ACNE AND COCONUT OIL: does coconut oil actually treat acne?

Acne is a common skin disease that affects up to 80% of people in their lifetime.

It is most common among teenagers, but it can affect adults of all ages.

Because of coconut oil’s many health properties, some people have started using it to treat acne.

This involves applying coconut oil directly to the skin, as well as eating it.

However, while coconut oil has been studied  for various health benefits.

What Causes Acne?

Acne forms when oil and dead skin cells clog up pores.

Pores are little holes in the skin, often referred to as hair follicles. Each hair follicle is connected to a sebaceous gland, which produces an oily substance called sebum.

When too much sebum is produced, it can fill and plug the hair follicle. This causes bacteria known as propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes, to grow.

The bacteria get trapped in the follicle, which causes your white blood cells to attack it. This results in skin inflammation, which leads to acne.

Symptoms of acne include whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. Some cases are more severe than others.

Many factors contribute to the development of acne, including hormone changes, genetics, diet, stress and infection.

The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Help Kill The Bacteria That Cause Acne

Coconut oil consists almost entirely of medium chain-fatty acids (MCFAs).

MCFAs have strong antimicrobial effects, which means they can kill disease-causing microorganisms.

Almost 50% of the fatty acids found in coconut oil are the medium-chain lauric acid.

Lauric acid may help kill harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses in the body. On its own, lauric acid has been shown to kill P. acnes

Coconut oil also contains capric, caproic and caprylic medium-chain fatty acids. While not as powerful as lauric acid, some of these are also effective against the bacteria that cause acne.

This property only applies when applying coconut oil directly to the skin, as this is where the acne-causing bacteria are located.

Applying Coconut Oil to Your Skin Can Moisturize It and Help With Healing

Many people with acne suffer from skin damage, which can lead to scarring.

Moisturizing the skin is an important step in keeping it healthy. That’s because your skin needs adequate moisture to fight infection and heal properly.

Research shows that applying coconut oil to the skin can help relieve dry skin while fighting bacteria.

In fact, studies show that using coconut oil as a moisturizer is as effective or more effective than using mineral oil.

Additionally, coconut oil may help heal your skin and prevent it from scarring.

However, some people apply it directly to the skin as a facial cleanser or moisturizer.

This may be beneficial against acne, but it’s not recommended for people who have very oily skin.

Coconut oil is highly comedogenic, which means it can clog pores. Consequently, it may actually make acne worse for some people.

To avoid making the problem worse, you may want to check with a dermatologist before trying it out.