Are you aware that coconut oil can be your trump card for gorgeous, acne-free skin? Yes! Coconut oil, which has been a part of every Indian household, is a true beauty elixir.
In this article, let’s understand how coconut oil helps you clear stubborn acne and the best ways to use it.
Our Ayurvedic Doctor Speaks
‘’As per Ayurveda, the elevation of Pitta dosha causes hormonal imbalance in the body, leading to acne breakouts during periods. Coconut oil is a cooling ingredient that helps to pacify the aggravated Pitta, thus, addressing the root cause of period-acne.”
Dr. Zeel Gandhi (Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine & Surgery), Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix
Highlights:
Is Coconut Oil Good For Acne?
Traditionally, coconut oil has been used as a natural moisturizer for dry skin and also in treating different skin conditions. However, there are many contrasting views about using coconut oil for acne. The answer is that it depends upon your skin type and the type of acne you want to treat.
There are about seven types of acne: whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, cysts, and nodules [1]. Each of these acne types is triggered by different combinations of aggravated doshas in your skin. For instance, whiteheads are caused due to elevated Kapha but papules are caused by elevated Pitta and Vata doshas.
Ayurveda classifies coconut oil as a natural cooling agent that pacifies elevated Vata and Pitta doshas. And, it tends to aggravate Kapha dosha. Hence, coconut oil can be used to treat blackhead, papule, and pustule types of acne, which are predominantly caused by elevated Vata and Pitta. Also, it is mostly suitable for people with dry, normal, and sensitive skin.
You should not use coconut oil to treat other types of acne such as whiteheads, cysts, and nodules, which are caused due to high Kapha levels. Also, people with oily skin, which is dominant in Kapha dosha, should avoid using coconut oil to treat acne.
How Does Coconut Oil Help Clear Acne?
1. By Fighting Acne-Causing Bacteria
Coconut oil is loaded with lauric acid, which has natural antimicrobial properties and works against acne-causing bacteria. Studies found that lauric acid is effective in eliminating propionibacteria acnes (acne-causing bacteria).
2. By Controlling Acne-Induced Inflammation
The caprylic acid and dodecanoic acid present in coconut oil help in controlling the inflammation and redness caused by acne [2]. Studies found that virgin coconut oil has significant anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties.
3. By Healing Acne Scars
In most cases, acne may leave your skin with scarring. Your skin needs to be nourished and moisturized adequately to heal from the acne scars properly. For that, coconut oil can be your best aid as it helps in improving collagen production in the skin and promotes faster healing.
Studies found that virgin coconut oil is effective in wound healing and scar healing in a group of rats.
''As per Ayurveda, the elevation of Pitta dosha causes hormonal imbalance in the body, leading to acne breakouts during periods. Coconut oil is a cooling ingredient that helps to pacify the aggravated Pitta, thus, addressing the root cause of period-acne,'' says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.
There are many versions of coconut oil in the market that claim to be thin and non-sticky. Such coconut oils are mixed with other mineral oils to obtain a non-sticky nature. However, these oils do no good as they cannot penetrate the skin to deliver the goodness of coconut oil.
How To Use Coconut Oil For Acne Scars?
1. Coconut Oil Treatment For Acne
Slightly warm up 2-3 spoons of coconut oil on a low flame. Apply it generously to your face and massage it for a few minutes. After half an hour, wash your face using a mild cleanser and lukewarm water. Do this once or twice a week until you notice a visible improvement. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil into the coconut oil for better results.
Dr. Zeel recommends not to leave coconut oil on your face overnight. More the time you let the oil stay on your face, the more it will clog your skin pores. Ideally, you can leave your skin with coconut oil for 30-60 minutes before washing it off with a mild cleanser.
2. Coconut Oil As Make-Up Remover
The deep cleansing action of coconut oil makes it ideal for removing make-up and keeping your pores clean. Pour a few drops of coconut oil into a cotton pad and use it to wipe off the make-up thoroughly on your face and neck. Later, wash your face and neck using a mild cleanser. Follow this routine every night before going to bed.
3. Coconut Oil As Moisturizer
Massage your skin using coconut oil half an hour before bathing. This keeps your skin naturally moisturized for a long time [3]. Also, you may skip applying a moisturizer post-bath. If you have extremely dry skin, apply a few drops of coconut oil to your skin even after taking bath.
Vedix Tip:
Do not apply coconut oil to your skin or scalp when you are having cold or cough symptoms.
Other Benefits Of Applying Coconut Oil To Face
1. Treats Irritated Skin
Coconut oil is very gentle on the skin. It is very effective in treating itchiness, sunburns, and inflammations in the skin as it has very cooling, calming, and soothing properties.
2. Treats Eczema
The anti-microbial properties of coconut oil not only help in treating acne but also fights other skin infections such as eczema [4]. Coconut oil is very useful in alleviating the flakiness, itchiness, and redness caused by eczema.
3. Treats Dark Circles & Pigmentation
Besides reducing the puffiness under the eyes, coconut oil is very a powerful treatment for dark circles and pigmentation patches on your face.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can Coconut Oil Make Your Acne Worse?
Yes. Coconut oil is a heavy ingredient. And, some people with extremely oily skin tend to have large pores, secreting sebum excessively. If coconut oil is applied to oily skin, it combines with sebum and clogs the skin pores. This, in turn, worsens the acne condition.
2. Is Coconut Oil Good For Oily Skin?
No. Coconut oil is comedogenic [5]. So, it is not recommended to apply coconut oil if you have very oily skin as it can clog pores. People with normal-oily or combination skin can use coconut oil in minimum quantities once in a while.
Important Note:
Consult your dermatologist before using coconut oil for your skin to treat acne.
The Last Word
Besides treating acne, coconut oil has a plethora of benefits for your skin. However, do a patch test before using coconut oil for the first time on your skin. Also, prefer using cold-pressed, virgin, and organic coconut oil that is free of chemicals to prevent any unwanted side effects on your skin.
At Vedix, we deliver you a customized Ayurvedic skincare regimen by analyzing your skin type and its unique needs.
Know Your Dosha Now1. Acne, Cleveland Clinic
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12233-acne
2. Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of capric acid against Propionibacterium acnes, (Mar-2014), Journal of dermatological science
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24284257/
3. A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis (Sept-2004), National library of medicine
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