Is Coconut Oil Good for Eczema? 3 Amazing Facts!

Argh, another skin problem!? You may experience several skin conditions like acne, eczema, blackheads, texturing, and more, and we get it, it gets frustrating. Read on to find out “Is coconut oil good for eczema” for more information.

Is Coconut Oil Good for Eczema?

Since it is hardly curable, eczema or contact dermatitis i¹s among the most difficult health diseases to deal with.

But, wait! It’s controllable. Eczema is a sort of skin issue which causes unbearable irritation, swelling, and redness. Eczema symptoms come and vanish over the years. But you can control its occurrence without any worry!

So, if you are one of those people who is curious to know more about the issue, this is your haven. Is coconut oil good for eczema? Stay connected to know about coconut oil’s tips and tricks to cure eczema symptoms!

1. One Bother Three Solutions: Highlights

Coconut oil for eczema is an undeniable solution to the issue. The American Oil Chemists’ Society journal states that carrier oil has a significant quantity of saturated fatty acid called Lauric acid.² You can also find this content in breast milk.

Coconut oil usage twice per day keeps staphylococcus aureus away. A study has proven that this oil is much more effective in this era than Olive oil.

Due to such significant content in the oil, it is helpful for several issues. Eczema is one of the issues that you can cure with the help of this oil. So, why not delve into the nitty-gritty of its benefit and cure our anxiety regarding the problem?

1.1. Hydration Capacity 

Well-known scientific research states that coconut oil accelerates the skin’s hydration capacity. Eczema symptoms are marked by extreme dryness of the skin.³ Eczema can cause your skin to become intolerably scaly and itchy.

Treating eczema becomes more accessible by applying virgin coconut oil. The oil comes along with skin protective properties. It keeps the skin hydration intact and builds up a strong skin barrier. Skin hydrated depicts a healthy immune system as well.

This condition of dryness is also called atopic dermatitis. ⁴The outer portion of your skin acts to capture moisture in your skin. This also helps to keep out germs and bacteria.

But, if you have got eczema symptoms,⁵ your skin will fail to act as the practical layer needed to lock in moisture. So, to treat Eczema, you can consider topically applying virgin coconut oil to your skin. This will significantly improve the itchiness you are suffering from.

Coconut oil accelerates filaggrin when it is applied topically on the skin. This protein helps keep the layer of the skin affected by eczema hydrated by keeping a balanced pH.

This is proved by one of the notable findings by science direct! A clinical trial in 2014 states that applying coconut oil for eight weeks improves eczema-based conditions.

So, eczema sufferers, why think? Get yourself a pack of coconut oil and get rid of those cracked skin and scaly patches with coconut’s assistance!

1.2. Get Rid of Inflammation and Pain

Organic coconut oil can help you a long way. If you want to treat Eczema, it will not be possible without getting rid of the inflammation and pain that comes with it.

A famous study by Pubmed Central stated that virgin coconut oil consists of pharmaceutical elements. The research showed anti-inflammatory properties in edema-affected rats. These proofs show that the oil is also helpful for its unique uses in human beings.

Such pain and inflammation are the results of bacteria thriving on eczemic skin. Eczema flare-ups can be reduced if no bacteria or fungi are on the skin. The lesser the bacteria lesser the tendency to scratch the skin.

One of the renowned studies conducted by the Journal of the American Oil Chemist’s Society shows that the presence of lauric acid hugely helps eliminate unwanted bacteria. Also, lauric acid is excellent for restoring moisture in dry skin caused by eczema. So, using this would be a superb choice indeed!

1.3. Want to Reduce Oxidative Stress?

Oxidative stress occurs when there’s an imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals in the body.

Research suggests that patients suffering from atopic dermatitis face certain defects like increased oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant range, signals during flare-ups, and oxidative stress.

Research that antioxidants help treat problems such as eczema. While another research proved that antioxidant value could be verily found in virgin coconut oil.

2. How to Make the Right Use of Coconut Oil for Eczema?

Coconut oil helps to soothe the irritation that Eczema causes. The numerous benefits of coconut oil prove its assistance for babies as well.

Studies prove this stance right! So, why wait? Let us delve into the essentials of using coconut oil in the best way possible!

2.1. Check for Sensitive Skin

Use coconut oil carefully. You should always check for any allergic reaction before you get into the habit of using coconut oil for any such skin condition! You can check for coconut allergy by doing a quick patch test.

So, make your selected patch of skin slightly damp with coconut oil. Make sure to do this test on the part of your skin that is not exposed. If you face irritations, this is one safety route you may take. Take professional medical advice if needed.

