take forever to go away not to mention hurt like hell. That is on top of the daily zits I get. I put the oil in my reg. natural moisturizer and applied and I woke up to find a significant decrease in the redness and swelling. I was amazed. I will keep applying it daily to see the outcome. NOTHING else has worked, not in 15 years, NOTHING!!!! Except being pregnant, that completely cleared me but once I stopped nursing, all the hormonal hell returned!!!! So far, I am very excited about NEEM!!!!
thebeautybrains Says:

Oh my. The logical fallacies in the last two comments just demonstrate how much work we’ve got left to do.

Proof should be required for everything.

Scientists don’t care if something is natural or not, they want to find things that work.
Angie Says:

I have started using neem oil on my face for my rosecea and it has helped it 80%, however I did not purchase it for that reason initially. I have chronic candida and in the summer months my arms break out with yeast and it is a itch from hell, nothing not even the prescription meds help this hellish iche. This neem is awesome! It is the ONLY thing that has keep the itch away. I take the neem pills for internal and the neem oil on my skin, sometimes I apply it direct or other times I will mix it with Coconut oil.
It was a miricle for me.
Joey Says:

I appreciate your skepticism, and if you (the blogger) design cosmetics, that is good to be extra safe.

However, I must say that though making sure herbs you will use have proper scientific backup is very, well, scientific, it will not always lead you to the most effective path.

Why? Because scientific studies cannot patent herbs so they tend to stay away from them in general, they have very little funding. Companies would prefer you to buy products like say, clearisil and all the name brands, for example, look at that acne product sponsered by Jessica Simpson. These can be marketed patented and they want you to buy them, and large coorperations are paying for the scientific tests. Clearasil probably has more tests than Neem Leaf, despite the fact that Neem has unprecidented health benefits for a large variety of skin conditions.

What I am saying is they don’t WANT you to buy herbs, you can buy a pound of neem leaves for about 10 dollars, the same price as a 2 ounce tube of clearisil.

So what am I getting at? I suppose I am trying to say that if you ONLY use products that have been tested by science you are missing out on some of the very beneficial effects of herbs. Unsafe? I can tell you right now that most herbs are more safe than any pharmasutical you could buy, do your research, it depends on the herb and your personal conditions (some herbs for example shouldn’t be taken if one has say, diabetes) I suppose to some what I am saying will look quite stupid but I’m telling you this because I have benefited greatly in health because of it – one self test is worth 400 lab tests provided you have researched that the herb is basically safe for the use you are trying. Who cares if Neem has cleared acne in 8 out of 10 lab rats, does it clear your OWN acne?

I am personally in the process of testing this myself so I can’t really tell you if it works for me yet lol.

The isolated chemicals that western medicine uses tend to have more dramatic effects and accordingly more side effects. If you went to India and rubbed a neem leaf on your face for a few days, it is doubtful that this would give you any trouble.
Nancy Says:

I recently purchased Neem tablets for my daughter and soap as a remedy for her acne. I was astonished, it seemed by 24 hours the redness had calmed down, the raised pimples were flatter and seemed to be disappearing. Its only been two days but heck, I’m impressed.

Compared to the dermotologists creams that were making her face so sensitive to the sun and seemed her acne got even worse. I’m hoping this is going to work for her. Had to share.
Natalie Says:

Neem has done wonders for my acne. I doubt there will be any scientific reseach claiming that Neem is a cure for acne, They claim Accutane is however if you want to deal with the grusome side effects go ahead.. I’ve used it and years later my acne came back. Applying Neem oil on your face will not harm your fetus like Accutane or increase your blood sugar like Accutane. Who cares about scientific research? The bottle costs 10 bucks CAD what have you got to lose? My Acne started when i was 14 years old I am now 30, and Neem Oil, I also take Apple Cider Vinegar in my water 3 times a day have been my ONLY cure! Good Luck… Natural is the way to go!
theresa Says:

I used pure neem oil directly on an area of bad acne on the side of my chin and jaw last night. But i feel like my acne looks redder today and feels itchy. Am i ment to have used the oil in conjunction with a moisturisor or something? And the oil has left a brown patch on my pillow and duvet…hmmm. Any suggestions??
Natalie Says:

Theresa,

It has done the same to my pillow as well… not sure how to stop that from happening other than to use an old pillow case that u don’t care too much about.. and wash it regularly! Remember sometimes Acne has to get worse to get better.. it sucks! But it’ll get better!
Nichole Says:

Hey there theresa! So I cut (or mix) my neem oil with jojoba oil and add a drop of tea tree. You may have to work with the ratios yourself… but I find that 2 drops Jojoba, 2 drops neem, and 1 drop tea tree does wonders for me. I have suffered from cystular acne for years- and my skin is consistently clearer now.

