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Handmade Neem Balm for Eczema and Psoriasis
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Handmade Neem Balm for Eczema and Psoriasis

Beauty· Herbal Medicine· Skincare recipes· Top Posts

Recipe for an all-natural cream for irritated skin.

Skincare recipe for making neem balm for Eczema & Psoriasis – all natural and the oils in the recipe help soothe inflammation, itchiness, and flakiness

Skin conditions of any sort can be uncomfortable, but eczema and psoriasis are probably two of the most irritating. Both are genetic auto-immune skin conditions that result in flaky, inflamed skin. It can itch and weep terribly and leave you feeling helpless and even embarrassed. If you or someone close to you suffers from one of them then you’ll know just how much it can affect a person’s life.

Outbreaks are often red and swollen and can appear on any part of the body. Hands, scalp, elbows, knees to even your face. While affected skin can often appear unsightly, it’s the pain and tenderness that can affect people’s lives for the worse.

Making homemade neem balm

This skincare recipe is for an all-natural oil based balm that can help soothe itchy and inflamed skin. I created it as a way for people to make a high quality soothing skin balm at home. The main active ingredient is pure neem oil, used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine. In India neem is seen as a heal-all and it has many uses from top to toe. It’s use in treating skin is probably one of its most well known though.

Neem Treatment Balm for dry and irritated skin

Neem Treatment Balm for dry and irritated skin from Lovely Greens

Soothing the itch and irritation

There is no cure for eczema or psoriasis. Treatment of both is limited to controlling the severity of the outbreaks and soothing the symptoms. Keeping the skin clean and moisturised is the usual remedy however some of the prescribed medications and products can be harsh. One of these is the use of mineral oil and petroleum jelly on the skin. Both are by-products of petroleum (gas and petrol) production and while they do help the skin stay moist they clog the pores and prevent air from reaching your skin.

The other treatment which is more specifically for Psoriasis involves sitting in a bath with essence of coal tar. A close family member of mine has Psoriasis and I can still remember the smell of these baths – it’s similar to the smell of tarmac being laid. Despite the fact of its origins, tar baths can be very effective. This cream could be used alongside other treatments but please speak to your dermatologist to get the go ahead first.

What is Neem oil?

Extracted from the fruits and seeds of the neem tree, neem oil is a thick red or green oil which is not only highly moisturising but is naturally antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and can provide external relief from pain and itchiness.

Though its smell can be quite strong its medicinal qualities are impressive and it’s relatively safe to use as a self-prescribed treatment. In fact the Indian culture has been using Neem oil for thousands of years for anything from skin diseases and inflammation to fevers and insecticide.

Skincare recipe for making a healing balm for Eczema & Psoriasis - all natural and the oils in the recipe help soothe inflammation, itchiness, and flakiness #eczema

Neem oil comes from the fruit of the Neem tree, which is native to India and Pakistan

Handmade Neem Balm Recipe

Makes one 130g pot. Alternatively, you can purchase this similar product that I make myself. You can also make this balm along with all natural neem oil soap. It’s rich and creamy and gives you that dose of neem even while you’re washing. The instructions make it pretty easy to make too.

* Some people may show sensitivity to Neem oil so please do a skin patch test to make sure it’s right for your skin. Please also avoid using Neem oil if you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant in the immediate future.

** For a more liquidy cream add more liquid oil in this recipe
*** 10g of Neem oil will result in quite a strong smelling and acting balm. If you’d prefer, you can reduce the amount by half to 5g to mask the smell and create a gentler product. Please also note Neem can be quite strong and if it’s placed on the skin undiluted it’s possible that it can cause contact dermatitis.

1. Place the Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Castor oil, and Sweet Almond oil into a double-boiler. You can also place them in a metal or glass bowl which can be floated in a pan of hot water. The point of the double boiler (also known as a Bain-marie) is that you want to heat the oils slowly, evenly, and through an indirect heat source.

2. Melt the oils over a medium heat until they are completely liquid. Stir well and place the bowl in the freezer for five minutes or until the oils thicken to the consistency of Castor oil and become slightly opaque.

3. Take the bowl out and beat it with a whisk, adding the essential oil, vitamin E, and Neem oil. The Lavender essential oil will help mask the scent of the Neem and is also useful for encouraging skin cells to regenerate. Lavender essential oil is also soothing and anti-inflammatory so safe for those with dermatitis.

4. Spoon the finished product into a container that is fitted with a lid. You can use the cream immediately after it has set.

Skincare recipe for making a healing balm for Eczema & Psoriasis - all natural and the oils in the recipe help soothe inflammation, itchiness, and flakiness
Skincare recipe for making a healing balm for Eczema & Psoriasis - all natural and the oils in the recipe help soothe inflammation, itchiness, and flakiness.

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  2. I’ve had eczema on my right hand for I don’t even remember how long, and tried all sorts of different treatments for it. Nothing would ever go beyond just slightly improving it for a little while. But after trying this stuff, I’m finally seeing a massive improvement!

    I do have a tip to offer though. I found that cooling the oils in the freezer took way too long, and the oils separated in the process, giving the end product a rough grainy texture. So when I made my second batch, instead of using the freezer, I floated the bowl in iced water, and stirred the oils constantly while they cooled. When the first little hint of an opaque film began to appear on the sides of the bowl, I took it out of the ice water, added the neem and vitamin E, and continued stirring until it thickened (which only took about another minute or two). It was a LOT faster, and allowed the oils to cool much more evenly without ever separating. Much better end result. So I hope this helps anyone who had the same problems with slow cooling and grainy end result.

    Reply

    • The graininess you mention is probably from the shea butter. Even with your method it’s very likely that over time your balm will become grainy again. It’s not a big deal though since it melts on contact with your skin.

