We all strive to have flawless skin. However, if there is something that defeats our efforts, it is acne and scars! And mind you, the acne and pimples are not the banes of just teenagers alone!
It affects adults as well as menopausal women! With the problem looming, started the quest for a solution. One treatment that has recently grabbed eyeballs is the coconut oil for acne. Surprised?
Yes, coconut oil benefits for skin acne have been touted for ages! Mixed with various ingredients and even by itself, coconut oil has proved a wonderful home remedy.
Also Read: “How to Get Rid of Whiteheads Fast“
Read on to know more about it and how to use coconut oil for acne prone skin!
Is Coconut Oil Good for Acne?
To answer this query, we must first understand what pure coconut oil is capable of and what causes acne. Our skin has pores or little holes known as hair follicles. These are connected to a sebaceous gland which is responsible for producing a wax-like substance, the sebum.
When these glands get overactive, the pores start getting clogged due to deposition of the sebum. This can happen throughout the body but takes place maximum on the face as the skin there is comparatively thinner and thus easier to clog.
This leads to the thriving of the bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes. Naturally, these get trapped in the follicles.
Due to the body’s automatic defense mechanism, the white blood cells of our body attack these bacteria leading to skin inflammation and acne.
Now let’s understand the chemical composition of coconut oil. It contains about 50-55% of lauric, capric, caprylic, palmitic, oleic, myristic, and stearic acid; vitamins A, E, D, calcium, phosphorus, and many other useful minerals.
The oil is composed of medium-chain fatty acids which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Almost 50% of these are medium-chain lauric acid which has demonstrated the capability of killing the harmful bacteria, virus, and fungi in the body.
Lauric acid and capric acid has proved to be more effective than benzoyl peroxide, a common chemical compound used to treat acne. Due to coconut oil’s anti-inflammatory properties, it reduces the inflammation arising out of acne. Thus, it helps treat acne effectively. However, this happens only when you use pure organic coconut oil preferably virgin coconut oil.
The Dos and Don’ts of Using Coconut Oil for Acne
While we stand by that coconut is the best home remedy available to cure acne, it is not meant for everybody and has few guidelines which must be kept in mind. They are as follows:-
Coconut Oil is Not for all Acne Prone Skin
Despite its terrific action, coconut oil has light anti-microbial properties. Due to it, it may not be effective by itself if you have a severe case of acne breakout.
You would definitely require some additional support. Furthermore, it may clog pores as it is highly comedogenic and can actually aggravate the problem.
Thus, before you apply it on your skin, it is preferable to do a patch test and consult with your dermatologist.
Choice of Coconut Oil
We have already recommended using only extra virgin cold pressed organic coconut oil. This is because it is least processed, unlike refined coconut oil which is highly processed.
There is a big difference between the two oils. Unlike the refined or fractionated version, the virgin coconut oil has maximum nutrients and is non-comedogenic.
Due to its high-fat content, it does not oxidize easily. After oxidizing, the oil becomes similar to glue to dead skin and thus leads to clogging of pores. This can aggravate the issue as seen with those who used the refined version of the oil.
Be Mentally Prepared
When you introduce coconut oil initially in your skin care benefits, you would actually experience an enhanced eruption of acne and pimples or the already present ones growing larger.
This might make you lose faith in the oil. However, what the oil is actually doing is forcing the accumulated toxins to get eliminated.
Thus, after increased acne breaks out, you would start experiencing the decrease. Thus, you have to be mentally prepared for it and patiently wait it out.
Little is Too Much
One must never use too much coconut oil for acne, scars and blemishes treatment. Just a thin layer of the oil is more than sufficient and works more effectively in combating acne.
You also need to follow your cleansing routine and eliminate all excess oil, dirt or makeup from your skin before applying the oil for effective treatment and cure.
Improve Diet and Lifestyle
The importance of a good, healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle cannot be touted enough. Eating junk will only lead to increased accumulation of toxins which will make your entire beauty regime go futile.
With proper diet, enough exercise and a healthy lifestyle, you would be able to eliminate the problem of acne from the roots.
Different DIY Home Remedies & Treatments Using Coconut Oil to Treat Acne
Like we already stated, coconut oil needs to be used judiciously. If pure coconut is not suiting your skin, you can try diluting it with some carrier oils and other oils which are helpful in treating acne.
Else, it can also be mixed in various face packs, body lotions etc. and then applied to your face and body.
Let’s see some easy ways and DIY homemade recipes and methods of using the oil to treat acne and scars on face effectively and get clear skin.
Baking Soda and Coconut Oil Remedy for Acne & Scars
There is various coconut oil for acne recipes that you can easily prepare and see your beauty getting elevated to new heights. One such wonderful recipe is that of baking soda and coconut oil.
- Mix one tablespoon of organic virgin coconut oil, add one teaspoon of baking soda and make a smooth paste.
- Apply to clean face and neck and massage in a circular motion for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Now wash off your face with cold or lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Do this at least three times a week for a clean acne free skin.
