Articles

Rose hip seed oil has proven to be useful in the alleviation of dermal ailments, such as photoaging (dermatohelisosis). These problems are more likely to affect people who live in warm climates. This solar influence can cause several and serious alterations in the skin. Dermatoheliosis' severity ranges from small wrinkles to active keratosis as well as can cause on alteration in melanin granule distribution.

A sample of people were selected from those who spend three months of summer at beach resorts or those who go to the beach every day in order to test the effectiveness of rose hip seed oil. A sample of twenty women, ages 25 to 35 were tested, controlled and analyzed during the summer of 1988. Tan skin, brown spots, and wrinkles were the most commonly observes effects of sun exposure. During four months of Autumn in 1988 (May to August, 1988) the women applied rose hip oil to the face.

Reports were made periodically, every eight days, to observe the effects of the treatment. As early as the third week, significant changes were observed. Observations show that by the end of the fourth month, almost all sun induced problems had been reduced, for example lightened age spots and diminished wrinkles. Their skin appeared smooth and fresh without signs of prior age spots.

Treatment of Surgical Scars

This study was done with scars of similar types. The sample group consisted of ten women between 45 and 68 years old who had undergone unilateral or bilateral mastectomy.

Rose hip seed oil was applied starting the day the surgical stitches were removed. The area was washed with tepid water and soap, dried gently and the softly massaged with the oil. Observations after three months of twice a day use noted a reduction in the visibility of the scars, and improvement in the elasticity of the skin and a significantly smooth outcome as well as an improvement in color.

After four months of rose hip oil treatment, specialists noted a significant improvement in patients' skin conditions. This allowed for the conditions for implantation of prosthesis or plastic surgery to be far better than in patients who had not received this treatment.

These studies as well as accounts from indigenous people have convinced many of the natural skin treatment benefits of rose hip oil. Not only has it been used for surgery scars, but also for stretch marks, acne scars, and other skin blemishes.

More rose hip oil testing as being done by surgeon and radiotherapist Dr. Hans Harbst who is currently residing in Chile. Dr. Harbst is renowned in the areas of radiology, radio-oncology, and nuclear medicine at the Nuclear Research Center of the University of Heidelberg, Germany and also holds the position as head of the Department of Radiology of the Chilean Air Force Hospital in Santiago. Dr. Harbst also holds the position of the head of the Radio-Oncology Department of the Indisia Clinic in Santiago.