      Reply

      • Thanks for your recipe..Pls what can alternate castor oil with? I have olive oil, safflower oil, jojoba oil, m making the cream for my 3yr old with excerma , more like dry dark patches on his skin and also my 1 year old has eczema on hisc hands and feet ..can I still add a tiny neem oil into the recipe
        ..thanks

        Reply

        • Can i also add honey and colioadale oatmeal to the recipe? If yes, pls what measurements of these can i add? Thanks

          Reply

  3. Hi Tanya!
    I just made your Neem cold process soap and I’m excited to try this Neem Balm. My mom has psoriasis and I’m hoping this will help her. You mentioned using Lavender in the instructions but I don’t see a measurement for it. How much would you recommend?

    Thanks!
    Vicki

    Reply

  4. you mention using bees wax in your receipe but the one you share here doesnt include. curious why that is and if using bees wax how much is needed for a recipe this size?

    Reply

  5. Can you please tell me the measurements in tablespoons and teaspoons? I’m eager to try this for my eczema. Thank you!

    Reply

  9. Hello Tanya – I have bad eczema on my hands, wrists, arms, and feet, so I was excited to find your blog. I have two questions for you:
    1. I halved your recipe, but used mango butter instead of cocoa butter and added 1 teaspoon of beeswax. Would these changes affect the shelf life of the product?
    2. Although I used a kitchen scale for net weight measurements, my entire bottle of Neem Oil which was 1 fluid ounce/30 ml never even measured 1 gram on my scale. I used the entire bottle, but am not sure how 1 fluid ounce of Neem oil converts to 5 grams/.175 net weight ounces. Do you think I used enough Neem in the recipe? Do you have any idea how many 1 fluid ounce bottles I would need to get 5 grams net weight of Neem oil? Thank you!

    Reply

  10. How much will this batch generate? Deciding which container size I should get.

    Is there anyway I can make this more balm /solid like? Will beeswax do the tricks and how much do I need?

    Thanks a lot!

    Reply

  11. Hello Tanya:
    With over 22 years experience working with Neem I have published a book about the miraculous versatile medicinal Neem tree from India that offers better plant, human, animal, and environmental health, “Neem – Nature’s Healing Gift to Humanity”, see http://www.neemresearch.ca
    Yours in Neem, Klaus Ferlow, HMH, HA. MNEEM RESEARCH, Mission, B.C. (Vancouver), Canada

    Reply

  12. Hello! My mom has suffered with psoriasis for years and has tried many different treatment products both from her doctor and over the counter. I found your website a few months ago and ordered your neem oil treatment cream for her. She wanted me to tell you how happy she is with your product. Her skin looks and feels so much better than ever before. Your product is the only cream that has ever worked for her. And, she feels comfortable using it daily because it doesn’t have cortisone or other ingredients that prevent her using it every day. I am going to try your recipe listed above. Thank you for posting the recipe! If it doesn’t work as good as your cream, I will be ordering more.

    Reply

  14. Has anyone used this recipe for psoriasis on feet and hands with success? The psoriasis on my feet is so bad that many days I cannot stand on them Nothing seems to really help. Can’t use the medical drugs because of the bad side effects. Now using everything natural including cannabis oil CBD topical and ingesting Have started using neem oil and pure lanolin, helps some. Any suggestions?

    Reply

    • Hi Rachel, there’s a link in the post on where you can buy cocoa butter. Coconut oil has different properties and consistency and using it would result in a different type of balm. No reason you couldn’t try it out if you’d like but just expect that it won’t be the same.

      Reply

  16. Tanya, I have a question for you. Would this recipe be safe for genital psoriasis? My thoughts are to use chamomile infused oil, tamanu butter (thus producing softer cream too), and a few drops of chamomile essential oil instead of lavender. Also halving the neem, since it is a delicate area… What’s your thoughts on this?

    Reply

    • I’m honestly not sure if it would be irritating to such a delicate area. If I were in your place I’d probably make a teeny batch and then test it first as you would with an ordinary skin patch test. Maybe leave out all the essential oils and halve the neem.

      Reply

  17. I can’t find Neem oil anywhere. I thought i’ll try Tamanu oil instead. Have you used it before in anything?

    Reply

    • Interesting question! The answer is yes and yes. I haven’t tried it myself but if I were I’d use about 20% of the weight of the Neem oil component of this recipe for the dried powder and the rest substitute 40% liquid oil (sweet almond oil for example) and 40% a more solid oil like Shea.

      Reply

  21. Hi Tanya –
    I’m so excited to make this for my sister who suffers terribly with psoriasis. It really does affect a person’s felling of self worth when they have a flare and the angry red patches all over their skin. I’m praying this will help her and give her some relief.
    I have a couple of questions. Can I replace the vitamin e with argan oil and, if I add hemp oil, should I take out one of the other oils? Also, I’m mailing this to her in another state and would like to make it a little firmer. If I add beeswax, how much would you recommend? I’m really looking forward to your response.
    Julie

    Reply

    • As mentioned in my email to you Julie, the Vitamin E is used as an antioxidant so cannot easily be replaced. Other antioxidants aren’t as sensitive and Argan oil isn’t one of them.

      Reply

  22. Both my son and my mother have ecczema and a bit of psoriasis (i.e. persistent ongoing problem with dry flaky skin) on their hands – I bought the Lady Soma Skin Nail Cream for them and it cleared up within a week! Skin is now clear and healthy.

    Reply

  23. Hi, I am wondering if there is an easy recipe to make a basic salve? My baby is 8 months now and he still suffers from red patches (eczema) on his face. Not all the time, but it flares up every few days or so. I have an argan oil at home and I plan to make a salve out of it. Would you be able to share with me a simple recipe to make the salve? He has been using the Calendula Remedy by FourCowFarm and it seems to work on him. Sometimes Vaseline works too. I thought of doing the salve myself so I can use better ingredients for my baby’s skin. Would a calendula oil, argan oil, lavendar essential oil and beeswax be a good mix? I hope you can help with the proportions in making this salve. Thank you!

