Use of Coconut Oil to Clear Acne

Acne is a result of the natural sebum (body oil) your skin produces mixing with dead skin cells and dirt, which can block the pores and cause a blackhead. This can result in the sebum that is continuing to be produced by the body to back up behind the blockage. If this backed up body oil becomes contaminated by bacteria, it can cause an infection beneath the skin and produce a pimple.

Most accepted acne treatments involve frequent washing with harsh soaps that strip the skin of oil and dirt to reduce blockages of the pores, treating individual blemishes with topical creams containing things like hydrogen peroxide or salicylic acid; and reducing the amount of fat in the diet. This technique can be helpful for some; but others can end up with even more blemishes, as well as facial scarring that ranges from barely noticeable to quite severe.

Although it flies in the face of common wisdom, using coconut oil can be very helpful in clearing up acne. Stripping the skin of its natural oils is actually counter-productive, since this causes it to produce even more oil in its attempts to keep the skin from being too dry. The artificial dryness also causes flaking skin, and increases the chances of a blockage. Using coconut oil moisturizes the skin and prevents flaking, as well as reducing overproduction of sebum. It also lubricates the pores, allowing the sebum to flow more naturally and reducing the chance of blockages.

In addition, coconut oil contains capric acid and lauric acid. When coconut oil is applied to the skin, beneficial bacteria convert these acids to monocaprin and monolaurin; which are known to be antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal. These compounds kill the bacteria that cause acne blemishes, so that even if a blockage develops it’s less likely to become infected; as well as helping to restore the natural acid balance of the skin and reducing the chances of “bad” bacteria colonizing the face in the first place.

Adding coconut oil to the diet by substituting it for other cooking oils enhances all of these external effects. The capric and lauric acids are also converted into the antimicrobial compounds monocaprin and monolaurin in the digestive system, working against the acne bacteria from the inside as well; and the vitamin E in coconut oil supports the proper function of the sebum glands and the overall health of the skin.