How Does Coconut Oil Help Acne?
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Acne breakouts are infections in your pores, similar to an infected wound. For this reason, acne breakouts require an antibacterial remedy, and that’s where coconut oil comes in. Coconut oil has lauric acid, which contains natural antibacterial features. This fatty acid has been evident in research to have antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial qualities. Try out these straightforward yet effective remedies and cures based on the topical and oral use of Coconut oil, to help fade out the acne scars. Virgin coconut oil is an effective way to get rid of many common ailments and getting rid of acne scars is also one such issue where the use of coconut oil is found to be effective.
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Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Acne
Four Benefits Of Using Coconut Oil For Acne
Coconut oil contains beneficial medium chain fats like capric acid and lauric acid that will fight against acne-causing bacteria. The anti-inflammatory feature of the oil also assists in minimizing the redness and swelling linked with acne scars. Coconut oil also boosts the fat layer in the skin surface which functions as a guard against external contaminants. It can also maintain your skin’s pH balance. Spread a thin layer on the skin surface and wipe off after half an hour.
Coconut Oil Fights Against Fungi And Bacteria
Lauric acid, which is a medium chain fat, contains about 48% of coconut oil. Other fatty acids like caproic acid, myristic acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid are also available. They offer the antimicrobial features to coconut oil, allowing the removal of acne-causing fungi and bacteria from your skin surface. Based on research findings, both lauric acid and capric acid can act against Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria responsible for acne outbreak.
Coconut Oil Can Reduce Inflammation
It is another factor that makes coconut oil beneficial. The pain-reducing and anti-inflammatory qualities of virgin coconut oil are evident in studies. The anti-inflammatory perks of capric acid and lauric acid prevent redness and swelling of the skin that comes with acne breakouts. Other than that, the oil contains collagen-building nutrients that can offer anti-aging advantages, protecting your face from wrinkles and scars.
Coconut Oil Moisturizes Your Skin Naturally
Coconut oil is as efficient as mineral oil when you apply it as a moisturizer. It boosts hydration of your skin and improves the fat levels in your skin. Therefore, the lipid layers work better as a protection to the skin surface, protecting it from the external environment. It will, as a result, rid infections. Impurities will stop clogging your skin pores, inhibiting acne formation. Besides, supporting the natural pH balance of your skin, coconut oil assists in keeping your skin healthy.
Coconut Oil Prevents Damage Caused By Free Radicals
Research studies have proved that virgin coconut oil has a beneficial role in improving the antioxidant condition. The antioxidant capacity in virgin coconut oil could be due to phenolic compounds. How does it help the skin? Well, the antioxidant action of coconut oil prevents the oxidation of lipids, which may impair skin functions. By removing free radicals, the skin surface will be able to produce new cells and get rid of dead skin cells. It results in a skin free from scars and age spots.
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How to Use Coconut Oil For Acne on Your Skin
Five Easy Steps For Using Coconut Oil For Acne
If you’ve done a coconut oil patch experiment and didn’t experience a breakout, here’s how you can use it on your entire face.
- Pick an Organic, Virgin Coconut Oil – Choose a virgin, organic coconut oil. In this way, you will be applying pure coconut oil on your skin surface, void of any supplements. You can find it a beauty store, grocery store, or online. If you have some in your kitchen, consider getting a separate container to keep just for beauty function in the bathroom.
- Liquefy the Coconut Oil – If the coconut oil is a balm, hard state (you should expect this during the colder months of the year), scoop out a small quantity with your fingers and rub it between your hands to liquefy it. If it’s hot outside, the coconut oil will already be liquid and ready to go.
- Rub the coconut oil into your face – When you rub the oil onto your face, focusing on the regions of makeup you want to break up and dissolve. You should do this for about thirty seconds.
- Rinse it off the coconut oil with a mild facial cleanser – Follow your coconut oil use with a gentle cleanser that’ll assist in removing any oil without over-peeling your skin surface. Some specialists recommend Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Glossier’s new Milky Jelly Cleanser is another similar mild-yet-effective cleanser. It is known as “double-cleansing,” and it’s a sure method to get every last bit of makeup and fragments of your skin surface.