    Reply

  25. Hello,

    I wanna try this cream for my psoriasis. I have it around my nose, can I use this recipe of yours? It usually goes away after I use some kind of cream my doctor prescripted. However, it is not cheap so I am looking for an alternative ^^

    Reply

  26. I made this tonight, and didn’t have cocoa butter, so substituted coconut oil. So far it had not set up. Been 15 minutes. I used grams by weighing the container, then added ingredients to get correct amounts. Any idea what could have gone wrong? how long does it take to set? I did see where you said we could use coconut oil instead of cocoa butter, and I did use the solid white.

    Reply

    • Coconut oil is not the same as Cocoa Butter so the amount would need to be different. Cocoa butter is very hard and solid at room temperature so while you could substitute, you would need to adjust the recipe to compensate for a lack of hard oil. Saying that, you can use the balm in a more liquidy state – it melts into your skin anyway once you apply the original recipe.

      Reply

  27. Hi. My baby is almost 11 months old, has had ezcema since his first bad cold at 4 months old. Steroid creams literally tore his skin up, he looked like I dragged him across the floor and scrapes him up while in steroid cream. However, I switched to organic, unrefined coconut oil about 6 weeks ago and his skin is almost healed up. He is still swollen, red, patchy and itchy but way better. I want to try your recipe out but is it recommendable for such a young baby or is there anything else u could recommend. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    Reply

    • For your baby I’d use grapeseed oil. And in mine I use lavender and frankensce oil. But I’d use 1/3 tsp of oil instead of 1/4 tsp.

      Reply

  28. Hi, I see that the recipe you provided here above does NOT Have the Bee Wax in it like the container you sell in your shop. I agree, the addition of bee wax would be great and help with the healing. Please let me know how much Bee Wax to add to the recipe here on this page.

    Reply

  29. The ingredients are indeed very helpfull to overcome psoriasis. Shea butter is famous for, and used a lot in hydration cremes. But i also prefer to use bee wax, a little bit of honey and some gember. Gember is very efficient against inflamation of the skin. Be carefull with neem.

    Reply

  30. Hi, Tanya! Thank you for your recipe! I have a couple of questions. How often would you apply it for an adult with psoriasis on the feet and do you need to cover it after apllying? And is it safe to use for a 9 month old baby with eczema?
    Thank you so much!

    Reply

  31. Hi there. I made this recipe exactly and mine came out very greasy. What did I do wrong?? I put it in the fridge to (hopefully) firm it up. I will wait to see. I checked and re-checked the recipe and everything was followed to the exact measurement. Any suggestions? Thank you!

    Reply

  33. I have eczema, and have used just the Shea butter and Cocoa butter combination (2:1 ratio). Neem oil is a good addition. I grew up in India and Neem trees were in our back yard. Its used in many Indian herbal remedies. One of the ways its used is, after child birth a mother is given a bath in Neem water.

    Reply

  35. I love this recipe! I have a question though: is it possible to make this into a creme? My aunt has sporiasis and she prefers the feeling of a creme instead of oil. I have emulsifying wax; would this work? Im new to making creme's and not sure if the emulsifying wax would make the creme less effective. Or maybe lecithin?
    Thanks for sharing all you wonderful recipes!

    Reply

  36. Hi Tanya.I gave it a go to tried to make your healing Balm .i use neem seed oil and Cacao butter i was told they're both the same is the right? But it came out alright but it feels really oily

    Reply

  37. Can cold process soap with neem oil as one of the soap making oil be used for small kids (3 year old)?

    Reply

  38. Thanks for this recipe, Tanya. I am on a quest to get my seven-year old off of steroids and petroleum-based creams. Can you recommend a substitute for the Shea butter. He is allergic to tree nuts so I avoid Shea. Many thanks! If this helps, I will post a link all over my Facebook eczema groups.

    Reply

  40. The bark is sold as a treatment for gum disease, and you can get Neem toothpaste. I have a note to look up more about Neem and here you are using it..!!

    Reply

  41. God bless you for sharing your recipe. As a soap maker, I have all these ingredients on hand and look forward to making this & giving it a test run for myself.
    I have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, currently on methotrexate and floucinonide for the scales, yet they're not healing.
    I appreciate reading through your responses to others; you're a compassionate person!
    With gratitude,
    Amy

    Reply

    • You're very welcome Amy and I hope the cream will help you with your condition. Please make sure to do a skin patch test first though, especially since you're on medication. Please let me know how you get on? Good luck and all the best 🙂

      Reply

    • Amy, you may want to ask your doctor about Enbrel. Both my mother and I have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and it works lovely for both. This cream is a huge hit for both of us too! I use mango butter instead of shea, and I add Tamanu and a couple of other essential oils too. Thank you for the recipe. My finicky adult son is now using it too. Thank you so much Tanya!

      Reply

  42. You can do Kacica but please note that the balm is made of pure oils and thus is very oily! Saying that, you could apply it at night and then wash it off in the morning.

    Reply

  43. I would not use this cream on any animal because ingesting neem can be harmful for them. I urge you to take your feline friend to the vet where relatively inexpensive medication can be purchased.

    Reply

  44. Hii, i have neurodermitis, and i find neem oil very helpful, but my father has psoriasis on his scalp, could this cream bi also used on his scalp??
    Thank you 🙂

    Reply

  45. Thank you so much. I just made this today and can't wait to use it. I have psoriasis on my shin and just can't get rid of it. I used calendula infused grapeseed oil in it for extra healing since I had the infused oil already.

    Reply

  46. I have made this recipe several times now to give to friends. It truly is a miracle. It's great for acne, wrinkles, rough elbows and heels, scrapes, and generally anything you want gone on your skin.

