Coconut oil can treat eczema as well as the symptoms associated with the condition. To find out just how coconut oil for eczema can alleviate your discomfort, check out the information below. You will also be able to discover the best products to use as well as the right way to use them.
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Eczema – also known as atopic dermatitis – is a gene variation that reduces the skin’s ability to protect itself from moisture loss, bacteria, irritants, and allergens. As a result, the skin is more likely to be negatively impacted by environmental factors and various other triggers.
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The symptoms associated with eczema include:
Now, let’s take a look at the result of coconut oil for eczema on face and body:
With eczema, the skin barrier is compromised which means that your skin can’t lock in moisture as well as it should. This is what causes the dry skin and itching. Fortunately, coconut oil helps with this issue. In one study, the oil was applied to the skin of eczema patients over a period of time, resulting in an improved barrier and hydrated skin.
What’s great is that coconut oil outperforms mineral oils here, making it the most suitable natural remedy. The best news of all, though, is that this study was conducted with pediatric patients, making it possible for you to use coconut oil for baby eczema as well.
Now, eczema can affect all areas of the body, which means that it is normal to have dry or itchy skin on any part, including your scalp. Therefore, if you are suffering from cracked skin on your head, you should know that coconut oil for dry scalp is a good solution.
The dryness caused by eczema leaves skin vulnerable to various bacterial infections. This is why it is a good thing that coconut oil can fight bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus aureus. In fact, coconut oil has a 95 percent efficiency rate.
And, since coconut oil works well to moisturize the skin, it actually helps to reduce the risk of future infections as well. As such, it can help on numerous levels.
There is evidence to suggest that oxidative stress can trigger or, at least, worsen the symptoms associated with eczema. Therefore, counteracting oxidative stress can do quite a bit to reduce inflammation as well as the discomfort of the skin condition.
This is why it is quite so helpful that virgin coconut oil has significant antioxidant properties. The well-preserved fatty acids and polyphenols of the oil was able to have an anti-inflammatory effect. It is also possible that the coconut oil can alleviate the swelling that can also sometimes occur with atopic dermatitis.
Every person’s struggle with atopic dermatitis is different, so it is only natural to wonder if this remedy will work for your condition in particular. Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee it.
This is largely because no one is quite certain what the cause of eczema is. The triggers can often differ from one person to another and so will their reactions to remedies. Therefore, coconut oil may work wonders for some people and have no impact for others.
It is also important to appreciate that even if it is effective for your symptoms, coconut oil is merely a remedy. Eczema can’t be cured and you can only tackle the symptoms during flare ups.
So, which coconut oil should you be investing in to help you with your dermatitis symptoms? Most studies have used virgin coconut oil – and with good reason. The manner in which this oil is extracted means that more nutrients are preserved.
This makes virgin coconut oil better equipped to tackle various symptoms that crop up with eczema. The best option for you is No products found.. As it is cold-pressed, the oil has undergone minimal amounts of processing, ensuring that most of the nutrients remain within the oil.
The oil is also excellent at hydrating and moisturizing your skin, leaving it feeling soft and supple. Last, but not least, the oil has a lovely fragrance, which makes it a better option to use on a daily basis.
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For coconut oil to have the best possible effect, you should know how to use it properly for eczema. If your main concern is battling inflammation or a bacterial infection, then you can apply coconut oil directly to the affected area. This can show faster results as the oil is able to come in direct contact with the bacteria.
If you are looking to moisturize and soften your skin, though, it is a good idea to add another layer to your skincare routine. Understand, coconut oil falls into the category of emollients and occlusives. As such, it works to coat the skin surface and reduce water loss. The oil is also great at softening your skin.
However, to really treat dry skin, you need to make sure that moisture is drawn into your skin and trapped beneath the skin barrier. For this, you need an eczema-friendly moisturizer that acts as a humectant. Apply this to your skin and then apply the coconut oil over it. This works to ensure that your skin gets the maximum amount of moisture.
If you are using coconut oil for eczema on scalp, then you can massage the coconut oil directly into your scalp or just on the affected areas. You can leave the oil on your head for a few hours and then wash it out with an eczema safe shampoo.
Although coconut oil is a food-grade, natural oil you still need to be careful about how you use it on your skin. While coconut oil skin allergy is rare, it isn’t unheard of. If you are allergic to coconut oil, you will notice a rash or hives. You may even notice other symptoms associated with eczema.
If you do notice this, wash the coconut oil off your skin immediately. If the allergy seems serious or appears to be getting worse, you should seek medical assistance.
To avoid any serious repercussions, make sure to run a patch test first. Apply coconut oil to a small patch of your skin and leave it there for a while. If there aren’t any odd symptoms after 24 to 48 hours, you can apply it to the patches affected by eczema.
If coconut oil can be used for dermatitis, can it also be used to treat rashes caused by other skin conditions or irritants? Well, that all depends on the cause of the irritation.
For instance, if inflammation is responsible for the issue, then you may be able to use coconut oil for rash relief. However, if it is an allergic reaction, then there is no guarantee that coconut oil may be effective.
The same goes for a rash that is caused by another medical condition. Before you turn to coconut oil, it is a good idea to consider the cause of the rash. Also, always seek medical advice before using it as a remedy to ensure that it is the right option for you.
This is what you need to know about using coconut oil to treat eczema. Now that you have this information, it should be far easier to alleviate your discomfort.
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