It is considered a natural skincare product with low risks of sensitization and irritation and is safe for people of all ages, including infants and seniors.
Li Shizhen, a Chinese physician and writer of Compendium of Materia Medica, mentioned the use of horse ointment in the treatment of dyschromia, eczema, and burns.
The following table summarizes the main ingredients found in horse ointment formulations, their effects on skin, as well as their safety scores, which were determined by the US Environmental Working Group (EWG).
(0-10) Overall, the safety points of ingredients commonly found in horse ointment formulations ranges between 1-4, indicating a low risk of causing skin or other health issues.
Experimental results showed that horse ointments absorb UVB radiation and remove reactive oxygen species, thus protecting human HaCaT keratinocytes from UVB-induced oxidative stress and preventing cell structural damage, skin necrosis, and aging.
Horse ointment contains coenzyme Q10, hyaluronic acid, and collagen, which can maintain the natural moisture barrier of the skin to prevent its water loss.
Oleic acid and sea shark essence in horse oil disturbs the natural lipid bilayer of the cuticle and allows penetration into the skin.
[10] Horse oil contains sophorolipids and natural ingredients such as horsetail and pine hops, which promote the synthesis of collagen in the skin and thus maintain elasticity and prevent wrinkle formation.
However, most studies related to the efficacy of horse oil are written in Japanese or Korean without any English translations, thus making it difficult for dermatologists to analyze and discuss the findings.