Coconut Oil for Acne Treatment – Does it Really Work?

Coconut Oil for Acne Treatment – Does it Really Work? – Using an oil for acne control doesn’t really sound familiar, right? In fact, oil and acne are just polar opposites. But it is not 100% true. While some oils aggravate acne condition, there are few such oils that can actually reduce our breakouts and coconut oil is definitely one among them. Here in this article, we are going to talk about how coconut oil acts against breakouts and different ways to use coconut oil for acne treatment. Coconut oil is a rich source of medium chain triglycerides, which are responsible for skin care benefits of coconut oil. These medium chain triglycerides are very nourishing and they also come with anti bacterial properties, which help significantly to resolve skin problems, including acne. Find out below how to use coconut oil for acne treatment.
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Why You Should Use Coconut Oil for Treating Acne?

• For acne control, the first and foremost task is to keep the skin clean. Coconut oil is an ideal ingredient to deeply cleanse the skin. We know that blocked pores are the main culprits that cause breakouts, and lack of cleansing is what makes the skin pores blocked with dirt, impurities and dead skin cells. Coconut oil, being light in texture, helps to penetrate the pores and dissolve the impurities, thus unclogging the pores and reducing the chances of acne formation.
• Coconut oil offers anti bacterial benefits as well. This is one of the major reasons behind using coconut oil for acne treatment. We have already discussed that coconut oil is a rich source of Medium Chain Fatty Acids which come with anti bacterial properties. One of the most notable medium chain fatty acids is Lauric acid. Lauric acid is highly nourishing for our skin, and it comes with anti bacterial traits as well. Using coconut oil protects the skin from bacterial infections as well as potential pathogens. This is why, coconut oil works as a great natural remedy for acne.
• Excess oily skin is the favorite breeding ground for acne causing bacteria. Now what makes our skin super oily? The answer is skin dehydration. Dehydrated skin layers force sebaceous glands to produce more oil to compensate the moisture loss, and this excess oil is accumulated on the top surface of the skin. This is what makes our skin oily and greasy and leads to acne, blackheads and whiteheads. Whiteheads, can further lead to painful acne when affected by P.acne bacteria which normally reside in the hair follicles.
• Using coconut oil on regular basis helps in nourishing the skin layers and keeping dehydration at bay. Also, this oil creates a protective anti bacterial shield on the skin, thus reducing breakouts effectively.
• Being a rich source of vitamin E, coconut oil helps in keeping skin nourished and moisturized.
• The anti oxidant benefits of coconut oil also help preventing breakouts. The anti oxidant compounds present in coconut oil support healthy cell growth. Also they fight off the free radicals that are often responsible for causing breakouts.

How to Use Coconut Oil for Acne Treatment?

1. Simple Coconut Oil Application

How to do?

Take 1-2 tsp coconut oil in a bowl. Warm it up slightly and apply the warm oil all over the face. Gently massage the skin for 3-5 minutes, using your fingertips. Leave it on the skin for another 20-30 minutes. After that, use a damp towel to wipe off the excess. Repeat daily. This is the easiest way to use coconut oil for acne control.

2. Coconut Oil and Tea Tree Oil for Acne

How to use coconut oil and tea tree oil to cure acne?

Mix together 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil to 4-5 drops of coconut oil. Apply this oil blend all over the face and gently massage for few minutes. Leave it on the skin some more time, before washing off with a mild cleanser. Repeat this treatment with coconut oil for acne daily.

Why it works?

Tea tree oil has wonderful benefits for acne prone skin. This essential oil comes with anti microbial, anti septic, anti inflammatory as well as anti fungal benefits. Regular application of tea tree oil helps to get acne free, flawless skin.

Topical application of tea tree oil helps to destroy the acne causing bacteria. When we apply tea tree oil on an active acne, it disinfects the pores and also unclogs them to cure acne quickly. The anti inflammatory benefits of tea tree oil give a soothing relief from the irritation caused by breakouts and also reduce the inflammation of the skin.

According to studies, tea tree oil is more effective than benzoyl peroxide when it comes to acne treatment. Benzoyl peroxide is a well known acne fighting ingredient, but it can cause some serious side effects, such as skin rashes, dry skin. On the other hand, tea tree oil cures acne without irritating the skin.