- You Can Leave The Coconut Oil To Soak Overnight – If your skin surface is dry, you can also consider rubbing the coconut oil into clean skin surface, and then dabbing off the excess with a towel, and letting it soak into your skin overnight. You’ll wake up with super hydrated skin. (If your skin surface is oily, however, this could make your acne worse- better to keep it as part of your double cleanse rather than an overnight treatment.
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Coconut Oil For Acne
How Does Coconut Oil Fight Acne?
The fatty acids present in coconut oil are essential in fighting acne spots on your skin, you can also opt to consume the oil other than spreading it on your skin.
Coconut Oil Contain Fatty Acids That Assist in Killing The Bacteria That Cause Acne
Coconut oil consists almost wholly of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). These fatty acids contain strong antimicrobial effects, meaning they can destroy disease-causing microbes. Almost 50% of the fatty acids present in coconut oil are the medium-chain lauric acid. Lauric acid may assist in killing harmful viruses, bacteria, and fungi in the human body. In one finding, lauric acid was more effective at killing these bacteria in comparison to benzoyl peroxide- which is a popular acne remedy. It also showed therapeutic potential against swelling caused by the bacteria.
Coconut Oil Contains A Lot Of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids
In another finding, lauric acid together with retinoic acid worked simultaneously to limit the growth of the acne-causing skin bacteria.Coconut oil also has caproic, capric and caprylic medium-chain fatty acids. Even though not as powerful as lauric acid, some of these fatty acids are also efficient in fighting the bacteria that cause acne. This feature only functions when applying coconut oil directly to the skin surface, as this is where you’ll find the acne-causing bacteria. Coconut oil contains a lot of medium-chain fatty acids that have been proven to kill the acne-causing bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes.
Spreading Coconut Oil On Your Skin Will Maintain Its Moisture And Help With Healing
A lot of people with acne suffer from skin damage, which can lead to the formation of scars. Moisturizing your skin surface is an essential step in maintaining its health. The reason is that your skin requires adequate moisture to fight infection and heal properly.A study shows that spreading coconut oil to the skin can help relieve dry skin while fighting bacteria. As a matter of fact, findings show that utilizing coconut oil as a moisturizer is as efficient or more effective than using mineral oil. What is more, coconut oil may assist in healing your skin and stop it from scarring. In one finding, rats with wounds treated with coconut oil experienced less swelling and increased production of collagen, a major skin component. On these grounds, their wounds healed much quicker. Maintaining the hydration on your skin may minimize the risk of developing acne scars. Coconut oil will moisturize your skin surface effectively. It may also assist in healing skin damage and reduce scarring.
Consumption Of Coconut Oil May Help Fight Inflammation
The fatty acids present in coconut oil may also fight acne-induced inflammation. Multiple animal researches and test-tube have demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory features of coconut oil. These studies suggest that eating coconut oil may assist in minimizing the swelling and redness of inflammatory acne. However, further research on coconut oil effect on humans is still underway. Consuming coconut oil may assist in reducing the inflammation associated with acne, but more research is needed.
Avoid Using Coconut Oil For Acne On an Oily Skin
Most people don’t find eating coconut oil repulsive. However, some people spread it directly onto the skin as a facial cleanser or moisturizer. For people who have very oily skin, dermatologists may not recommend the use of coconut oil even though it is beneficial. Coconut oil contains a lot of comedogenic, which means it can block your pores. As a result, it may worsen acne conditions for others. When you spread it on your skin, coconut oil may block pores and make worsen your acne conditions. Specialists don’t recommend the use of coconut oil for people with very oily skin.
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Can I Treat Acne With Coconut Oil?
There’s a lot of lauric acid within coconut oil, which assists in killing the bacteria that cause acne. Spreading coconut oil to the skin can kill acne-causing bacteria and increase moisture, which may also reduce acne scarring. Nevertheless, coconut oil may be problematic for people with very oily skin.To avoid making the condition worse, you could consider checking with a specialist before trying it out. Besides, it is safe to consume coconut oil. The research showing health benefits used two tablespoons (30 ml) each day. Organic, virgin coconut oil is an ideal type if you want to give it a go.