To the Brains: I really appreciate a site which is dedicated to researching cosmetics! I am a fan of both myself. However.. in my own research I found that benzoyl peroxide is an oxidative ingredient- which causes damage to the structure of our skin cells. It also makes the skin hyper sensitive to UV rays.. and applying sunscreen only really protects us from UVB rays- so the damaging effects of UVA combined with BPs oxidative nature can cause premature aging.

This is mostly anecdotal- though pore tightening/cell sloughing are benefits of BP- For me it caused pretty embarrassing and painful tightening of the skin, and an excess of sloughing away dead skin cells. It just seems like one step forward two steps back with that ingredient. Sure it can get rid of acne, but at the expense of not being able to move your face comfortably, causing long term damage to skin cells, and premature aging.

So thank you for taking the time to research products and ingredients for us! And I truly understand your adamant desire to stick with scientific research.. but before you toss away nature to big pharma, it would be nice to throw in a line or two about the drawbacks to BP or whatever other ingredient. Thank you!
Andrew Says:

i’ve used it cautiously on my face mixing it with my regular shea butter and coconut oil. four applications over a week’s time has almost completely taken care of my gruesome itchy red patches. the only drawback is the smell. garlic and peanuts, and sometimes smells like burning tires. i like the idea of adding jojoba and teatree oil.
Tracy Says:

We use Neem for many reasons. I was first introduced to it by a co-worker from India. Her family visited and brought me numerous products. We currently still use the soap, toothpaste, face masks, etc. The pure Neem has a really strong (slightly sickening) smell… I tried using natural oils like lavender to mask the smell – but that doesn’t really help. My son had an outbreak of ringworm and it cleared it right up. He also had really bad dry scalp – also worked great. I’m ordering some for my niece who has eczema to see if it helps her… I’ve read reports that says it helps with the inflamation.
April Says:

Neem has been the subject of a major book originally published under the Neem Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public about the uses of neem. It is now published in an updated edition by Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, under the title: Neem: The Ultimate Herb by John Conrick. The author has compiled an extensive list of research studies and scientific reports done on various potential benefits of neem.
Chloé Says:

Hi there, I too have terrible trouble most months with hormonal cysts, this is supposedly down to having polycystic ovaries, but the doctor told me they were not ‘that bad’ and gave no advice at all. I felt so dispondent as it’s rank having these huge boils on my face and jawline – i don’t normally suffer from any spots so they totally stand out and some handy person always comments – ‘oh you have a spot’ etc…anyway i digress… I stumbled upon a site for other people suffering from PCOS where a girl mentioned neem oil, at around GBP5 i thought i’d give it a go. My boils used to take up to 3 weeks to disappear and that was once they’d fully opened, pussed and then remained as a scar – i have tried every spot treatment out there, including tea tree, but with neem oil they only last about 4 days and no scarring, its like a wonder cream. I keep it cool, so it solidifys then when i want to use it, warm it on the radiator, or in warm water and apply with a cotton bud directly to the boil. I must agree, the oil stinks, its like peanut butter and marmite together but it truly has worked for me, i’ve lost count of the amount of people I now recommend it to. If you do suffer from acne, spots, boils or any other skin ailment of this type I would highly recommend it. If anyone out there wants to do a scientific study i’d be more than prepared to offer my views!

Great website by the way!
axetheacne Says:

I have not heard of neem oil. I think I need to try some and see if it will help with my acne. I have had a lot of problems with side effects with most acne meds.
barbara Says:

I heard that the locuts can eat anything, but not neem trees? very interesting???
mom Says:

You need not worry about a “test” for neem to work. The power of a remedy to work is mostly in your head anyway! Have you heard of the placebo effect? Your body does the healing!!! Quantum physics baby… A light photon will act like a wave when observed as a wave and will act like matter when observed as matter. It is all based on the observation. If the “testers” expect a certain outcome they get it! It’s very difficult to produce independent results as the researchers consciousness is always factored in. If people are having good results with neem then… The wisest way to find out if something works it to try it!
shy Says:

It really does work for lice. I caught them from my child so I used the store brand treatments but my husband couldn’t pick out all the nits or something because I couldn’t get rid of them. I tried weekly over the counter treatments for several months and I also used every home remedy I could find between times. Vaseline, mayo, shaving cream, hair gel, eggs, all kinds of herbs, tee tree, rosemary, peppermint, coconut shampoo, hairspray helmet head, even drenched in tea brew from a walnut tree. It was a nightmare. I don’t think there was any home remedy I didn’t try along with the store bought, except for the dangerous ones like gas.

