Not only good for the health of the body, the benefits of coconut oil for skin and beauty are also not in doubt. This oil has long been used to moisturize the skin and prevent various skin problems.
Coconut fruit can be processed and processed into various forms and one of them is coconut oil. Coconut oil is not only used as an ingredient for cooking, but is also good for skin health.
Various Benefits of Coconut Oil for Skin
There are various benefits of coconut oil for the skin that you can get, including:
1. Relieves skin inflammation
Some skin diseases, such as psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and eczema, are known to trigger inflammation of the skin. However, you do not need to worry, because coconut oil can relieve it.
Coconut oil is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, so it is good for dealing with inflammation of the skin. In addition, the antioxidant content in it is also good for reducing free radicals in the body.
However, it is important to remember that most of the research on coconut oil to date has been limited. Therefore, you need to be more careful in using it, especially if you want to use it as a treatment ingredient, either consumed or applied to inflamed skin areas.
2. Accelerate wound healing
Several studies have shown that coconut oil is known to help the healing process of minor wounds. Coconut oil is also known to increase antioxidant levels and collagen levels in the skin.
Other studies also mention that coconut oil combined with antibiotics is effective for healing burns. Apart from speeding up wound healing, coconut oil's antimicrobial properties can also prevent infection.
3. Moisturizing skin
Maintaining the intake of body fluids is important so that the skin is properly hydrated. To maximize it, you can apply coconut oil to the skin, especially for those of you who have dry skin types.
Keeping the skin moisturized and hydrated can maintain the skin's function as a barrier to the entry of bacteria, accelerate the healing of scars, and maintain overall skin health.
4. Treating acne
There is an assumption that coconut oil can clog skin pores. In fact, several studies have shown that coconut oil can actually prevent clogging of pores, so it can prevent and treat acne.
Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory compounds, so it can relieve various types of inflammation on the skin, including acne. In addition, the antibacterial properties of the types of fatty acids contained in coconut oil can also reduce the incidence of acne.
Several studies have also shown that the lauric acid and capric acid in coconut oil have been shown to be able to kill acne-causing bacteria.
5. Maintain healthy hair
Healthy hair is hair that has good protein levels in each strand. However, the use of hair care or coloring products that contain chemicals are known to damage these proteins, so that hair can also be damaged.
However, the use of coconut oil on the hair is known to be beneficial for protecting the hair from losing its protein, so that the hair remains healthy and strong.
Tips for Choosing Coconut Oil for Skin and Beauty
To get the best results, you are advised to choose virgin coconut oil products or also called virgin coconut oil (VCO). Well, there are several things you need to pay attention to when buying virgin coconut oil products, namely:
- Pay attention to the packaging label and make sure it says virgin/pure, organic, non-hydrogenated and non-GMO or without genetic modification.
- Choose coconut oil that is yellowish white and clean.
- Make sure the coconut oil product is not accompanied by additional chemicals.
- Pure coconut oil has a distinctive coconut aroma that is not overpowering. Therefore, choose coconut oil products that do not have a strong smell.
Given the various benefits for beauty and skin health, it seems there is no harm in trying virgin coconut oil as an alternative for your various skin health problems.
However, keep in mind that behind some of these benefits, there are side effects that can also occur when used. For example, clogged pores in oily skin owners, irritation in sensitive skin owners, itching, swelling, and redness.
Consult a doctor if you feel some of the symptoms above after using coconut oil products. This is done so that your condition does not get worse. You can also ask your doctor to find out more about the benefits of coconut oil for the skin.