Starflower Oil

Scientific Papers

The following scientific papers found strong support for treating infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis (ISD) with Starflower Oil. ISD is the most common skin condition called cradle cap in babies younger than 1 year old.

Borage oil, an effective new treatment for infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis.
A.Tollesson, M.D., and A.Frithz, M.D.
British Journal of Dermatology (1993) 129, p 95.
Reference on PubMed

In this study, the researchers successfully treated 48 children with ISD by applying half a ml of starflower (borage) oil twice a day to the nappy region. The children had all previously received hydrocortisone [a steroid], anti-fungals, and moisturizing preparations with either minimal or no effect.

"Within 10-12 days all the children were free from skin lesions, even in areas not treated with the oil. When treatment was discontinued, the lesions recurred within 1 week. With intermittent therapy 2-3 times/week, there were no recurrences. Treatment was stopped at about 6-7 months of age, and there were no relapses thereafter. There were no side-effects of treatment in any of the children."

Malassezia furfur in Infantile Seborrheic Dermatitis.
Anders Tollesson, M.D., Anders Frithz, M.D., and Kajsa Stenlund, M.D.
Pediatric Dermatology (1997) Vol. 14 No. 6, p 423-425.
Abstract on PubMed

In this study, the researchers were investigating the common theory that a yeast named Malassezia furfur causes ISD. As part of their method, they successfully treated 21 children with ISD by applying half a ml of starflower (borage) oil twice a day to the nappy region.

"Oil of Borago officinalis ... cures the ISD within 1 to 3 weeks."

To be involved in this study, the children had to have much more severe symptoms than we commonly associate with cradle cap:

"Clinical criteria for inclusion in this study were scaling of the scalp and reddened, oozing lesions in proximal body folds, behind the ears, and in the diaper region."

Interestingly, the authors concluded that:

"The growth of M. furfur seems not to be related to the clinical symptoms in ISD."

Essential fatty acids in infantile seborrheic dermatitis.
A. Tollesson, A. Frithz, A. Berg, G. Karlman.
Journal of the American Acadamy of Dermatology (1993) Jun;28(6):957-61.
Abstract on PubMed

This study compared essential fatty acid levels in babies aged between 1 and 6 months with ISD to those without ISD. The levels of some fatty acids were significantly different. When the ISD disappeared, the fatty acid levels returned to normal. The fatty acid levels of the mothers' breastmilk were normal. The results suggested that an enzyme that helps process linoleic acid into gamma linolenic acid (GLA) may be temporarily impaired.

Starflower oil is the richest natural source of GLA.

The Frequency of Common Skin Conditions in Preschool-aged Children in Australia: Seborrheic Dermatitis and Pityriasis Capitis (Cradle Cap)
Peter Foley, MD, FACD; Yeqin Zuo, MB, GradDipEpidemBiostat, MPH; Anne Plunkett, BN, MPH; Kate Merlin, BMRA, GDipHSc (Health Promotion and Health Education); Robin Marks, MBBS, FACD
ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOGY, VOL 139, MAR 2003, p 318-322
Full text available at www.archdermatol.com

Please note that when the authors refer to 'cradle cap' in this study they are referring to Pityriasis Capitis (which is also known as dandruff).

The statistics quoted on this website are taken from this study:

80% of Australian babies have scaly skin in their first year
Over 70% of Australian babies under 3 months old have ISD
An average of 35% of babies under 1 year old have dandruff
Over 70% of ISD in Australian babies is minimal or mild
Around 85% of dandruff in Australian babies is minimal or mild.

Studies on Safety

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Borage (Borago Officinalis) Seeds and Flowers
Craig D Dodson and Frank R Stermitz, 1986 J. Nat. Prod. 49(4): 727-728.

This study notes that the major seed pyrrolizidine, thesinine, is not known to be toxic. No pyrrolizidines were found in borage (starflower) seed oil:

"Three different samples of borage seed oil were analyzed, and no alkaloids were found. Amabiline was absent down to the 5 ppm level"

Herbal Medicinals: Selected Clinical Considerations Focusing on Known or Potential Drug-Herb Interactions
Lucinda G Miller
Archives of Internal Medicine 1998;158: p2200-2211
Full text available at archinte.ama-assn.org