Eczema Study
FATCO is a skincare company that sells grass-fed, tallow-based products.
FATCO affords customers the opportunity to support regenerative farming in the United States by using byproducts of holistically-managed livestock.
A significant number of FATCO customers have reviewed FATCO products as a treatment for eczema, as it has helped alleviate or reduces symptoms of this skin condition.
However, FATCO had little to no input for why grass-fed tallow may be a beneficial base ingredient for sufferers of eczema. Yama Farms piloted research to help answer this question.
Disclaimer
Nothing in this report should be taken as an express or implied warranty by Yama of the fitness of FATCO products for the treatment of specific medical conditions.
Users of FATCO products should consult a medical professional concerning the use of such products to treat any condition.
Overview
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Identify the experience of FATCO customers who suffered from eczema and improve FATCO’s understanding of this customer segment
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How and to what extent have FATCO’s products relieved symptoms of eczema?
Why is grass-fed tallow effective in treating eczema?
Have customers had success in treating their eczema with other ingredients derived from animals?
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Contextual interviews, product trials, and literature review
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FATCO recruited participants by utilizing an existing listserv
Yama screened applicants for eligibility
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Individuals who have been clinically diagnosed with eczema or atopic dermatitis
Individuals who have used over-the-counter or prescription-grade topicals with little to no symptomatic relief
Literature review
Information on correlations between tallow and eczema were collected
Existing research
Existing scientific journals, published research, and articles
Yama research
Consumer interviews and product trial findings
Tallow Deconstructed
While research on the medicinal properties of grass-fed tallow is minimal, studies show that components of tallow are effective in treating eczema, or atopic dermatitis.
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Tallow contains saturated fatty acids (palmitic acid, stearic acid, myristic acid), monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid and palmitoleic acid), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid and linolenic aicid).
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Based on a study published by the US National Library of Medicine, stearic acid successfully regulates “skin barrier function, membrane fluidity, cell signaling,” while “improving skin repair, and permeability” (77, Purnamawati).
The Chemical Company (TCC), confirms that stearic acid comprises up to 30% of animal fat, but makes up less than 5% of vegetable fat.
As animal-derived fat contains higher levels of stearic acid, this suggests that beef tallow may provide a significant advantage over fats derived from plants.
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Based on a study published by the US National Library of Medicine, oleic acid “had the best potential to be used as a drug candidate in atopic dermatitis treatment” (6, Earlia).
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Tallow contains a significant amount of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). According to a study proctored by NIH’s National Center for Biotechnology Information, topically-applied CLA reduced symptoms of atopic dermatitis-like lesions in mice.
Reduction of symptoms was evidenced by increased skin hydration, decreased abnormally high pH levels, and inhibited scratching behavior after a 13 day topical application period of 5% CLA.
Trial participants who reported less dryness and itchiness may have found success due to CLA levels found in tallow.
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According to a study by USDA’s Agricultural Research Center, cows raised on permanent pasture had 500% more CLA compared to cows fed a combination of forage and grain.
Likewise, PubMed.gov reviewed three decades of research confirming twice the amount of total CLA in grass-fed cows than in grain-fed cows.
As grass-fed tallow contains higher levels of CLA, this suggests that topically-applied grass-fed tallow may provide a significant advantage over other tallow-based products.
Product trials
Two groups were sourced directly from FATCO’s customer base
Group I
8 FATCO customers who found symptomatic relief from their eczema after consistent use of FATCO products
This group was contextually interviewed to account for their experience
Group II
10 FATCO customers who had not yet used FATCO products to treat their eczema
This group was provided with FATCO’s Baby Butta and asked to log their experience with the product bi-weekly
Contextual interviews
Participants were asked semi-structured questions concerning their eczema, their satisfaction with FATCO products, and lifestyle
Lifestyle factors
65% of participants reported FATCO products to be a part of a “toolkit” for successfully managing their eczema
FATCO experience
80% of participants ceased their use of prescription hydrocortisone or steroids after using FATCO products
Overview
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40% of participants found that using FATCO products in tandem with avoiding foods they are sensitive to (i.e. gluten and dairy) was the best combination for managing symptoms of eczema
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20% participants found that using sheep or alpaca wool in tandem with FATCO products was the best combination for managing symptoms of eczema
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30% of participants reported relief from symptoms of eczema after using such topicals as beeswax, honey, lactic acid, or goat milk
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20% of participants reported success from using plant-based products, like avocado oil and coconut oil, in tandem with FATCO products
Customer Perceptivity
80% of participants emphasized FATCO’s brand attributes below
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“It’s a deep part of our family values in terms of land stewardship, better sourcing, better lives for people on the land around the world, and so for us that’s important in our work and our life and how we source products”
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"I work with farms to get meat and eggs that are raised in conditions they should be raised in. That really speaks to me and I’d like to give my money to companies that are like that”
“We tend to try to buy pretty close to the farm for food products”
“I eat a lot of meat, my neighbors are pig farmers— I’m fine with the beef tallow”
“We’re very natural in the sense that we use neighbors for milk and other things”
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“I use tallow soap, we’re a more natural family. I have no reservations about tallow products”
“Anything that isn’t food shouldn’t be ingested”
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“Using a byproduct of animals is good because that means that that by product is not just being tossed and it’s one less piece of waste”
“It’s a way of giving thanks to the animal giving up it’s life”
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“They vibe really well with my ideology around the treatment of animals"
Product trial results
75% of participants reported relief from symptoms of eczema
No reported side effects
Those who used the product at least once daily reported relief sooner than those who used the product every other day
Conclusion
FATCO can leverage the information provided by research participants to more effectively market products to sufferers of eczema.
More research is needed to answer why grass-fed tallow is effective for treating eczema and atopic dermatitis.
