Do vegans not use lanolin?

DomerJenC · February 2009

I just googled lanolin (b/c I need to get some for my wool) and learned that it's from sheep. If you are vegan, would you not use lanisoh on your nipples then?

just a random question of the day

oigoigal · February 2009

very likely not. there are lanolin free nipple creams available, i believe earth mama angel baby makes one.

photo_nut · February 2009

I know vegans who do not use lanolin.

CheriCO · February 2009

I know I could probably google this, but *how* do they get lanolin from sheep? Do the sheep have to die for it?

suzymarie · February 2009

I think it is from the wool. Most vegans won't use anything that comes from animals bc they think it exploits the animals.

The thing I don't get about it is that often they instead have to use petroleum based products as alternatives (example- vegan shoes). Which to me, is worse than cutting sheep hair.

oigoigal · February 2009

CheriCO:
I know I could probably google this, but *how* do they get lanolin from sheep? Do the sheep have to die for it?

without having googled myself, i *believe* it's a byproduct of processing the wool. so, the sheep do not die...but it is a highly processed substance.

DomerJenC · February 2009

CheriCO:
I know I could probably google this, but *how* do they get lanolin from sheep? Do the sheep have to die for it?

no, it's squeezed out of the wool during processing. ironic, b/c then we have to put it back in! at first i thought it'd be like ear wax or something. LOL

photo_nut · February 2009

CheriCO:
I know I could probably google this, but *how* do they get lanolin from sheep? Do the sheep have to die for it?

No, it comes off when shaving the sheep. I don't know the process, but it's the coating that protects the sheep's hair and keeps it waterproof, so I think it comes out when they process the sheep's wool.

LOL, you got this answer a few times ; )

oigoigal · February 2009

suzymarie:
The thing I don't get about it is that often they instead have to use petroleum based products as alternatives (example- vegan shoes). Which to me, is worse than cutting sheep hair.

thank you!

suzymarie · February 2009

You can buy wool yarn that does not have the lanolin removed. It has a specific name and it is something gross sounding like greasy-wool.

jerimbato · February 2009

I'm not vegan (anymore) but at the recommendation of a lactation consultant I got some calendula- which is supposed to work just as well as lanolin for nipples (and can also be used for diaper rash, dry skin, other random first aid needs.) If it doesn't seem to be working well I'm not against giving lanolin a try. I don't think the sheep are hurt in its production... interesting question though.

lytedark · February 2009

depends on how hardcore the vegan is i think. for products that come from animals but do not require the animal to die for it - wool/lanolin/etc - it's typically the treatment of the animals that provide the source of the product that is the issue and whether or not they will use it can depend on what they know about the source.

i actually have a vegan friend who will eat eggs as long as they are "happy chicken" eggs - organic, certified humane, etc.

CheriCO · February 2009

Thanks for the info.

Does it kind of gross anyone out that we're essentially putting sheep hair grease on our nipples (or in our baby's mouths or even on our own lips in some cases)? I didn't have much of a problem when nursing, so didn't use much then, but I have been putting it on DS's severely chapped lips the last few days. For some reason, the thought of it being sheep hair grease seems a little icky to me (not that eating a hunk of cow leg doesn't seem gross when I really think about it and I'm not a vegetarian).

photo_nut · February 2009

CheriCO:
Thanks for the info.
Does it kind of gross anyone out that we're essentially putting sheep hair grease on our nipples (or in our baby's mouths or even on our own lips in some cases)? I didn't have much of a problem when nursing, so didn't use much then, but I have been putting it on DS's severely chapped lips the last few days. For some reason, the thought of it being sheep hair grease seems a little icky to me (not that eating a hunk of cow leg doesn't seem gross when I really think about it and I'm not a vegetarian).

Sheep hair grease! LOL

um...well, it's better than vasoline, I think. But once I am done with my lanolin, I'll probably use something else. But it does work. I think it's processed a lot so that it can be edible, like say chicken fat or something like that.

lytedark · February 2009

lol - yes it does gross me out a bit to think of it more as sheep hair grease - though not as much as thinking of ear wax (thanks domerjen! lol)

but yeah a lot of things are gross when you think about them too hard

MTOW · February 2009

Sheep hair grease is exactly right. But the Lansinoh is purified so it doesn't have everything in it that the sheep has ever encountered. If you buy grease wool, it's going to have a lot of dirt and vegetable matter in it as well because all of that stuff sticks in the grease. I'd far rather have processed wool with purified lanolin put back in it to wear or put on my baby. I do have a bag of raw wool sitting in my yarn closet, though, that I might clean up and spin one of these days. I can take some pictures if y'all want to see what it looks like.

Lanolin is in a lot of lotions and creams, though, because it is an excellent moisturizer.

AlishaRichelle · February 2009

Ahem... if you have a problem with sheep's hair grease, shall we talk about where beeswax comes from?!?

CheriCO · February 2009

AlishaRichelle:
Ahem... if you have a problem with sheep's hair grease, shall we talk about where beeswax comes from?!

LOL, good point!

I always remembered that lanolin came from sheep b/c there was a sheep named Lanolin on Garfield & Friends. Anyone else remember that? Smile

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