Unlock the Beauty Secret: Discover the Amazing Benefits of Coconut Oil for Your Skin!
To make matters worse, these people frequently have to sift through a plethora of (at times deceptive) advertising efforts and cycle through an almost endless stream of expensive items before they can locate one that might work for them.
Fortunately, many natural solutions are readily available, and some of the best skincare products on the market haven't been created in a lab.
Coconut oil for your skin and what to know
Coconut oil is
one of the best natural skincare products available thanks to its
antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral characteristics, and it can
make a huge difference when used properly.
Coconut meat, or the white component of the fruit, can be either fresh or dried (copra) to produce coconut oil. There are two types of plant-based fat produced: refined and unrefined.
Virgin coconut oil, also known as unrefined coconut oil, is made by pressing coconut meat without any additional processing.
On the
other hand, refined coconut oil undergoes additional processing to be
deodorised, neutralised, and bleached until it resembles white, flaky butter.
Although most dermatologists and professionals advise using the unrefined version for skincare, both variants have enough fatty acids to be a decent moisturiser.
The
refined version of the product is better suited for cooking. Although there is
little evidence to support many of the claimed health advantages of coconut oil
when consumed orally, coconut oil applied topically has been the subject of
greater research.
Is coconut oil good for your skin ?
According to this research, using coconut oil to the skin can have a number of positive health effects.
These include minimising dark spots and the telltale symptoms of ageing skin, treating minor skin abrasions and lesions, and promoting healing by raising collagen and antioxidant levels within the body.
According
to Perri Halperin, MS, RD, clinical nutrition coordinator at Mount Sinai Health
System, "Studies also show coconut oil can help prevent moisture loss and
provide protection from external factors such as chemicals and allergens."
Given that the skin is the largest and most varied organ in the human body, these advantages are important to note.
One of the most significant indicators of excellent health is one's skin condition. Any dermatology-related problem has been shown to have an impact on mental health as well as skin conditions, according to research.
Eczema, a persistent skin problem that "virgin
coconut oil has been shown to help with," according to Jennifer Koman, RD,
LDN, a dietician at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, is one of these
inflammatory diseases.
Additionally praising coconut oil's anti-inflammatory properties, Uma Naidoo, MD, director of nutritional and lifestyle psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and author of "This is Your Brain on Food," notes that the oil may also aid in treating various skin conditions "by lubricating and soothing the skin."
Koman notes
that in addition to acting as a barrier against environmental irritants and
potentially harmful germs, coconut oil also acts as a sunscreen, contrary to
popular belief. She says that coconut oil has an SPF of just 1, which means it
won't shield you from UV rays. Use sunscreen, please.
Is it OK to use coconut oil on your face?
While many skin types might benefit from coconut oil's moisturising properties, not everyone should use it.
It can be irritating to some people's skin, and anyone who is allergic to coconut oil should, of course, stay away from it.
The
doctors advise beginning gradually and using a modest amount at first to gauge
how one's body would respond to it before spreading it more.
Additionally, coconut oil is not a water-based substance, therefore it shouldn't be put everywhere, despite the fact that some individuals use it liberally on their skin (and even in their hair).
Tara Schmidt, the chief registered dietitian for
the Mayo Clinic Diet, for instance, does not advise using coconut oil on the
face. She cautions against using it on the face or other areas that are prone
to acne since it could clog pores.