Tea tree essential oil comes with higher dermal penetration rate, which means it has the ability to penetrate the skin better and deeper. It dissolve the impurities, unclogs the pores and minimizes the risk of developing acne.

Furthermore, tea tree oil has natural astringent properties, which makes it ideal for treating acne. We know, excess oil build up on the skin end up blocking the pores and causing acne. Tea tree oil, with its astringent properties, helps to get rid of the excess oil deposited on the skin surface.

Also, topical application of tea tree oil helps to dry out existing acne fast. Plus it shrinks pore size and smoothens the skin texture as well as helps to lighten the appearance of acne scars.

3. Coconut Oil, Lemon Juice and Raw Honey to Treat Acne

How to use coconut oil, lemon juice and raw honey for acne?

Take a tsp coconut oil in bowl. Add a tbsp of raw honey and some fresh lemon juice to that. Mix together and apply the resultant mixture all over the face. Leave it on the skin for 15-20 minutes and then wash off with fresh water. Reapply this remedy with coconut oil for acne treatment twice or thrice weekly.

Why it works?

Lemon Juice –

Lemon juice has magical abilities to clear off acne and pimples. It is enriched with natural anti bacterial as well as anti microbial benefits, which make it an effective treatment for breakouts. Also, lemon juice contains phytoncides and vitamin P and these two work together to help with reducing acne.

It is very important to keep the skin clean and clear to avoid breakouts. Lemon juice comes with deep cleansing benefits for our skin. It contains a high amount of citric acid. Citric acid can exfoliate the skin surface and remove the impurities. In the process, it unclogs the pores and helps healing acne quickly.

Lemon juice is enriched with vitamin C, and this vitamin, too, is highly effective to get rid of acne and blemishes. Being an anti oxidant, vitamin C boosts healthy cell growth which helps in keeping skin healthy and acne free. It also eliminates the toxins from the skin. Vitamin C not just helps in healing acne, but also aids in lightening acne marks and scars.

The anti oxidant properties of Vitamin C fight off the free radicals and prevents oxidation of the sebum, which can otherwise cause acne. It also enhances collagen production in the skin, which helps to fill in the holes from acne scars and improves our skin texture.

Lemon juice is a natural astringent. It absorbs the excess oil from the skin surface and reduces the chances of clogged pores, thus curbing the risk of breakouts to a great extent. Also it draws out impurities from the pores and shrinks them in size, thus smoothening the skin texture as well as reducing the appearance of acne scars. Topical application of lemon juice also helps drying out active acne fast.

Raw Honey –

Raw honey is extremely beneficial to get acne free, glowing skin. The natural anti bacterial and anti inflammatory properties of raw honey work together to fight off breakouts and keep the skin healthy and blemish free. The anti bacterial properties of raw honey destroy the acne causing bacteria, while its anti inflammatory benefits soothe the irritated skin and boost the healing process.

Honey is known for its osmotic effect as well and this also plays a vital role in keeping skin acne free. When we apply raw honey on the acne affected skin and leave it on for a few hours, it absorbs the moisture from the infected pores, which makes it difficult for the acne causing bacteria to survive there. Then, honey starts to release Hydrogen Peroxide that helps disinfecting the pores and drying out the existing acne.

Raw honey works as an excellent natural cleanser for our skin. It contains several natural enzymes as well as AHA, that help exfoliating the skin and eliminating the impurities and dead skin cells. This way honey keeps the skin clean and clear and reduces the chances of breakouts.

The powerful anti oxidant properties of raw honey help to fight off the free radicals that can damage the skin cells and cause breakouts. Being an anti oxidant, honey helps with healthy cell growth which further ensures that our skin stays healthy and blemish free.

We know that one of the best ways to ensure healthy, acne free skin is to maintain the pH balance of the skin. Regular use of raw honey is very effective in restoring the ideal pH level of the skin. This further helps in balancing the moisture level of the skin and keeping skin ailments at bay.

Oily skin is the favorite breeding ground for acne causing bacteria. This excess oil on the skin can be the result of skin dehydration. Lack of moisture and hydration force the sebaceous glands to produce more oil to compensate the loss. This leads to oil build up on the skin surface and cause blocked pores as well as acne. Being a natural humectant, honey restores skin hydration and prevents oil build up on the skin, thus providing relief from excess oily skin and breakouts.