    Reply

  47. I made this today and the consistency is not creamy; it is more of a hardened wax that does soften with the heat of my fingers when I rubbed it. Is this correct, or is it supposed to be softer? More of the carrier oils perhaps? Will the consistency change any over the initial 24 hour period? I did put some on my left leg and not my right and so far my left leg is not itching, but my right one is! It's looking promising! Thanks! Natalie

    Reply

    • Hi Natalie! the original recipe is quite hard, yes, but by adding more liquid oils such as the sweet almond oil you can get a softer consistency. There isn't any water in the cream so it will never feel quite like a lotion.

      Reply

  48. I hope this works for my husband, who has been completely covered in psoriases from the neck down. He now uses hormonecreams, which have their side-effects as well.

    Reply

  50. Thank you so much for this. I have suffered from both psoriasis and excema for many, many years and have tried all the usual solutions and given up on them decades ago because they actually made the conditions worse. I am definitely going to try your cream. I already make a lotion bar with just shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax which soothes but does not clear,but am now keen to try neem oil. I also really like the idea of having control over the conditions myself. Thank you again, Kate

    Reply

  51. Did you all know that your neem is incredibly effective at killing and repelling bugs? It is far safer than commercial products if you are pregnant, and studies show it works as well OR BETTER than DEET based sprays. It is also more effective than even prescription lice treatments even on lice strains that are resistant to the prescription products. It keeps nits from hatching (so no real problems 2 weeks later!) and it makes the nits easier to get off. It somehow dissolves the glue holding nits to the hair. My tender headed dau used to sob as I tried to remove them the time I had to use commercial products. With neem she was laughing while I combed her hair out.
    All you need is about 5% neem in another oil or in conditioner and lice are gone. About a 1/2 tsp mixed with a tablespoon of shampoo even works as a repellant according to an entomologist I know. We used that once a week on my kids and haven't had a lice issue since, not even when 1/4 of the school was sent home with them. Plus 2 tsp neem to a cup of water is great for fleas, for ants and for every other bug I have tried it on. I add a few drops of citronella and lavendar essential oil for fragrance and it is an incredible bug repellent to use around the house.

    Reply

  53. I have neem infused olive oil… it's been infusing for a long time. Will I get the same effects? I use it as an ingredient in my mosquito repellent balm (which is the bomb…) but, it will not be as potent as cold pressed. Should I use more and lower the grams on the Apricot oil?

    Reply

  56. Hi, thanks so much for this recipe, looks awesome. Definitely going to try it for my 1 year old son. One question… How long does it keep for if you make it in bulk? And could the shelf life be extended with a small amount of some type of preservative? I love natural, but also appreciate chemically stable!

    Reply

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  58. I have a large patch of skin on my lower leg; it is the same skin condition that people with diabetes sometimes have. My dermatologist has told me that it's not bacterial or fungal; only inflammatory. I've had it for almost 7yrs and it gets larger each year. Diabetes runs high in my Dad's family but I don't have the disease. Any concerns about using this cream? The skin is very thin and tender to the touch. Your thought would be appreciated.

    Reply

  60. I have all off the ingredients to make this. My little boy.is 2 and suffers with bad dermatitis. Would neem oil be to harsh for him? If so do.you have any recommendations for.a.substitute? Thanks

    Reply

  61. My eczema is on my eyelids, and my 1 1/2 year old has a patch on on his nose right next to his eye. Would this recipe be safe to use on such a delicate area and children? Or would it need to be modified for a gentler cream?

    Reply

  62. Hi,
    I'm looking for something to use on my face, particularly around the eyes. Do you think I could dilute this recipe down a bit for that purpose?
    Thanks

    Reply

    • I have found that keeping a small jar of pure coconut oil in the bathroom is great for the skin around my eyes – but I also use it all over for my dry skin. I live in the high desert. I also suffer from psoriasis/eczema and have found that the other "beauty" products only irritate. Olive oil is a favorite for the summer months and it keeps my legs looking good.

      Reply

  63. Question about ingredient substitutions? I'm not even sure if this is still an active topic. I just happened to stumble across it. I apologize upfront, lol. I didn't scroll/read through ALL the comments/questions, there were just too many. I am sure you answered this question already, lol, I was just to lazy(yes I admit it, lol). Sorry! Can some of the butters be replaced with others? I make my own soap, so I have coconut oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil, as a personal choice do not use Shea Butter. When my finances allow I am going to purchase Neem oil, and the cocoa butter. Any suggestions are so gratefully appreciated. Thank you!! Hope everyone has a great day 🙂

    Reply

  64. I just found this site and recipe two night ago…rushed out to try making it and fell short w/ no luck finding Shea Butter. I was looking originally to use my Neem oil and stumbled on your site and recipe. I had to tweek it a bit to get it done…using only Coco Butter, Neem, Coconut oil, Clove Oil, not Tea tree, Lavender (40/42) and a thick hand lotion I was using to no avail alone. I mixed and came up w/ a nice way to down play the pungent Neem Oil and finally use that. Thanks a lot after less then 24 hours of mixing it together I see serious changes to my hands. No more cracks 🙂 The real trick is the Neem Oil for sure…and after now four days of using only neem my hands are able to flex like normal and no cracks…Your cream will now help maintain an ezcema free, fully usable hands, and super soft.
    Big Thanks,
    Angie

    Reply

    • Hi, She answered before and easy to miss so did a copy and paste for you 🙂

      Anonymous31 July 2013 11:14

      Do you know how long this cream's shelf life is?
      Reply
      Replies

      Tanya @ Lovely Greens3 August 2013 07:13

      At least a year.
      Reply

      Reply

    • I'm sure it will…I have bad eczema and after one application this mixture really did show great promise. I'm sure you will find it a big help in relieving if not curing a psoriasis flare up. I'm planning to make more for a co-working in your shoes…and will post updates in a few days on his reaction and relief.

