Coconut oil is controversial as a cooking oil. It is a rich source of medium-chain fatty acids, but it also contains quite a bit of saturated fat. Consequently, nutrition experts worry about its effects on blood lipids. But what about its impact on hands and feet, legs and arms? Can you use coconut oil topically to soothe dry skin?
Keeping Coconut Oil in the Shower to Soothe Dry Skin:
Q. The combination of menopause and cold, dry winter air was really affecting my skin and moisturizers weren’t helping. I started keeping a small jar of coconut oil, the kind for cooking, in the shower. The heat from the shower liquefies it, and I use it on my arms, legs, and neck when I’m done showering. I have not had dry, cracked skin since.
It doesn’t feel greasy and doesn’t make my skin break out. Even the next morning, my skin still feels soft and hydrated.
A. Coconut oil has been used for centuries as a moisturizer in tropical regions. Research has confirmed that children suffering from mild to moderate eczema did better when virgin coconut oil was applied to their skin than when mineral oil was used.
Your method of using coconut oil after a shower can seal in moisture. It also has anti-inflammatory activity and helps protect skin, especially when the air is so dry. We know one person who applies a small amount of coconut oil to her hair after washing it. She finds that it helps control the curl.
What About Coconut Oil for REALLY Dry Skin?
When the humidity drops and the furnace comes on, skin suffers. Some people develop a condition dermatologists call xerosis. Don’t you just love those dermatological tongue twisters? It comes from the Greek word xero, or dry.
People with xerosis have abnormally dry skin.
An article in the journal Dermatitis (Sept., 2004) describes it this way:
“Xerosis is a common skin condition (1) characterized by dry, rough, scaly, and itchy skin, (2) associated with a defect in skin barrier function, and (3) treated with moisturizers. People in the tropics have effectively used coconut oil as a traditional moisturizer for centuries. Recently, the oil also has been shown to have skin antiseptic effects. A moisturizer with antiseptic effects has value, but there are no clinical studies to document the efficacy and safety of coconut oil as a skin moisturizer.”
The researchers set out to conduct just such a randomized double-blind clinical trial. They assigned 34 patients to apply either coconut oil or mineral oil to their legs twice a day for two weeks. They then performed a sensitive test to determine skin hydration.
Conclusion:
“Coconut oil is as effective and safe as mineral oil when used as a moisturizer.”
We discovered a review of the “Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils” in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Dec. 27, 2017).
Here is what the authors had to say about coconut oil on the skin:
“Coconut oil has been shown to be as effective and safe as mineral oil when applied as moisturizers for mild to moderate xerosis [abnormally dry skin]. In a study of pediatric patients with mild to moderate AD [atopic dermatitis], topical applications of virgin coconut oil was shown to be effective in decreasing the severity of the disease, ameliorating disease severity index, and improving barrier function. Topical applications of virgin coconut oil are effective in promoting WH [wound healing] through faster epithelization.”
Coconut oil has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Here’s a kicker. The scientists noted: “Topical coconut oil protects the skin from UV radiation.” In addition, an ingredient in coconut oil has both antiviral and antifungal activity. There are very few prescription skin creams that have such broad spectrum benefits.
