The numerous benefits of castor oil on the skin.

Naturally produced during chemical reactions at the mitochondrial chain level, and also synthesized in response to UV exposure or pollution, free radicals are unstable compounds that have an unpaired electron in their chemical structure. To stabilize and gain an additional electron, they react with other molecules in the body, which can alter skin structures and accelerate the onset of wrinkles or pigmented spots. To protect against this, it is recommended to use antioxidants.

Thanks to its Vitamin E content, castor oil could potentially offer some protection to protein fibers and cellular constituents against oxidative stress. The antioxidant activity of this plant extract was evaluated using a DPPH test. A median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the DPPH° free radical of 19.02 µg/mL was measured for castor oil, compared to 2.36 µg/mL for ascorbic acid, whose antioxidant properties are well-known. According to this study, it appears that castor oil may be capable of combating free radicals and protecting the skin from their harmful effects.

Beyond its antioxidant activity, which allows it to prevent wrinkles, castor oil could potentially act directly on signs of aging. This is at least what a study conducted in 2023 by PARVIZI and his team suggests. The study involved 22 individuals with crow's feet wrinkles. For two months, the volunteers applied a cream containing 10% castor oil to their eye contour area twice a day. At the end of the study, a mean improvement of 33% in wrinkle score was measured, while no side effects were reported. It could then be hypothesized that castor oil possesses a certain tightening effect, a hypothesis that would be good to see confirmed in further clinical trials involving more volunteers.

Some studies suggest that castor oil could accelerate the healing of minor wounds. Among them, we can mention the one conducted by MANDA and his team who focused on a formulation based on ascorbic acid (0.5%), gum tragacanth (6%) and castor oil (25%). The healing effects of this cream were evaluated on rats with minor cuts (≈ 20 mm2). After application twice a day for nine days, the researchers observed an average reduction of 98% of the surface of the treated wounds, compared to 80% for the cuts left as they were. The formulation therefore seems to have promoted tissue repair.

However, it is challenging to attribute this effect to castor oil as the cream also contained ascorbic acid, known for stimulating the activity of fibroblasts, the cells responsible for the production of scar tissue, as well as for its effects on angiogenesis. Nevertheless, we can assume that castor oil contributed to keeping the wound hydrated, which is crucial in a healing situation.

Often a source of insecurity, brown spots disrupt the uniformity of the complexion. To reduce their visibility, some turn to castor oil. The effectiveness of this vegetable oil in combating hyperpigmentation was recently evaluated in a study conducted with about twenty participants with pigmented dark circles. After applying it twice daily for 60 days, participants noted an average improvement in pigmentation of 8.2%. Given that brown spots, like pigmented dark circles, are due to an accumulation of melanin in the skin, it can be inferred that castor oil could help to diminish them.

At present, the mechanism at work has not yet been elucidated. However, it is suggested by some researchers that castor oil may exhibit a anti-tyrosinase activity and that this would be the source of its depigmenting properties. As a reminder, tyrosinase is an enzyme involved in the process of melanogenesis to convert tyrosine into melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color.

Finally, castor oil appears to have a noteworthy antifungal action that can help prevent fungal infections. Responsible for significant discomfort, these infections can cause skin dryness, itching, or even redness. Fungal infections are the result of fungal colonization. Different types of fungi can cause these infections: those of the genus Candida, dermatophytes, or even Malassezia.

According to a study in vitro, castor oil could potentially inhibit the proliferation of certain fungi, such as Lentinus sajor-caju, in a dose-dependent manner. During this study, the antifungal effect of castor oil was compared to that of fluconazole, a medication commonly used to treat fungal infections. For this, the disk diffusion method, or Kirby-Bauer test, was performed. After 24 hours of incubation, a similar antifungal action was observed for the disk that received castor oil (9.6 µg) and the one that received fluconazole (100 µg). Castor oil thus appears to have a genuine antifungal effect against Lentinus sajor-caju, which could potentially extend to other fungi. Although more studies are still needed, this botanical extract could be interesting for combating fungal infections.