Argan Oil

Argan oil is pressed from the kernels of the Moroccan argan tree (Argania spinosa). It is sold as a “natural” skin and hair oil. A 2021 case letter in the Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology reported anaphylaxis after argan oil was applied to the skin. It followed an earlier report of argan oil anaphylaxis (Kanny). Only search-result excerpts of the 2021 letter were captured, so the patient details are unverified. For toddlers with eczema it falls under the vault’s general advice to avoid unrefined nut oils on inflamed skin.

Nut-based oil on broken skin

Argan is a cold-pressed nut oil that can keep allergenic protein. Avoid it on a toddler’s eczema.

Connections

• Tree Nut Allergy — anaphylaxis after cutaneous argan oil, source: JIACI 2021