If there’s no reaction even after ten days, you may conclude that you are on the right track to use the oil.

2.2. Choose Your Coconut Oil Wisely

It is essential to consider the quality of your coconut oil. The website of Medical News Today suggests using organic and cold-pressed coconut oil. It is always advised to select coconut oil which is extra virgin coconut oil.

Choosing coconut oil with anti-inflammatory properties goes a long way. This is possible if you check out coconut oil lacking chemicals that irritate the skin.

So, if you are searching for antimicrobial properties, antioxidant properties, and health benefits in your eczema products, go for virgin coconut oil. This is much better than refined coconut oil and virgin olive oil!

2.3. Take Special Care for Baby Eczema

A well-known research source mentions that nearly 20-30 % of baby skin may be reactive to coconut oil. So, if your child has allergic reactions to coconut oil, do not use it to treat eczema.

Use alternative eczema treatments instead. It is always beneficial to consider virgin coconut oil over refined oil coconuts.

Virgin oil has a significant quantity of antioxidants and polyphenols. Also, virgin coconut oil, also cold-pressed, is a good choice for the skin.

Also, always keep the oil away from your child’s eyes. If the oil comes in contact with the eye, it may significantly damage the sensitive eyes.

It is always advisable to use coconut oil after you take a bath as your skin is the cleanest right then. So, apply warm coconut oil after a shower. You may apply liquid coconut oil just like a lotion to the skin.

3. How to Use Coconut Oil for Eczema?

Moderate pediatric atopic dermatitis or Eczema can be treated well if you know the correct steps to apply coconut oil! So, let’s not wait and get into the precise steps immediately!

3.1. Use Coconut Oil Directly

The most straightforward technique to deal with eczema is to apply coconut oil directly to reduce irritation. Apply the oil to the parts suffering from the skin infection. The topical application of coconut oil help heals broken skin affected by moderate eczema.

It is advisable to apply the oil three times per day. The website of Bustle recommends using it after the shower and before getting to bed at night.

3.2. Make a Coconut Mask for Yourself

Yet another effective way to deal with eczema is to make yourself a vitro anti-inflammatory mask. This improves the skin’s ability to lock in moisture in skin cells. So, to create the magic mask combine coconut oil, vitamin E syrup, and rosemary oil.

Shake the ingredients well in a container and you are ready!

Apply the mixture to the dry areas affected by eczema. Keep it for nearly ten minutes without disturbing you.

3.3. Have a Gulp of Coconut Oil

This may sound weird, but try consuming coconut oil. This method has helped many people deal efficiently with eczema. So, why not try it out once if you do not have a coconut allergy?

So, as Bustle recommends, consume four tablespoons of the oil daily to view satisfactory results!

4. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can we apply coconut oil for eczema?

You can apply coconut oil on eczema-affected skin whenever you want as this will keep the skin hydrated and limit the possibility of irritation.

2. Is coconut oil or Vaseline better for eczema?

Virgin coconut oil trumps topical mineral oil in terms of reducing eczema severity.

3. Can I put oil in my eczema?

Yes, eczema sufferers may benefit from oil’s ability to reduce skin inflammation. It may also stimulate the production of ceramides, which are fatty acids that help keep your skin soft and moisturized.

5. Conclusion

Now that you know about the nitty-gritty of coconut oil’s benefits for eczema and whether is coconut oil good for eczema, you will be able to help out eczema sufferers in the best way possible.

Virgin oil helps a great deal with health benefits as it does everything, from its moisturizing properties to containing healthy fatty acids.

The oil is extracted from mature coconuts and contains various lauric acids. Its antimicrobial properties go a long way to healing skin infections.

So, why wait? Get yourself a jar of the oil without delay!

1. Kimber, Ian, et al. “Allergic contact dermatitis.” International immunopharmacology 2.2-3 (2002): 201-211. ↩︎
2. Dayrit, Fabian M. “The properties of lauric acid and their significance in coconut oil.” Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society 92 (2015): 1-15. ↩︎
3. Rudikoff, Donald. “The effect of dryness on the skin.” Clinics in dermatology 16.1 (1998): 99-107. ↩︎
4. Spergel, Jonathan M., and Amy S. Paller. “Atopic dermatitis and the atopic march.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 112.6 (2003): S118-S127. ↩︎
5. Peate, Ian. “Eczema: causes, symptoms and treatment in the community.” British Journal of Community Nursing 16.7 (2011): 324-331. ↩︎

Last Updated on July 26, 2024 by ayeshayusuf