Can egg yolk oil be used to treat children's eczema and diaper rash?

gossip

“Egg yolk oil can be used to treat eczema and diaper rash”

On social platforms, a "folk remedy" has become very popular recently: put the egg yolks in a pan and dry-fry them over medium heat. When the egg yolks turn black, use a spatula to press out the egg yolk oil. This egg yolk oil is "Phoenix Oil" and can treat eczema and diaper rash.

Rumor Analysis

That is not the case.

Modern medical research has not yet fully verified the efficacy and safety of egg yolk oil, and the existing scientific evidence is insufficient to recommend it as the primary method for treating eczema.

What is egg yolk oil

Egg yolk oil is a fat-soluble substance extracted from egg yolks through a special process. As an animal fat, egg yolk oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, phospholipids, vitamins A, D, E and other ingredients, which may play a role in the relief of eczematous dermatitis:

Fatty acids (such as oleic acid, linoleic acid): These unsaturated fatty acids help maintain the skin barrier function, improve hydration, and reduce dryness and itching.

Cholesterol and lecithin: These ingredients play an important role in the skin's lipid structure and may help repair damaged skin.

Vitamins A, D, and E: These vitamins have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and help promote skin repair.

Choline derivatives: may reduce inflammatory responses by regulating immune responses.

In theory, the combination of these ingredients can relieve eczema symptoms through mechanisms such as repairing the skin barrier, anti-inflammation, and promoting wound healing.

At present, some small sample studies in China have shown that egg yolk oil may have potential benefits for relieving mild eczema (such as reducing dryness and itching), but the quality of this evidence is still low:

· Unknown mechanism: Although egg yolk oil is believed to have anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects, its specific active ingredients and targets still need further study.

Insufficient clinical evidence: The efficacy and safety of egg yolk oil have not been fully clinically verified and need to be verified by larger-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials in the future.

· Standardization issues: Different preparation methods (such as frying or low-temperature extraction) may lead to differences in the composition of egg yolk oil, which in turn affects its effect. In particular, homemade egg yolk oil may have large composition differences. Therefore, it is urgent to establish unified standards and preparation processes.

In short, current research is insufficient to prove the specific efficacy of egg yolk oil, and there is still a lack of large-scale randomized controlled trials to support its effectiveness and safety in the treatment of eczema.

Is egg yolk oil suitable for children?

For adults, egg yolk oil, when used in moderation, may help relieve some skin problems. But when used on children, especially when making homemade egg yolk oil, you should be extra careful. Here are some precautions:

Risks of Making Homemade Egg White

If you make egg yolk butter yourself, it may contain impurities or impure substances, which may irritate your child's skin and easily induce an allergic reaction.

Egg Allergy

If your child is allergic to eggs or egg products, it is recommended to avoid egg yolk oil as it may aggravate eczema or even trigger other serious allergic problems.

Homemade egg yolk butter.

If parents want to use skin care products containing egg yolk oil, they should first test a small area on tender skin areas such as the elbow pits to observe whether there is an allergic reaction.

It is also important to avoid alternative drug treatments. Egg yolk oil can only be used as part of auxiliary care and cannot replace standard drug treatments (such as hormone ointments, immunomodulators, etc.). For recurrent eczema or diaper rash, you should seek medical attention in time and follow the advice of professional doctors.

Standardized management of eczema

The treatment of eczema requires comprehensive consideration of its multiple causes (such as genetics, immunity, environmental factors, etc.). The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms (itching and dermatitis), prevent worsening of the disease, improve sleep and quality of life, and minimize drug risks. Treatment usually includes the following key steps:

1

Moisturizing

Keep your skin moisturized by using a non-irritating moisturizer, especially one with ingredients like ceramides.

2. Drug treatment

Use glucocorticoids, calcineurin inhibitors and other drugs as prescribed by your doctor to control inflammatory response and itching.

3. Avoid triggers

Avoid known allergens and irritants, including contact with allergens, excessive bathing without timely moisturizing, dry environment, stress, dry or overheated skin, and exposure to some cleaning and disinfecting products.

In general, egg yolk oil may relieve eczema symptoms through moisturizing and mild anti-inflammatory effects, but the existing scientific evidence is insufficient to recommend it as a primary treatment. Future studies are needed to further verify the effectiveness and safety of egg yolk oil. When trying to use egg yolk oil, it is recommended to choose regular products, avoid allergic reactions, and combine it with modern medical standard treatment.

Looking in the mirror of rumors

Most of the cases that can be retrieved for "egg yogurt oil is effective in treating eczema and diaper rash" are personal experiences, which may be misleading and a "survivor bias". In addition, eczema itself has a tendency to heal on its own, which can be easily mistaken for the effect of folk remedies, but there is no modern clinical research or research recommendation from authoritative medical institutions.

For similar folk remedies, the correct attitude should be to consult a doctor and, under the doctor's guidance, give priority to clinically proven medical plans.

References

[1] Wu Huiting, Xu Xianmin, Wang Yuling, et al. Isolation, purification and structural identification of egg yolk oil cholesterol [J/OL]. China Oils and Fats, 1-8 [2025-02-25]. https://doi.org/10.19902/j.cnki.zgyz.1003-7969.230567.

[2] Guo Xiaoxu, Liu Hengyang, Yin Yuxin, et al. Combined extraction technology of four bioactive components from egg yolk[J]. Food Research and Development, 2023, 44(23): 114-122.

[3] Shen Haibao, Zhang Pingjun, Guo Rong, et al. Analysis of phospholipid components in different processed egg yolk oil products [J]. Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine, 1996, (02): 19-21.

[3] Wang Chunli, Tang Hanjun. Recent research on the medical value of egg yolk oil[J]. Chinese Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information, 2005, (06): 100-102.

[4] Wu Yijuan, Sun Xinghong, Guo Haixia, et al. Ancient and modern applications and research progress of egg yolk oil[J]. World Chinese Medicine, 2024, 19(10):1532-1536.

[5] Immunology Group of the Chinese Society of Dermatology and Venereology, Atopic Dermatitis Collaborative Research Center. Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis (2020 Edition)[J]. Chin J Dermatol, 2020, 53(2).

Planning and production

Author: Fan Yunzhu Hangzhou Ho Yun Chia Hospital Nha Trang Clinic

Review | Feng Jun, deputy chief physician of the Dermatology Department of Sinopharm Tongmei General Hospital