Is there any benefit to applying beef tallow topically for skin moisturizing or wound healing?

Topical Beef Tallow: No Evidence-Based Benefit for Skin Moisturizing or Wound Healing

There is no credible clinical evidence supporting the use of beef tallow for skin moisturizing or wound healing, and it should not be recommended for these purposes. While beef tallow is being marketed in the skincare industry as a "natural" ingredient, the scientific literature reveals significant research gaps and no controlled human trials demonstrating therapeutic benefit.

Evidence Assessment

Lack of Human Clinical Data

• A 2024 scoping review specifically examining tallow's biocompatibility with skin found significant research gaps regarding its use on human skin 1
• Of 147 studies screened, only 19 met basic criteria, and these consisted primarily of animal studies, basic science research, and comparative studies—not human clinical trials 1
• The review explicitly concluded that more research is needed with controlled variables, particularly regarding side effects of topical tallow application 1
• No randomized controlled trials, case studies, or cross-sectional studies in humans were identified 1

Context from Wound Healing Guidelines

The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) 2024 guidelines provide relevant context for evaluating topical agents:

• Traditional and herbal preparations without rigorous evidence should not be used for wound healing, even when some studies suggest benefit 2
• The guidelines strongly recommend against honey, bee products, collagen, alginate, and herbal remedies due to high risk of bias in available studies and lack of certainty in benefits 2
• Even with 12 RCTs supporting topical phenytoin, the IWGDF recommends against its use due to moderate-to-high risk of bias 2

Limited Animal Data

• One 2020 mouse study found that a mixture containing omega-3 beef tallow oil (along with multiple other ingredients including omega-3 butter, lard oil, caprylic acid, lauric acid, choline, and iron) reduced atopic dermatitis symptoms 3
• This study cannot be extrapolated to support beef tallow alone, as it was part of a complex mixture with multiple bioactive components 3
• A 2017 study used enzymatic interesterified fat blend (mutton tallow and walnut oil) in emulsions for atopic dermatitis prevention, but this involved chemical modification and combination with other ingredients 4

Clinical Reasoning

Why Beef Tallow Lacks Support

The composition argument is insufficient: While proponents claim tallow's fatty acid profile is "compatible" with human skin, composition alone does not establish clinical efficacy. The IWGDF guidelines demonstrate that even products with theoretical mechanisms (antimicrobials, honey with antimicrobial properties) fail to show benefit in rigorous trials 2.

No controlled human trials exist: The 2024 scoping review found no studies meeting basic standards for evaluating topical tallow as a cosmetic or therapeutic agent in humans 1. This is a critical gap that cannot be filled by anecdotal evidence or marketing claims.

Potential concerns: Studies examining beef tallow in other contexts (dietary intake) have raised concerns about its effects, though these are not directly applicable to topical use 5, 6.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not recommend based on "natural" marketing claims: The skincare industry's emphasis on natural ingredients does not substitute for clinical evidence 1
• Do not extrapolate from animal studies: Mouse models of atopic dermatitis using complex mixtures containing tallow cannot support recommendations for pure beef tallow in humans 3
• Do not assume safety without data: The scoping review specifically noted discrepancies and lack of information regarding side effects of topical tallow 1

Practical Recommendation

For skin moisturizing: Recommend evidence-based emollients with established safety and efficacy profiles (petroleum jelly, mineral oil-based products, ceramide-containing moisturizers).

For wound healing: Follow established wound care principles with appropriate dressings selected based on exudate control, comfort, and cost 2. In specific contexts (non-infected neuro-ischemic diabetic foot ulcers failing standard care), consider evidence-based adjuncts like sucrose-octasulfate impregnated dressings 2.