Acne plagues 60 million Americans, according to the Acne Resource Center. Teenagers and young adults are the largest group of acne sufferers because their hormones drastically fluctuate. Women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome may also experience hormonal acne. While Medline Plus notes that not enough evidence exists to evaluate its efficacy, evening primrose oil is alternative medicine's remedy for hormone-related acne. As with any supplement, talk with your doctor before adding primrose oil to your diet.
Background
Native to North America, the evening primrose plant is most commonly found in old fields and ditches. Native Americans used the whole primrose plant for food and as medicine for conditions such as asthma and pain. Europeans began using this plant in the 17th century.
It has a hairy stem and produces large yellow flowers. The plant's small seeds yield a yellow oil extract that is used to make evening primrose oil supplements. The purported benefits of such supplements are derived from gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA, an essential fatty acid contained in the oil.
Function
Your body converts GLA to prostaglandin, a hormone-like substance. Some conditions, such as premenstrual syndrome and certain skin disorders, may be aggravated by a deficiency in GLA. This deficiency can be caused by a metabolic problem that inhibits your body from producing sufficient GLA, according to the University of Michigan Health System. The GLA in primrose oil may help regulate and stabilize certain hormones that commonly cause acne; its anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce the inflammation of blemishes, as well.
Dosage
Dr. Johnny Bowden, author of "The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth," recommends taking 1,000 mg of supplemental evening primrose oil twice a day. The GLA content in evening primrose oil varies per brand, however. Bowden suggests 320 mg of GLA two times per day as the optimum dosage. If you are deficient in GLA, you may require a higher dosage. Talk with your doctor about the proper dose of primrose oil for your personal needs before you begin use.
Warnings
Evening primrose oil may help alleviate acne; however, it is not a guaranteed solution. Not enough research has been done to identify it as an effective remedy.
Potential side effects associated with primrose oil include headache, nausea, abdominal pain and loose stools. Seizures have also been reported, particularly in those prone to seizures. Your physician should monitor your use of primrose oil because it may interact with other supplements and medications such as anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant and schizophrenia drugs, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center.
If your acne does not improve or gets worse, talk with your dermatologist about other solutions for your skin care needs, such as oral or topical acne medications.
References
- "The Most Effective Cures on Earth"; Jonny Bowden; 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Evening Primrose Oil
- Acne Resource Center: Acne Statistics
- University of Michigan Health System: Evening Primrose Oil
- MedlinePlus: Evening Primrose Oil
- Campbell University School of Pharmacy: Evening Primrose; George Nemecz, Ph.D.
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