      Good luck,
      Angie

      Reply

  67. Hi,I finally made this yesterday for a friend who has problems with psoriasis. he tried the lotion while at work today, then called me to say that he cannot wait to go home and bathe (with my homemade neem soap :)) and put it on! LOL!!! He says his skin feels so nice and soft. So I guess I did it right. Thanks for this recipe!

    One Love & Keep Blessed,
    Suan from Jamaica

    Reply

  68. Hi Tanya, I'm looking on ebay and such to find some of that Neem oil. Could you send me a link or suggest what to look for? I don't want to buy the wrong one. Also, could you just apply the Neem oil to the affected areas? Or do you need all the ingredients in order for it to be successfull?
    Thanks!!

    Reply

  69. Hi Tanya , My Niece suffers terribly from Psoriasis and Eczema , mostly on her elbows , knees , and her feet crack so badly she can hardly walk at times . She just had a baby about two months ago . At some point she will want another baby . Is Neem going to be safe for her to use ?

    Reply

  70. Thank you so much for sharing this! I'm not new to making my own creams/soaps/aso, but only knew about Neem as a fertilizer or an insecticide.
    I'm suffering from atopic eczema since childhood and tried a lot, but I've never experienced anything that soothed my cracked and dry skin so fast.
    Since I can't stand the smell of lavender, I used some Cajeput oil and a few drops of bergamotte oil. Again, thank you!
    All the best from Germany, Alex

    Reply

    • Neem has many uses and it's true that it's commonly used in organic gardening.

      Very pleased to hear that the cream worked for you and was interested to read of you using Cajeput oil. It will work well in reducing inflammation but I imagine the scent might cover the Neem smell as well.

      Reply

  72. Hello—

    My name is Michele and I'm from Florida here in the USA– my sister came across your article since my hubby suffers from either psoriasis or eczima (the docs cant figure out which) on his arms and hands. I have been able to get everything but have to use gloves for the cocoa and shea butters since i am allergic. but this cream works wonderfully on him!!

    Just a note– getting massive tattooing done on the arms can trigger these conditions if the conditions are dormant or the person is just a carrier– hubby's arms and hands where heavily tattooed with in 4 months — if you are thinking of getting a bunch of tattoos, please spread the timing out and let the skin heal completely (about 2 months) before continuing — his back doesn't suffer from this since it was worked on slowly.

    thanks again for this recipe!!! now both of us are able to sleep better!!!

    Reply

    • Wonderful to hear! It's a shame that you're allergic to the nut butters but your effort to make the cream show real dedication to helping your hubby. Glad to help out with providing the recipe 🙂

      Reply

  73. My cat has psoriasis, are any of these ingrediants bad for cats?
    I have to use avacado oil right now on her but it doesn't help much.

    Reply

    • I've never heard of cats having psoriasis before…are you sure it's not something else like Mange? Please take your cat to a qualified veterinarian for a consultation before attempting any remedies.

      Reply

  74. A friend suffers from psoriatical arthritis, I'm wondering if it may help him. He gets infusions every six weeks, but this may help on the surface. My brother and sister also have psoriasis, just not as severe. Thank you for the recipe and I will have to give it a try.

    Reply

  77. This sounds great I am going to try it out my daughter is 9 and has suffered her whole life with severe eczema, all over her body including her face. We have been to Sick kids in toronto and sick kids in london, they all recommend 3x baths a day then use steriod creams on the really red spots and then vaseline all over… it wasn't working it was blocking the skin from breathing….(just like everyone says). So we spoke with a lady when we were on vacation last summer and she said she used to have Eczema really bad also she uses a cup of baking soda in her bath 2 x a day and only uses the steriod cream when she really needs it and always moisturizes with a good cream (not a lotion as lotion is waterbased) so we went home and we have been doing this ever since… it has done wonders for my daughters skin she is a kid again and she is not embarassed to go in public anymore because of her skin. 🙂 But this cream sounds interesting so I am going to make some 🙂 Thanks for your help.

    Reply

  78. you can buy pure neem oil in a spray applicator container at home depot, it is used to rid the lilly bettle on lillies, its has no other additives as per the label, just price check health food stores, pharmacies etc…

    Reply

  79. I have gotten all the ingredients needed to make this cream to try on my 8 year old granddaughter's eczema. But I have a question, I see most of the ingredients' measurements require less than an ounce or is measured in grams. How can I measure out these proportions if all I have is the dropper the Neem oil came with, a measuring cup or a medicinal measuring cup that measures in teaspoons? I really do want to make this in the correct proportions to help my little one before they leave on vacation in a few days and especially before school starts back on August 8th. Thanks for any help!!

    Reply

  80. I plan on making this for my 4 yo son, but would it also be safe to use on my 6 month old for eczema?

    Reply

    • Try bathing your kids in baking soda 1 cup per bath 2 x a day 8 minutes only then pat dry and apply cream (not lotion) and if you were perscribed it used the steroid cream only on the red spots, this works awesome for my daughter.

      Reply

  81. I would like to see a reply from someone who has used this cream. Does it work? any problems using it on children? should I cut the neem oil down for a child with sensitive skin?

    Reply

  82. Hemp works well for my 4 year old daughter's severe eczema. It is on her legs and feet mostly and remains very dry and scaly, despite frequent moisturizing. Her problem is that any liquid or cream that touches her scaly skin burns her and turns and inflamed red. She can't stop rubbing the affected area for over an hour after the application, or accidental rain shower.. even water burns. Does anyone else experience this? What will feel cool to her? I've used so many different products, but everything produces an inflamed burn. Suggestions?

    Reply

    • my daughter used to be like this we couldn't even get her into the water for a bath without a war. it was so sad… do as i said below and use the baking soda bath it neutralizes the water. I use a moisturizing cream called Glaxal base and I add glycerin to the mixture to make it easier to apply… now she is awesome and within the 1st time using the baking soda in the bath she never freaked out about the water ever again… good luck to you. 🙂

      Reply

  83. Hello! Thanks so much for the recipe. Do you think this would be ok to use on my face? I have horrible psoriasis but it's all over my face. Thanks so much!

