Coconut Oil for Acne: How to Use and How it Works?

Coconut oil is most commonly used for cooking, as a nutritious addition to your smoothies, for nourishing your hair, for hydrating your shampoo or conditioner, and as a soothing hand lotion. Have you ever heard of coconut oil being used for acne treatment?

What is coconut oil?

Fat is made up of smaller molecules called fatty acids, coconut oil is known as saturated fat as it contains 80 to 90% of it and 100% of fat. This gives it a resilient texture at cold or room temperatures. The predominant type is lauric acid and palmitic acid present in small amounts are the types of saturated fatty acids in coconut oil, there has been research which shows that which have been shown in previous studies to raise harmful levels of LDL. One of the major categories of fats is associated with trace amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

The best part of coconut oil has been shown to have no cholesterol, no fiber, and only traces of vitamins, minerals, and plant sterols. Plant-based cholesterol-reducing compounds may help to block the absorption of cholesterol in the body. The quantity of ‘coconut oil’ found in a few tablespoons is too small to produce a beneficial effect.

Coconut oil is made by extracting the oil from fresh coconut meat or dried kernel. Compared to olive oil, the terms “virgin” and “extra virgin” are not regulated with coconut oil. Coconut oil has no difference in terms of products that are fortified with these terms.

The shelf life of coconut oil will vary depending on how it is processed and stored. Refined coconut oil generally lasts for 3 months; while virgin coconut oil may last for 2-3 years if stored properly away from heat and light. Sourness is a sign of spoilage, and off-tasting flavors can be a sign of spoilage too.

What is acne?

Acne is a type of skin condition that can cause several different types of blemishes. Some common conditions include blackheads, whiteheads, pimples (zits), and cysts (nodules).

You should be aware that acne can occur anywhere on your body or face. You may find whiteheads, blackheads, and cysts on your nose and forehead. You may experience more pimples on your neck, back, chest, and other body parts.

In the early 20th century, acne was thought of as a rite of passage during the teenage years. However, doctors now know that acne can occur at any stage of life. This is rather depressing news for most people.

Acne can occur as a result of stress, academic stress, hormonal changes, dietary changes, health issues, and skin trauma. Medical treatment such as taking a course of medication and using a medical-grade product can cause breakouts to occur.

What you exactly want to know is how to get rid of acne, coconut oil is natural to humans, and is effective against acne.

How coconut oil helps in clearing acne:

Coconut oil consists of significantly more medium-chain fatty acids than other oils. They also have strong antimicrobial effects, which means they can kill disease-causing microorganisms. Coconut oil products contain more than 50% of medium-chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid. Lauric acid is a natural anti-microbial agent in the body. It has been shown in studies to kill P. acnes.

Lauric acid derivatives were more effective at killing these bacteria than benzoyl peroxide — a popular acne treatment. It also showed therapeutic potential against inflammation caused by the bacteria. The retinoic acid derivative was combined with fatty acid to inhibit the growth of acne-causing skin bacteria.

Coconut oil is known as monosaturated. Monosaturated can be effective against the bacteria that cause acne, as is lauric acid, so it is therefore known as a monolaurin.

Coconut oil is not effective when it is applied directly, since this is where acne-causing bacteria are more prevalent.

Coconut oil is generally not recommended for all skin types, especially when talking about the skin on your face, the most likely to experience a breakout. Unlike most other oils, coconut oil can be applied to the skin without causing it to become greasy.

If you have sensitive, oily skin and find that highly astringent products can leave it feeling stripped of its natural oils, it can result in a vicious cycle of more oil being produced, which can aggravate the condition even more. It is a vicious cycle that may just need a little oil to heal.

Coconut oil can cleanse your pores and remove excess oil, dirt, and impurities from your pores. The key is to then find a way to whisk off the oil, with your sebum and impurities in tow. Try water-based emollients.

While studies have shown that coconut oil is the most commonly used oil for hydrating the skin and fighting acne, it is worth noting that other oils can also potentially benefit your skin, including hazelnut oil, black cumin seed oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil, and even olive oil. Try several types of patch tests to determine the best oil for your skin.

Many environmental factors contribute to the development of acne, including genetics, habits, diet, and stress.

Acne is a widespread skin condition that affects most Americans at some point in their lives.

There are many people who use coconut oil to treat acne. This is because of the many health properties it has, such as the fact that it is a natural anti-inflammatory. Some people will also apply coconut oil directly to their skin, in addition to eating it.

Despite the fact that coconut oil has been studied for various health benefits, very little scientific research has examined its ability to fight acne.

The fatty acids in coconut oil help kill the bacteria that cause acne

Coconut oil has potent antimicrobial properties, which means it can kill disease-causing microorganisms. Coconut oil is high in saturated fat, with more than half of its fatty acids being medium-chain saturated fatty acids, such as lauric acid. Polyunsaturated fatty acids may help kill harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the body. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been shown to kill P. acnes on their own.

In one study, monolaurin was more effective at killing these bacteria than benzoyl peroxide. It might have therapeutic potential against inflammation caused by the bacteria.

A previous study found that retinoic acid was combined with monocarboxylic acid to inhibit the growth of the acne-causing skin bacteria. Coconut oil is composed of the most common MCFA found in coconut oil. While not as powerful as lauric acid, some of these fatty acids are also effective against acne bacteria. The property only works when applying the oil directly to the skin, since the acne-causing bacteria are found there.

Applying coconut oil to your skin can moisturize it and help with healing

Many people with acne are plagued by skin damage, which can lead to scarring. Minimizing your skin’s moisture is an important step in keeping it healthy. That is because it needs adequate moisture to minimize infection and heal properly.

A skin barrier is a layer of skin cells that protect the skin from water loss and damage. It is also a layer of skin cells that keep harmful microbes from entering the skin.

Recent studies show that using hydrogenated coconut oil as a moisturizer is as effective as or more effective than using mineral oil. Additionally, hydrogenated coconut oil may help heal your skin and prevent it from scarring.

Keeping skincare in check may reduce the risk of developing acne scars.

Eating coconut oil may help fight inflammation

Coconut oil fights acne-induced inflammation. Multiple test-tube and animal studies have demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of coconut oil.

These findings indicate that eating coconut oil may help reduce the redness and swelling of inflammatory acne. However, this finding needs to be confirmed in human studies.

Applying coconut oil to the skin is not recommended if you have oily skin

Coconut oil consumption is not problematic for most people. Skin moisturizers and cleansers are some facial products used for cleansing and moisturizing the skin.

Not recommended for people with oily skin, acne-fighting products are not always beneficial. Coconut oil is highly comedogenic, which means it may make acne worse for some people.

Coconut oil is beneficial to your skin because it contains lauric acid, which helps kill the bacteria that cause acne. Applying coconut oil to the skin can inhibit acne-causing bacteria and increase moisture, which may also improve acne scarring. Coconut oil might not be useful for people with very oily skin.

To avoid making acne worse, you may want to seek the advice of a dermatologist or a healthcare professional before trying it out. Nevertheless, the intake of coconut oil is safe. Studies showing health benefits used 30 ml per day.

For better and effective results try using extra virgin coconut oil to get acne-prone skin.