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If tallow made your eczema worse, you are not alone. Tallow is all the rage right now (and mostly for good reason) but it is not always safe, especially for people with eczema.
If you’ve been searching “why did tallow make my eczema worse,” this is what most recipes don’t explain.
If you tried tallow for eczema and it made your skin worse or even burn, it is likely for one of the reasons we will cover in this blog post. I am so passionate about spreading awareness into the benefits of tallow but I am not a medical professional. Any time you try anything new on your skin, be sure to check with your doctor and always perform a patch test. To learn more click here.
This post is all about tallow for eczema
Table of Contents
Why Tallow Can Work so Well for Eczema Prone Skin
Tallow is rich in vitamins and minerals and is very similar to our skins natural oils. It contains lipids that coat your skin and provide an occlusive barrier (like a Tagaderm which is a piece of sticky medical plastic.) These occlusive properties can seal in moisture and really hydrate your skin.
Unfortunately, if you do not have tallow cream that is safe or you don’t handle the skin properly, tallow may not work for you. Let’s dive in to why tallow may not always help eczema.
5 Reasons Tallow Can Trigger an Eczema Flare
1. The Tallow Was Low Quality
It is obviously a lot more simple to purchase tallow balm or even pre- rendered tallow from a place like Amazon, however, there is no real regulation when it comes to tallow balms and a lot of companies will cut corners to save money. Some companies use trim fat which is softer and greasier and can hold a very “beefy” smell. Others source their tallow from who knows where.
Even worse, some companies make products like the viral honey and tallow balm. Honey and tallow with no preservatives is a surefire way to add mold and bacteria into your life. The only way to know with 100% certainty what you are putting on your skin is to make it yourself. More on this below.
2. The Tallow Was Improperly Rendered or Purified
As I mentioned above, tallow that has been improperly rendered or filtered can lead to impurities that can irritate your skin. You can also be left with a beefy smell and the tallow can go moldy or rancid a lot faster. (Properly rendered tallow can be stored for years if done correctly.)
There are a lot of little tips and tricks to rendering tallow correctly and I cover them all in my Master Tallow Course. To learn more, click here or skip to the bottom to learn more!
3. There Are Essential Oils or Other Irritating Scents
Essential oils are so amazing for adding fresh and delightful smells to your creams but on eczema or sensitive skin, even the most gentle or safe ones can cause a flare. When you have eczema or sensitive skin, it is smart to leave all products scent and colourless.
4. The Added Oils Were Comedogenic or Irritating
Something that isn’t that well known is oils have different comedogenic ratings. This rating tells you how likely an oil is to clog your pores. If you choose one with a high rating and your skin doesn’t require it, you can break out. If you choose one too low, it may not be hydrating enough. The trick is in finding the balance.
Another thing not talked about often is that allergies and eczema go hand in hand and if you have eczema, you may have sensitivities (my experience, I am not a doctor.) Nuts are one of the most common allergens and also happens to be a very popular choice for skincare. (I’m looking at you sweet almond oil.)
The only way to ensure your tallow skincare is safe for you or your family is to make it yourself.
5. The Skin Barrier Was Too Damaged for Occlusives
Sometimes eczema can become infected and when that happens, you need a physician to help you. No amount of tallow will help clear an infection.
Even if your skin is not infected, if it is very damaged and you try and add tallow to dry skin, it can trap heat and bacteria, not allowing your skin to heal. (This is also true of most occlusive barriers such as vaseline or Aquaphor.)
Of course, this is also why tallow makes such a wonderful eczema moisturizer. It locks in moisture and keeps your skin hydrated for quite a while.
{Related: Why Most Tallow Fails for Sensitive Skin}
Why Most Tallow Recipes Don't Cover This
I will admit, when I first got started with tallow I was so excited to share it with the world! I shared recipes galore and was experimenting non stop. I loved that but I came to realize that people don’t need more recipes. They need the “why” behind grainy or greasy tallow, how to properly purify and render tallow as well as which oils to choose and why.
This is simply too much information to pack in a little blog post.
I’ve also come to realize that tallow a growing trend and trends are fun to jump on! Recipes can be fantastic to add to your arsenal but it is important you trust the source!
How to Use Tallow for Eczema Prone Skin
When using tallow on your skin, you don’t need a 17 step routine. You need a few intentional steps using a tallow lotion that you trust completely. If you want to learn the step by step of how to use tallow for eczema, check out this post.
{Related: How to use tallow safely for eczema (step by step)}
Want to Make and Use Tallow With Confidence?
If you want to stop guessing and confidently make, customize, and use tallow for eczema safely, I walk through the entire process step-by-step inside my course.
I put all of my years of knowledge into this video and printable course and it is the most comprehensive guide on the internet!
We cover sourcing tallow, grain fed versus grass fed, carrier oils, essential oils, a colouring guide and more! I can’t wait for you to see.
Final Thoughts
If tallow made your eczema worse, don’t panic.
Instead ask:
Was my skin hydrated first?
Was there infection?
Was it plain tallow?
Was I patient?
When used correctly, tallow can be one of the simplest and most effective barrier-supporting tools available. Simplicity is powerful.