Benefits of Milk Thistle on the Skin

Milk thistle is an herb that originally comes from the Mediterranean area. It has been used for herbal remedies for centuries, with recorded use as early as the Greco-Roman era. It has a long stem with purple and red flowers. It is a safe supplement, with no known side effects. Milk thistle is commonly used for liver ailments, but it also has skin healing properties. It is a demulcent, which means it soothes injured skin. This can have many benefits for people with skin conditions and it offers a natural alternative to traditional medicine.

Softens Skin

According to Skye Herbals, the demulcent properties of milk thistle cause it to soften and moisturize the skin. It can moisturize dry or cracked skin and smooth any mild roughness on the skin's surface. It's a common ingredient in natural commercial moisturizers because it is greatly valued for its ability to give a healthy glow and balance to the skin.

Heals Skin Disorders

Because of the healing effects milk thistle has on the skin, patients have reported a clearing or healing of their symptoms of chronic skin disorders like eczema and acne. It helps acne to subside because when applied to the skin, it can dramatically reduce redness and irritation.

Radiance

Milk thistle is widely used to heal skin ailments. As the skin softens, it gives it the appearance of a healthy radiance. The smoothing properties can have a diminishing effect on wrinkles and therefore can reduce signs of aging.

Cancer Protection

A remarkable benefit of this herb is its evidence to protect against cancer. According to a study reported on Zhion, many cancers are affected by the main ingredients in milk thistle, including skin cancer. This research has also shown that using a topical treatment of milk thistle may inhibit tumor promoters and provide protection against UVB-induced carcinogenesis.

Suggested Use

Milk thistle is available as a tea, a dried herb, a pill and in skin care products. Silymarin is the active ingredient in milk thistle. According to Dr. Windley on Pure Health MD, the suggested dose for adult is 420 mg of silymarin daily. If taking it milk thistle by making tea, the tea is made using either the seeds or an extract and boiling water.

Warning

People with allergies to plants in the daisy or thistle family should avoid milk thistle supplements.