    Reply

  84. What a great recipe! I adore neem oil despite the smell. Neem is awesome for doggies with skin problems. I have a bulldog with all sorts of skin problems, and neem has worked wonderfully for her. I love using neem mixed in with my normal moisturizing face oils when my skin is broken out!

    Reply

  85. Following your recipe with small modification, I left it unscented, I made this cream and it turned out grate! My daughter has eczema on right hand and this cream really helps! I also use it occasionally and I am really satisfied how it softens my skin. I usually make anhydrous creams by adding beeswax, but your recipe is really grate, the cream has beautiful texture and it is easy for application. Thank you very much for sharing! Best regards, Gordana

    Reply

  86. Hi I was wondering if there is another way to make this that does not include any nut derivative or grape. My son has extreme skin eczema and is allergic to both of those things which makes purchasing any of the neem premade products hard to find.
    thanks for any advice.
    tabitha

    Reply

    • Try these:

      Apricot Kernal oil for the Grapeseed oil
      Kokum or Coconut oil for the Shea Butter – though they both have different consistencies so you might have a firmer or creamier texture if you use them.

      Reply

    • or read my post later on about baking soda baths and using cream not lotion… worked like a charm for my daughter its controlled now… good luck 🙂

      Reply

  87. Thank you so much for sharing this! I have been looking for something natural to help soothe my son's skin from eczema flare-ups, because anything prescription has steroids which have horrible side effects. This cream is amazing. I put it on him 2x a day and it keeps his skin soft and smooth as well as clears up any patches he may have while preventing new ones. He can sleep through the night without waking up itchy. I cannot tell you how glad I am that I came across this.
    Thank you!!!!

    Reply

  88. Tanya, Hello thank you for posting this. I have psoriasis on my scalp and it is SUPER bothersome. Is there a way to make something like this but not in a cream form? Also could this be used on the scalp as a deep conditioner? Please contact me at [email protected]

    Thank you.
    Katt

    Reply

  89. Tanya, first of all I want to thank you for posting this information online. I made this cream for my daughter, she's 2 1/2 years old. It has only been 3 days since I've started using the cream on her eczema and I can see the diffrence already. Growing up, I was exposed by my mom using natural remedy first when we were sick. I am an advocate of natural healing, I'll make sure to share this to everyone I know. Thanks again. Jen

    Reply

  90. The best thing i found out is go swimming in salt water if you live near it it cleared me up for yrs and now its coming back cant wait to go swimming in salt water again

    Reply

    • My daughter had ecaema/psoriasis on her elbows, knees and shoulders. My brother owned a tanning salon and she tanned for 5 minutes every few days. The biggest thing for her was swimming in the local YMCA pool. The high chlorination, we think, helped it.

      Reply

    • You certainly can but make sure to blend it into the liquid oil really well – a mini whisk or milk frother will help. I'd also add another tablespoon of liquid oil to the recipe if you choose to use the powder.

      Reply

  92. I have psoriasis and am going to try this it doesn't seem anything else has helped very much really hope this does and really like that it is natural. Thank you for the receipe

    Reply

  93. Would anyone be interested in making me some of the oil and I would pay you and you could send it to me…I really need it but I am disabled and can't make it…if interested PLEASE email me at [email protected] and we can set it up…thank you!!!

    Reply

  95. I am Dianne. I have severe eczema on my fingers and would love to make this cream, the problem being I have never made anything home-made except food so I do not know where to get any of the ingredients (and you said they were inexpensive). So can you help me out as to where I can purchase all of the ingredients?? Thank you so much.

    Reply

  96. Hi, I don't have shea butter but I have kokum butter. Can I use that in it's place? I haven't used the kokum butter yet but it seems, from what I have read, it is generally used in place of cocoa butter and not shea. Everything else I have on hand!

    Reply

  98. If I left out the Shea & Cocoa butters and just mixed the oils would it help my scalp Psoriasis? I'm currently mixing Tea Tree & Lavender in a base of Coconut & Olive oils. These help a bit, but the Neem oil sounds like I'd get better relief.

    Reply

  99. Can you recommend a ready made cream that we can purchase that would have all these ingreidents in it?
    Thank You,
    Angie

    Reply

  101. Hello. I want to try this on my son. He has had eczema since he was a baby. I have made several lotions and none really seem to help. I have all these ingredience except the castor oil. Is there something I can replace it with? I have jojoba oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil and avacado oil on hand. What are the benefits of castor oil in this recipe? Will it make a big difference if I leave it out?

    Reply

    • Ideally you want to use Castor oil but you can replace it with another oil if you must – jojoba is probably the best choice from what you have. Castor oil is a thick, nourishing, oil that helps seal moisture into your skin and used on its own it can work wonders on eczema. The reason it's often blended with other oils is that it's a bit sticky to use on its own.

      Reply

    • When making beauty products and soap it's important to be accurate with your measurements – teaspoons and cups are not the best way to go about it.

      Besides, who wants to waste time cramming solid oils into cups for measurement? It's far easier to place your bowl/pan on the scale and just spoon in the correct amount. If you're planning on making beauty products at home I'd really recommend you look into buying one. Just a quick look on Amazon shows them going for between $14-$25 though I'm sure there will be less expensive ones around if you keep an eye out.

      Reply

  103. I made this and within 4 days the eczema behind my ears and a spot near the outer corner of my eye was almost fully cleared up. I can't believe how well it works! I added the essential oils Lavender, Elemi and Frankincense too. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! I can't wait to make the body butter next and maybe the lip balm!

