Are you Nuts? Coconut Oil?
The passed few weeks, there has been a great debate as to whether one should be using Organic Coconut as a part of their acne care regime. Some Aestheticians are vehemently against it while others think it may be very effective in the restoration or the Natural Moisture Barrier of the Skin which is often destroyed by Acne medications or OTC products marketed at teen and adult acne. Let's just cut to the chase....Acne has been a wide-spread problem for many years, and although it is most common among teenagers, it more and more can affect adults! Normally, and I say NORMALLY the symptoms disappear or decrease once puberty is passed and hormones become more normalized, acne can still be a very painful and awkward condition while it lasts, and can leave permanent marks on the face and body. Some lucky people are able to get rid of acne without having to spend much time, energy, or money in its treatment, while other unfortunate clients I have worked with sometimes spend a fortune on treatment and topicals but will never get the results they had hoped for. So What is the Role of Coconut Oil where Acne Treatment is Concerned?
There are a number of Beneficial and very nutritive agents in Coconut oil that can help fight acne: Let's take a look at a few below:
Fatty Acids:
My Favorite property of Coconut Oil is that it is the source of two of the most powerful antimicrobial agents found in food: Capric Acid and Lauric Acid. Sounds familiar? If you are a Mom you would know they are the same acids that are found in breast milk which keep newborn babies protected from infections.
When Coconut Oil is topically applied to the skin, microbes that are present on the skin convert to acids called Monocaprin and Monolaurin. These acids help to replace the protective acid layer (Natural Mositure Factor) on the skin which is stripped through constant washing and wiping by frustrated teenagers usign things like astringents and gels cleansers or Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicyclics. Basically, without the microbial infection, acne cannot develop!
Vitamin E:
Coconut oil is a RICH source of Vitamin-E. This keeps your skin healthy and ensures proper functioning of your oil glands and clears blockage. This means that it treats the actual root cause of acne, not just the behaviors that lead to its appearance, or the symptoms once they have occurred. Hormone regulating-substances, as vitamin-E is in some ways, can reduce some of those natural hormonal fluctuations that lead to the sebum gland becoming hyper-active.
ANNNNDDDD
It's Anti-Inflammatory:
Coconut Oil is very soothing to your skin! When it is applied, it absorbs quickly and immediately begins to reduce the inflammation from irritations that are already present. Coconut oil also helps heal any sorts of open wounds on the skin from severe cases of acne.
Little do many skeptics know...Coconut Oil improves the rate of metabolism. This also indirectly affects hormonal balance. That could mean curbing the chances of getting more acne, and increasing the rate of repair to skin cells damaged by nasty breakouts associated with acne.
The Final Word....
Consumers should approach their personal acne problem from numerous angles. If you have a serious or sever case of acne, you will most likely need a more preventative method than simply Coconut oil.
Results may vary from person to person. This depends on their skin type, age, and lifestyle. Also included are eating habits, hygiene, and their stress levels. It should also be remembered that Coconut oil is not a cure for Acne, simply a treatment. The best advice I render my clients is that most aestheticians are not trained to handle grade 3 acne and above and that one should seek the care of a trained dermatologist, whether homeopathic or alopathic is up to you.
Am I nuts? I would love to hear your feedback!
Angel
^j^