Aloe Vera and Coconut Oil To Treat Acne
This is a wonderful recipe for almost all skin types but works magically on dry skin. To prepare this,
- Mix 5 tablespoons of aloe vera juice with 2 teaspoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
- Apply the mask to a clean face.
- Keep for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash off with lukewarm water.
Sometimes the mask is too watery. A wonderful tip to remember then is to wipe the face with a tissue. This mask will soothe your skin, nourish and hydrate it, clear away acne as well as help pimples to point more quickly.
For optimal results, use it twice a week.
Tea Tree Oil and Coconut Oil Help Treat Acne
This is a wonderful mix to leave overnight on your face and see acne disappear like magic.
- With a tablespoon of coconut oil, add 3 drops of tea tree oil.
- Massage it well on to clean skin and face.
- Leave it overnight and rinse it off in the morning.
- This remedy can be done regularly.
Turmeric and Coconut Oil Mask for Acne Prone Face
Turmeric is a wonderful cleansing and bacteria fighting pack.
- Add a pinch to turmeric powder to a tablespoon of coconut oil.
- Apply it on clean face and neck.
- Rinse off well with cold to lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Do this at least three times a week for glowing healthy skin.
DIY Coconut Oil and Garlic Remedy for Acne
Garlic not only has anti-inflammatory properties but is a rich storehouse of antioxidants which works awesome in treating acne.
- Here heat some coconut oil over a low flame and add 3 cloves of minced garlic to it.
- Allow it to simmer for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- When you find the garlic turning dark brown, remove from flame and strain.
- Once this garlic infused oil has cooled down completely, you can massage a small portion of it on to your face and body.
- After about 30 minutes, rinse off your body with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- This can be used daily.
The infused oil can be stored in an airtight container in a refrigerator for three days.
Coconut Oil and Eucalyptus for Skin Acne
Like tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil is another terrific essential oil to be used to treat acne. The mix remains the same. The other options can be rosemary oil, lavender oil, and even bergamot essential oil.
Coconut Oil and Lemon Juice to Remove Acne
The high vitamin C content of lemon juice helps in neutralizing the body’s pH balance. The mix gives spectacular results in treating acne. The instructions for preparation must be followed as accurately as possible here.
- Mix four tablespoons of solid coconut oil and the juice of 1 whole lemon.
- Add in 10-15 drops of any essential oil and some vanilla extract.
- Blend it using an electric hand blender until a smooth and fluffy mixture is obtained.
- This can be applied twice daily on affected areas for optimal results.
- The mix needs to be refrigerated for longer shelf life.
Use Coconut Oil for Baby Acne
The lauric acid content of coconut oil is almost at par with that of mother’s breast milk whose numerous benefits cannot be touted enough.
In case your baby’s skin shows some red eruptions or rashes, just take a few drops of pure organic coconut oil on a cotton ball and swab it on the baby’s affected areas gently.
Repeat this three to four times a day till you find the baby healthy and robust.
Coconut Oil for Cystic Acne Clear Skin
Cystic acne can be head effectively with coconut oil. Steam your cleaned face to open up the skin pores. Now, take some coconut oil and apply it on the cyst and massage it gently to help absorb it.
- Leave overnight and rinse off your face with lukewarm water or an extremely gentle face wash.
- You can also mix one part oil with nine part water and apply on the cysts.
- Wash off after 5 to 6 minutes.
- For better results, some aloe vera gel can be added to the mix.
- It needs to be used regularly.
Coconut Oil for Acne During Pregnancy
Many women experience acne-breakouts during pregnancy as well as in pre-menopause phase since the highly active hormones activate the oil glands.
- The coconut oil with its counter-intuitive properties can be wonderful to treat this hormonal acne.
- You can massage it all over your face or just on the acne affected areas.
- Regular application will yield stupendous results.
Coconut Oil Benefits For Acne Reviews
Foremost, it must be remembered that coconut oil is not a cure for acne but merely a method of treatment. Hence, its results, compatibility, effectivity, etc. varies from person to person.
The results also depend upon any person’s skin type, age, gender, profession, hygiene, eating and exercise habits, lifestyle and sanitary behavior.
Thus, it can give spectacular results in some people, do not affect certain people and have a detrimental effect on a certain person’s skin. However, if the right coconut oil is used and instruction about its application is adhered to, it tends to give spectacular results. It pays to remember that good look shines from inside and unless that is fixed, acne can never be cured.
Reviews of Coconut Oil for Acne Before and After
We all know the strong message before and after images send to all of us regarding any treatment’s effectiveness. It gives you an insight into the kind of result you can achieve. Keeping this in mind, we present few before and after pictures to understand the effectivity of coconut oil in treating acne!
Have you ever used coconut oil to treat acne? Were you as impressed with it as we were? Do chime in below!
I’m Rhea, a fitness enthusiast, and a food lover. I am a housemaker, foodie, writer from NYC. I am a passionate writer and I love exploring places. Since I love cooking and working out, I am sharing my organic food recipes, fitness and beauty tips with the world. Trying to touch lives with some useful information.
