Natures Band-Aid: Sheepskin’s Amazing Medical Uses

Can sheepskin really keep me cool and comfortable? Does sheepskin help with healing? Does sheepskin help me look younger? Sheepskin’s has been known historically as being the go-to natural material when it comes to healing and comforting those with medical needs.

From lining within a cast, cushioning for a wheelchair, to regulating a baby born weeks early, sheepskin protects your skin, body and senses in many different ways. Let’s highlight a few.

Sheepskin and Skin Protection

Natural sheepskin is almost the perfect dream for those with those who have sensitive skin. It contains a natural substance lanolin which has been recognized as an effective treatment with dry, itchy skin. This makes sheepskin perfect as it can help soothe and de-sensitizes rashes and other skin ailments.   

Patients with conditions such as psoriasis and eczema and cellulitis also benefit from these characteristics. Sitting or lying in the same position for long periods of time, sheepskins can make them more comfortable provide extra protection.

With sheepskin fibers being soft and springy, it conforms to an individual’s body resulting with better air and blood flow. This can reduce such things as  pressure and bed sores, and aids in the treatment of open wounds with promoting healing.

Relieving Aches, Pains and Pressure Points

Sheepskin naturally crimped fibers that form a cushioning support for your body because each wool hair, or fibre, contains a three-dimensional spiraling crimp that acts like a miniature spring. Sheepskin absorbs pressure without flattening out and distributing weight evenly over the body, sheepskins take pressure off limbs to help relieve aches and pains. Medical sheepskin is pliable. This means that it can come in different shapes and sizes.

 

Hypo-allergic and Soothing

Those who suffer from allergies can relate to having a list of items they avoid everyday but for many sheepskins has been a material that has brought much relief. In comparison to flax or artificial wool, natural sheepskin stays attached to the leather reducing sheading. It’s not woven or brushed up, like wool pile fabric.

Sheepskin also acts in a way as a dust magnet which captures dust out of the air and traps it. You can simply air it out or ask someone who doesn’t suffer from allergens to give the sheepskin a few good shakes outside.

Sheepskin can also create its own microclimate around beds, chair and couches as well as comfort and support. Beyond its soft, plushness, sheepskin will not give off an electrical charge. In comparison, many synthetic sheepskin like material is an insulator for electrical energy as well is put together with glues or adhesives which weaken over time and eventually come apart.

Sheepskin: Helping Regulate Body Temperature & Circulation

Sheepskin as a natural material has regulating properties that help with keeping your warm or cool in comparison to synthetic materials. Sheepskin helps to reduce heat when it’s too hot, and increase heat when it’s too cold, keeping you at the right temperature year-round. Either sitting, standing or laying down sheepskin assists with promoting better circulation throughout the body. You will sometimes also see sheepskin comforting newborn babies – especially those who are premature or have low birth weight – as they cannot yet regulate their own temperature.

Those who suffer from diabetes can also benefit from natural sheepskin with their feet by wearing sheepskin slippers or using a sheepskin foot-muff. Both can promote and encourage circulation with the feet which is sometimes an issue with diabetes suffers.

Moisture fighting

Sheepskin naturally wicks away moisture but also can carry one-third of its own weight in water before feeling wet. For people who sweat profusely, sheepskin can absorb much of that moisture before feeling wet. This can really help during those hot summer nights where even the air conditioner isn’t enough. Those also who work or live in areas with high humidity, sheepskin can also aid in extra comfort at night or during day.   

Persistent wet skin can also lead to maceration, but sheepskin has the ability to absorb and wick moisture away makes the material very ideal in protecting your skin. Finally, sheepskin can also offer a great barrier for those who backpack both with comfort as well as keeping your back cool and sweat free.

Natural Sheepskin: Repelling Bacteria, Mold and Dust Mites

Sheepskin fleece is naturally resistant to the growth of mold, dust mites, and bed bugs Sheepskin is breathable, allowing air to naturally circulate reducing the environment where bacteria lives. Sheepskin has natural wicking properties, drawing moisture away from the skin, also prevent the conditions that allow bacteria to thrive. Sheepskin also deters dirt, bacteria, resists mold, and dust mites. This leaves a consistent, dry and healthy surface with longevity.  

Lasting Health Value with Sheepskin

Sheepskin has many benefits beside just adding accent to a piece of furniture or décor to a bedroom.  Its reaches into the medical world from protecting your skin to keeping the air clean, sheepskin medically provides significant value with helping those heal or maintain a healthy lifestyle.  While it can’t make you look younger, it can keep you dry, cool and comfortable on a hot July night.