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4. Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera for Acne Reduction

How to use coconut oil and aloe vera to cure acne?

Take some pure aloe vera gel in a bowl and add few drops of coconut oil to that. Mix together and carefully massage it on to the face for few minutes. Wait for another 15-20 minutes before wiping off the excess with a damp towel. If required, wash your face with a mild cleanser. Reapply this face pack with coconut oil for acne treatment twice weekly.

Why it works?

Aloe vera is a wonderful natural remedy for acne. It comes with natural anti bacterial as well as anti inflammatory properties, that help with acne treatment. The anti bacterial benefits of aloe vera kill the acne causing bacteria, and its anti inflammatory properties help soothing skin inflammation and irritation.

Aloe vera is a source of natural salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is highly beneficial to cure acne. Salicylic acid exfoliates the skin surface and removes the impurities, that can otherwise cause blocked pores and develop acne.

Aloe vera is rich in several vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, that help nourishing the skin from within, repair damaged and weak skin and restore healthy skin. It contains magnesium lactate, that helps to reduce itching caused by pimples.

Along with that, aloe vera contains vitamin C as well as zinc, both of which are beneficial to cure breakouts. Vitamin C is an anti oxidant, that fights off the free radicals and prevents cell damage, thus reducing breakouts. Free radicals are the result of air pollution or sun damage. They cause skin inflammation, which further blocks the pores and forms acne.

Vitamin C also has anti inflammatory properties. It helps to calm down the irritation and inflammation caused by breakouts. This vitamin also promotes healthy cell growth that further provides relief from breakouts. In addition, vitamin C increases collagen production in the skin, which helps to fill in the holes from acne scars and smoothens the skin.

Excess oil build up on the skin surface can block pores and form acne. The natural astringent properties of aloe vera help to eliminate the excess oil from the skin surface and prevent acne formation. Also the same astringent benefits help to dry out existing acne quickly.

5. Coconut Oil and Turmeric to Combat Acne

How to use coconut oil and turmeric for acne?

Take a generous pinch of turmeric powder in a bowl and add a tsp coconut oil to that. Mix together and prepare a paste. Apply that on to the acne affected parts of the face and leave it on for some time. Once it gets dry, wash off with plain water and reapply this remedy with coconut oil for acne control twice per week.

Why it works?

Turmeric is a time tested natural remedy to cure acne. It works in multiple ways to cure acne. Turmeric powder has good absorbing power which helps to get rid of the excess oil from the skin pores. This helps to unclog the pores and minimize the chance of breakouts.

Also, the mild abrasive texture of turmeric powder provides gentle exfoliation for the skin. Through exfoliation, it helps unblocking the pores, thus reducing the risk of getting breakouts.

However, the main reason why turmeric works so effectively against acne is, due to the presence of curcumin in it. Curcumin is a powerful anti oxidant compound and it has the ability to give us blemish free, healthy, glowing skin. Cucumin can regularize sebum secretion by the sebaceous glands, which makes skin less oily and prevents blocked pores.

Curcumin also comes with anti inflammatory properties. It helps to reduce the swelling and pain caused by acne. Free radicals are the result of UV damage or air pollution. They can lead to acne formation by causing oxidative damage to the sebum. Curcumin, being an anti oxidant, helps to neutralize the free radicals’ activities and protect the skin from acne.

According to studies, curcumin is 36 times stronger than azelaic acid (common acne fighting ingredient) when it comes to combating acne. Several studies have also found that curcumin can reduce the acne causing bacteria growth from 50% to 96%.

mTor is a type of protein present in our body, that influences cell survival, cell division as well as cell growth. Excess production of mTor can cause excess cell growth as well as excess amount of sebum secretion and keratin synthesis. This can end up blocking our pores and form acne. Turmeric can control the production of mTor, thus preventing acne.

Not just acne, turmeric also helps lightening acne scars, thanks to its ability to control melanin production. Also curcumin helps getting clear skin by boosting cell regeneration. In addition, turmeric’s exfoliation benefits also help with acne scar reduction.

These were few simple remedies using coconut oil for acne treatment. These remedies are completely natural, hence safe for our skin, but do not expect miracles overnight. Being natural, they take time to show results, and consistency is definitely the key here!