I was even so careful as to wash clothes in hot water and dry on hot for an hour, bag up extras, boiled my hairbrush… yes it got warped badly. These critters had to be the drug resistant kind.

After reading about Neem, I added it to olive oil and saturated my hair and put a big towel on my head and slept with it overnight. (I didn’t even bother with the nits as I’d felt there was no use after husband working so hard on them before but to no avail.) I did this 2-3 times the first week. It doesn’t kill them outright, but they stopped biting me after the first week and there were no more nits. Just to be sure to kill them off I kept doing that once a week for a couple more weeks then after that about once every two or three weeks for a total of about six to eight weeks in all.

I haven’t used Neem or had signs of lice for over 3 months now so I’m sure they’re finally gone. It was the last resort for me, as I was about to shave my head if that didn’t work, but it really worked well and I am so thankful for Neem now. I feel so bad for anyone else who may get lice, but I just wish they knew how easy it can be to get rid of them this way. I wish I would have known in the beginning, would have saved myself a ton of trouble and tons of money wasted on all the other stuff. If I’m ever unfortunate enough to get those bugs again, Neem will be the first and only thing I’ll use.
shy Says:

P.S. Thought of a few other home remedies I used to add to that list… sulpher soap, lemon, lime, and orange juice and regular black tea. The reg. tea and especially the juices did seem to help the nits fall off, but didn’t do anything to the bugs.
Chew Says:

All I know is from my experience this stuff is a miracle. I have been battling a case of demodectic mange on my dog since she was a puppy…15 months. I tried everything and the vet bills were getting ridiculous. I went on a search for a holistic cure and ran across neem oil. Last week I added the essential oil to a bottle of shampoo, shook and bathed both of my dogs. I cannot even described the difference in both dogs. The dog with the demodex mange is nearly free of scales and her coat is 100% smoother and shinier. The other dog finally stopped itching (no mange). So I moved on to a rescue dog in the family that is 11 years old, skin was dry and coat was dull. One bath later he looks a million times better. I wasted over $200 on every brand of skin/itch dog shampoo on the market. A $5 bottle of this stuff, two tablespoons in a 15 oz bottle of shampoo and waala!

Now…feeling good about this stuff I decided to see if it would do anything for my scalp which gets ridiculously dry in the winter. One shampoo and now I know why all 3 dogs look and feel better because so do I. Everyone should know about this stuff. Don’t waste money on neem shampoo…just buy the essential oil and add to your regular product.

As far as research goes…I wish there was more proof, but why wait? The stuff is non-toxic externally…although it stinks to high heaven.
Ayurveda Forums Says:

Yes it stinks…
But don’t believe in first sight
Brenda Wagner Says:

To Whom It May Concern: HOW CAN I ORDER NEEM OIL? I HAVEN´T TRIED FINDING IT IN PANAMA BECAUSE IT´S DIFFICULT TO FIND THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT (JUST MOVED HERE A YEAR AGO.) THERE ARE 2 HUGE NEEM TREES (1ST TIME I´VE SEEN A NEEM TREE HERE) DOWN THE STREET. WHERE CAN I BUY THE OIL? I REALLY NEED IT FOR MY DOG!! WILL TRY TI ON MYSELF ALSO AFTER READING ALL THE TESTIMONIES. THANK SO MUCH. BRENDA
Ahalya Says:

From my experiance,neem does work wonders.I had a severe case of chicken pox when I was in high school,about 11 years ago.I had the pustules all over my body including my scalp,palms,feet and of course,the face.I dont remember taking any allopathy at that time.The only remedy was to take a warm bath with neem leaves soaked in the water and to use a neem branch to relieve the itching.Nothing more.Once the pustules dried up and the scabs fell off,believe it or not,I did not have a single scar on my body which otherwise would have been devastating for me if they were any left on my face.
I so do vouch for it,we have been using it for centuries in India,Ayurveda has worked for thousands of years,still is and will…..