Skin-related diseases affect every individual irrespective of age, gender or social status. Since time immemorial, humans have explored natural resources from their environment for the maintenance of the skin. This explorative survey was conducted to document the natural resources (plant and non-plant materials) used for folk cosmeceuticals by rural communities in Vhembe district municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa. The research was conducted in six communities namely: Tshakuma, Shigalo, Tshamutilikwa, Luvhimbi (Masikhwa), Khakhanwa, and Folovhodwe in Vhembe district. Random and convenient sampling was used to access the target population. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to interview 71 participants that comprised traditional practitioners, herbalists and laypeople from the study area. Collected data were analysed using both quantitative (for e.g. frequency, use-value and relative frequency of citation) and qualitative (thematic) analytical methods. A total of 52 plants from 27 families and 22 non-plant materials were used as folk cosmeceuticals in the study area. The most cited plants included Dicerocaryum zanguebarium (Pedaliaceae), Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) and Helinus integrifolius (Rhamnaceae). Trees and shrubs were the most common plant-life form while leaves were the most popular plant part. Pig fats, red ochre (Luvhundi soil) and ashes were the most cited non-plant materials. These documented natural resources are frequently prepared by crushing and mostly used to heal wounds. Traditional knowledge concerning folk cosmeceuticals is mostly held by elders. The high number of natural resources documented is an indication that Vhembe district is rich in ethnopharmacological knowledge. Scientific investigation of the efficacies and safety of these natural resources is highly recommended as a drive aimed at innovations with benefits to the rural communities who are the custodians of this valuable knowledge.

中文翻译：

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南非林波波省Vhembe区市农村社区中用作民间药妆的自然资源。

不论年龄，性别或社会地位如何，与皮肤相关的疾病都会影响每个人。自远古时代以来，人类就从其环境中探索自然资源来维护皮肤。进行了这项探索性调查，目的是记录南非林波波省Vhembe区市的农村社区用于民间药妆的自然资源（植物和非植物材料）。该研究在六个社区中进行，分别是：Vhembe区的Tshakuma，Shigalo，Tshamutilikwa，Luvhimbi（Masikhwa），Khankhanwa和Folovhodwe。使用随机和方便的抽样来访问目标人群。半结构化问卷用于采访71名参与者，包括研究区域的传统从业者，中医师和非专业人士。使用定量（例如频率，使用价值和相对引用频率）和定性（主题）分析方法对收集的数据进行分析。研究区共使用了来自27个科的52种植物和22种非植物材料作为民间药妆。引用最多的植物包括Dicerocaryum zanguebarium（pedalaceae），Ricinus communis（Euphorbiaceae）和Helinus integrifolius（Rhamnaceae）。树木和灌木是最常见的植物生命形式，而叶子是最受欢迎的植物部分。猪脂肪，红o石（Luvhundi土壤）和骨灰是被引用最多的非植物材料。这些有记载的自然资源通常是通过压碎来准备的，并且大多用于治愈伤口。关于民间药妆的传统知识主要由老年人掌握。有记载的大量自然资源表明，维姆贝区拥有丰富的民族药理知识。强烈建议对这些自然资源的功效和安全性进行科学调查，以推动创新，使作为这种宝贵知识的保管者的农村社区受益。