Acne is one of the most common skin diseases and actually affects close to 80% of people at some point in their lifetime. However, it is more common among teenagers but does affect many different adults of all ages. Due to the many wonderful health properties of coconut oil, some people are now using it to treat acne and other skin conditions, through both consuming it and applying it directly to the skin.
Causes of Acne 101
When dead skin cells and oil begin to build up under the skin, it causes our pores to clog up, which then leads to those unsightly (and sometimes painful) pimples. Pores, those little holes in our skin often called hair follicles, are connected to our sebaceous glands and produce sebum (an oily substance).
When our sebaceous glands produce too much sebum, it can fill and clog our pores, causing bacteria. The bacteria then gets trapped in the follicle forcing white blood cells to attack it, which then results in inflammation of the skin resulting in acne.
Common symptoms of acne include blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. Some acne can be much more severe and painful than others but he actual underlying causes vary from person to person. Some contributing factors may include: hormone changes, stress, diet (changes in diet), genetics, or infection.
How Coconut Oil Might Be Able to Help
Since coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid, it has strong antimicrobial effects. Meaning, it can help kill disease-causing microorganisms. The great news is, close to 50% of the fatty acids contained in coconut oil are medium-chain lauric acid, which may help kill fungi and viruses, and even harmful bacteria.
Studies have shown that lauric acid on its own fights and kills acne and can be much more affective than using more popular acne treatments such as benzoyl peroxide. To test the effectiveness of coconut oil’s ability to kill acne, it should be applied to the skin since this is where acne-causing bacteria is found.
The benefits of using coconut oil on the skin are many. People who aren’t necessarily suffering from acne might suffer from other skin conditions such as dry skin, scarring, or other types skin damage. Many people have found coconut oil to be much more moisturizing than other types of moisturizers, such as mineral oil, and have found that it can help with healing and preventing scars.
More Good News about Coconut Oil
The good news doesn’t end there! Regular consumption of coconut oil helps fight inflammation and can kill bacteria inside our bodies as well. Studies have also shown that it also helps increase collagen production, one of the major components that contribute to healthy skin and nails.
If you want to give it a try; organic, extra virgin coconut oil is best.