    Reply

  104. Im am going to try this, both skin disorders run in my family. Although every ones skin is different, if it doesn't work for my family i'll just pass it along to my friends. To some of the other people on here, my son was diagnosed with eczema and was a guinea pig for just about everything and nothing worked. Come to find out, he didn't have it, he was having a reaction to metals (mainly nickel), the spot he had the rash at the most was around his waist band, I started putting clear nail polish on the back side of his pants buttons and it cleared all up and no longer has problems with it… Just an FYI in case this could be your situation.

    Reply

    • It's amazing how interconnected the body is – your son's type of eczema (Contact Dermatitis) can also erupt from other allergies such as gluten, lactose, or even contact with materials like detergents, cement, or perfumes.

      Good luck with the cream for the rest of the family 🙂

      Reply

  105. Neem oil is used in organic fungal control for plants I just didn't know it was used in creams.

    Reply

    • Oh yes, it's well known for its insecticidal and fungicidal properties. It's safe for people though so you can use it on your skin for both reasons making it an excellent base for insect repellents and natural athlete's foot cream.

      Reply

  106. Hi there. …I also have read that neem helps all manner of skin conditions. I have dishydrosis on my palms and fingers which causes them to get tiny water blisters all over which itch unbelievably, and following that, the skin will crack and peel and sometimes bleed. I haven't tried neem yet because I read that it is also used as a spermicidal and my husband and I are trying to conceive. Is that part of it true? The way i read it sounded like that only applied if taken internally. Would it be recommended to apply to my hands? Thanks
    Andrea

    Reply

    • Hi Andrea, I too have read that Neem can be used as a spermicide but to use it in that way it's used internally. It shouldn't affect your chances of falling pregnant if you use it on your hands. Saying that, you probably should abstain from using Neem while you are pregnant.

      Here's an excerpt from the Neem Foundation:

      "Neem has been shown to be a powerful, relatively inexpensive birth control agent for both men and women. In the first century B.C., Charaka, the Indian physician, gave a detailed method for using neem for contraception. Cotton soaked in neem oil was kept in the vagina for fifteen minutes before intercourse. This killed the sperm.

      In both India and the United States, trials show neem extract reduces fertility in male monkeys without in hiting libido or sperm production. Also, in other Indian studies, neem leaf tablets taken for one month produced reversible male infertility but did not affect sperm production or libido. This shows promise as the first male birth control pill."

      Reply

    • I had dishydrosis years ago (also when I was in your age group) and tried EVERYTHING. I suffered for several years to the point I had to wash the blood from my keyboard daily. I was finally provided with a prescription for Lydex ointment which cleared it up in about 1 week. Ointment, not cream. It occasionally comes back but a single application seems to stop it immediately

      Reply

  108. Would this be safe to use on your face or childs' face? My son gets eczema on his face. Thanks

    Reply

  109. I have eczema on my hands and can't wait to try this!! Thanks so much for sharing!
    Melissa–Camden, nc

    Reply

  110. I was asked to make a remedy for both eczema and psoriasis and am thankful to find your recipe. One person gets (I can't remember which condition) around his eyes, would this be safe to use around his eyes? Thank you!

    Reply

    • Unrefined are generally better because it means that the oils will have more of their beneficial qualities intact. Some people prefer to use refined versions of some of the ingredients though because they're not keen on the natural scent.

      Reply

  113. I don't know if it's "natural" or "organic" but I think it's pretty much natural – hyaluronic acid – we get ours from amazon, from a company called Watts or Waats, and it is awesome for eczema.

    I got some relief with coconut butter, shea oil, etc. but they would always work at first and then stop working. So far the hyaluronic acid works great. I still get outbreaks but this stuff takes care of it pretty much immediately.

    Reply

    • I understand that Hyaluronic Acid is used in quite a few over the counter beauty creams for eliminating wrinkles and fine lines and that it can also be effective in skin disorders like eczema. It's not clear to me whether there are any issues arising from its topical use but it does appear to be a natural component of the human body. Notice to Vegetarians/Vegans: Hyaluronic Acid can often be sourced from Rooster combs.

      Reply

    • I understand that neem oil comes from the fruit and seeds rather than the leaves. However, it might be worth trying an oil infusion with the leaves. If you try it out please let me know how you get on.

      Reply

  115. Hmm looks interesting. I will definitely look into making this for when my eczema flares up again. One possibility for using this on the scalp is to apply, let it work, then wash it out after like 15 min. (I have it on my scalp too) I also have a friend who has bad eczema, so I could make this stuff up and share with them.

    Reply

  116. Please take care when heating anything in plastic. This recipe can easily be made by heating the ingredients in a metal or glass bowl.

    Flip over your food storage containers and take a look at the small number printed on the bottom. If the recycling number is #3 or #7, it likely contains either BPA (bisphenol A) or phthalates (used to make PVC plastics) which mimic estrogen and can interfere with hormone levels.

    All plastics contain possible harmful chemicals, and when heated, those chemicals can leech onto the food that is next to them. This lotion is food for your body. Take care!

    Reply

    • This is a base recipe that can be expanded on with your own preference of healing oils and ingredients if you find them to also be beneficial to your skin. Both Aloe and coconut oil are brilliant for all types of skin conditions so yes you could use them in a cream. If you replace the Cocoa butter in this recipe with Coconut oil then you'll get a much more creamy/lotion type texture.

      Aloe juice contains water though so you'd have to make an emulsion which is a more complicated process than this recipe. You'd also have to use the cream much quicker since it would require a preservative to last longer than a week.

      Reply

    • Another lady asked that today and my response is yes, it can be used but it will be very oily. A thought has just occurred to me that Neem could probably be used to make a conditioner though. I'll look into it!

      Reply

    • I have been dealing with psoriasis on my scalp and my ears, even down to my neck. I have used zinc, salicyclate, lavender, Nizoral, Dermarest, Scalpicin, Benydryl, fluocinonide (a steroid solution), high priced "pure" shampoos and conditioners. The only solution that truly worked was a deep conditioner from Ecco Bella that had Neem. It was messy, oily, and you had to wash it out daily. But it worked. Sadly, it was discontinued. The other thing that worked for a period of time was a sliding scale of prednisone for an asthma attack. By the end of the 10 days, the problem was back. All the others worked for a time, but nothing has relieved the itch. The flaking is sometimes abated, but usually pretty bad. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply

    • I have psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis both on my scalp and body. I've used everything from steroids to OTC shampoos and ointments with very little success. Last month I try a mixture of tea tree oil, neem oil and virgin coconut oil for my scalp and skin and within 24 hours I had an extremely satisfying result. My inflammation was lessened and wasn't "burning." I had less scaling, pain and tightness. My hair was greasy, but it was worth it. Two weeks later I'm in almost a complete remission on my scalp, back of my neck and around my ears (were it hurt the most). Thank you so much for posting this recipe and opening me up to neem oil.(I also use it on my face if I get a spot or two)

      Reply

      • Melissa, I would be really interested in hearing what measurements of tea tree oil, neem oil, and coconut oil you used. My husband has been suffering from psoriasis for several years and nothing seems to help except for the awful steroid creams.

        Reply

    • It's all dependent on your location – if you're in the US I can't really help you other to say that some people have been purchasing it off Amazon.com. In the UK, Ebay is a good option for small quantities of inexpensive butters and oils but do research the seller. Otherwise there are a wide variety of independent retailers to be found online.

      Reply

    • One of the best places I've found in the USA is mountainroseherbs.com to get just about all of your diy ingredients. I've done a fair amount of price checking and they usually have the best prices too. They also have a lot of educational info about the various ingredients.

      Reply

    • I also recommend www. wildmountainherbs.com I have been very pleased with their selection, price and fast delivery. If you have questions you can call them and they will walk you through anything you may be new to. I want to mention dried herbs can be very light weight…think this bit through before ordering 10 lbs of dry goods. LOL!

      Reply

  120. I really hope this works. My 7 yr. old has really bad eczema and I have tried so many things and nothing really helps. This would be amazing if it does. I'm definitely trying it!!

    Reply

  121. I have psoriasis, only on my scalp. Would I be able to use this in my hair? I will try for my daughter, she has eczema. Thanks.

    Reply

    • Of course you could but it will likely make your hair very oily. If I were you I'd make the cream without essential oils and then leave it in overnight to rinse out the next morning. Try first with only a small amount on your scalp though since the skin on your head will be more sensitive than on other parts of your body.

      Reply

    • Just order a bottle of Neem oil. I got mine from Swanson's online but you can get it anywhere now, it's readily available. I had a brown spot on my hand that started to raise. I put Neem oil on it and it crusted over and fell off. So I would def recommend it for little skin cancer spots 🙂

      Reply

  123. My daughter had bad eczema from the time she was just a few months old until almost 4 (then it sort of just faded away – don't know why).
    We didn't know about neem oil, but I didn't want to use all the over the counter medicines with possible side effects.
    So we used pure jojoba oil.
    No soaps or anything when she bathed and after she got out we would rub it all over her body.
    It really seemed to help.

    Reply

    • There are a lot of oils that can help and I'm not surprised that Jojoba worked for you. Coconut oil is another one that you could use just on its own to help with a range of skin issues.

      PS – You could substitute Jojoba oil for Sweet Almond oil in this recipe

      Reply

  127. Interesting stuff!
    I came across Neem in a different format. The bark is sold as a treatment for gum disease, and you can get Neem toothpaste. I have a note to look up more about Neem and here you are using it! 🙂

    Reply

  128. My uncle suffers from psoriasis for quite a long time. He has consumed probably tons of cream that are non-organic. I'll save your recipe and will source out for the ingredients, i'll give you an update and probably ask some questions soon. Thank you very much!

    Reply

  129. I knew there had to be a better remedy than topical steroids! thank you for this…i am going to try it for my skin. there is a health food store very close..I will check for these ingredients..
    I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

    Reply

  130. Hi Tanya…I have a few questions…
    Could the Neem oil be added as an essential oil to the almond oil for a massage oil?
    Could some Neem oil be dropped directly into a bath like an essential oil? Where could I buy Neem oil??

    I suffer with eczema and have a friend with quite bad psoriasis so I would love to give some of this a try.

    Reply

    • Absolutely Tanya, you can add it to creams, massage oils, and the bath but don't bother with any Neem soaps you come across since cleansers in general simply dry out your skin. A good source for purchasing Neem oil is at this link. And as stated on that page, make sure to dilute it in a carrier oil to about 5%. The cream recipe above is stronger but the footnote lets you know to reduce the amount to 5g (just under 5%) to make a gentler version.

      Reply

    • No worries Tori and I hope your loved ones will like your handmade cream 🙂 If you're looking for Neem oil you can probably find it in South-Asian markets in London or buy it direct from Pukka. Alternatively, follow the link I've left in one of the below comments.

      Reply

  134. Hmm this sounds extremely interesting. I have made creams with all the ingredients with the exception of Neem oil which I have never come across before. I am finding that Hemp is really good too.

    Reply

    • I've done some research and there are many types of good oils for Eczema. Two of them that are: Aloe Vera oil and Argan Oil. Aloe Vera oil has the ability to soften and sooth inflamed skin. Aloe Vera needs to be refrigerated because it only has a shelf life of 6 months-1 year.
      Argan Oil is considered a very rich and nutritious oil high in Vitamin E and antioxidants contains Sterols with anti-inflammatory properties. Argan oil has a shelf life of 2 years. To reduce the itching you could use Passion Fruit Oil because it is anti-bacterial,anti-itching anti-inflammatory and it has a shelf life of 1-2 years.

      Reply

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